Lead Management and Program Analyst (Program Implementation Lead)

Summary

The Lead Management & Program Analyst position serves on the Compensation Service Program's Policy Implementation Team. The position leads the team with implementing procedural, policy and program modifications due to changes to Title 38 U.S.C., and the CFR. The team's function is to support the VA's mission by implementing policy, procedural, and regulatory amendments for the effective administration of the Compensation Service benefits program.

Duties

• Specific duties include: Oversees, advises, and monitors the tracking and evaluation of project milestones for assigned Integrated Project Teams (IPTs). Operates with minimal supervision on assigned work products. Manages and coordinates multiple projects or programs concurrently utilizing various resources with internal and external stakeholders. Monitors assigned programs and activities supporting disability compensation benefits and services provided to Veterans, their dependents, or beneficiaries. Works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA as it relates to Veterans' benefits. Takes the necessary corrective actions to ensure timely project or program deliverables. Leads in-house efforts and participates actively as a team member or sub-group leader on project teams with internal and external stakeholders. Leads special projects and provides administrative support to Congressionally mandated advisory committees as assigned. Provides timely responses to internal and external stakeholders on policy related inquiries. Serves as a mentor, coach, facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating team initiatives and in consensus-building activities among team members. Serves as mentor to analysts on the team providing advice, guidance, knowledge, and support which furthers the team's work products and goals. Participates in the developmental activities and mentoring of analysts. Trains others on implementing policy related deliverables and coordinating Integrated Project Teams (IPTs). Reviews the work products of the Program Implementation staff for quality and consistency. Reviews the work product of the Program Implementation Staff, and as a team member, contributes to the organizational goals by supporting and mentoring fellow employees with technical expertise and open communications and by identifying problems and offering solutions. Collaborates with representatives across VA and external stakeholders to complete tasks and accomplish the mission of the compensation benefit program. Has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups interested in or affected by legislation or the compensation program. Responds to challenges or criticisms from stakeholders in a manner that promotes collaboration. Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor, senior leadership, and stakeholders (internal and external) on issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of Compensation Service benefit programs. Acts for the Chief when called upon to do so. Provides authoritative technical advice and assistance to leadership and Compensation Service Staff on Veterans benefits adjudication to support policy decisions and directions as well as regulatory and sub-regulatory program policies, objectives and operational results in order to rectify any issues that are the result of systemic problems. Prepares clear and concise documents including but not limited to draft memos, briefing papers, Congressional responses, white papers, or other written narratives related to the application or interpretation of program policy. Develops and updates procedural guidance for distribution to field offices and ensures updates to procedural guidance is also implemented in VA business systems, tools, calculators, letters, and forms, as well as other program functionality to support business goals and objectives. Reviews and evaluates policies and procedures to determine gaps where additional guidance is needed. The incumbent develops standardized operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure programs and processes are consistently executed. Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to ensure that the supervisor's instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines, and quality have been met. Leads the team in identifying, distributing, and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 0800 am - 430 pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Available. This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Management and Program Analyst (Program Implementation Lead); PD41341-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:09/08/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level. If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS- 14 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-14 Grade Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience: is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically gained through work in or directly related to the position being filled. Qualifying experience should demonstrate knowledge and/or experience in program or project management. Qualifying experience should also demonstrate the ability to manage multiple programs or projects; establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; communicate complex information effectively, both orally and in writing; provide training, technical guidance, and review of the work of others; and apply knowledge and/or experience related to the adjudication of Veterans' disability compensation claims or other related benefits. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending, walking, and stooping are also necessary. Some slight physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, files, and similar items. No special physical demands are required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Requirements

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the Agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Education

There is no education substitution for the GS-14 grade level.

How to apply

This announcement is being limited to the first 50 applications received. The announcement will close either on the published closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or on the day when the number of applications reaches 50 at 11:59 p.m. (EST), whichever comes first.? Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at: USA Jobs Help Center - Resume Page Limit Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit