Program Analyst

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet “time-in-grade” requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package. To qualify for the GS-11: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal and or Public Service. Specialized experience is defined as: Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess policy options or provide guidance on programs, communicate findings clearly, and collaborate with cross functional teams to develop effective program solutions; AND Assisting in the management of grant programs, overseeing phases from inception to closure, with a foundation in financial analysis, budget development, Excel proficiency, and the ability to navigate complex financial regulations; OR Assisting in the management of IT projects from inception to completion, aligning with business goals, working in cross-functional teams, defining system requirements, and ensuring successful delivery through effective risk management, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication; OR Interpreting and applying complex laws and regulations to government assistance programs, particularly Federal nutrition assistance, developing and evaluating program policies, and assisting with cross-organizational initiatives to inform and implement strategic policy decisions; OR Collecting and processing USDA Foods orders and assisting in the management of food inventories for programs to ensure food is delivered timely and accurately to those in need. OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master’s degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). To qualify for the GS-12: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal and or Public Service. Specialized experience is defined as: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess policy options or provide guidance on programs, communicate findings clearly, and collaborate with cross functional teams to develop effective program solutions; AND Managing grant programs, overseeing all phases from inception to closure, with a strong foundation in financial analysis, budget development, Excel proficiency, and the ability to navigate complex financial regulations; OR Leading IT projects from inception to completion, aligning with business goals, managing cross-functional teams, defining system requirements, and ensuring successful delivery through effective risk management, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication; OR Interpreting and applying complex laws and regulations to government assistance programs, particularly Federal nutrition assistance, developing and evaluating program policies, and leading cross-organizational initiatives to inform and implement strategic policy decisions; OR Collecting and processing USDA Foods orders and actively managing food inventories for programs to ensure food is delivered timely and accurately to those in need. 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You will be given the opportunity in the announcement questionnaire to indicate your preference of hiring branch/division(s) within the organization of SNAS. You will first be considered for the branch and division(s) that you select as your preference. Please see descriptions below: PIMD – The Program Integrity and Monitoring Division consists of two branches each charged with program integrity and monitoring efforts specific to the suite of USDA Foods Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs. Branch responsibilities include but are not limited to developing and maintaining management evaluation and risk assessment tools, improper payment reporting, complaints and hotline tips, disaster feeding, inventory management and infant formula cost containment activities. FTD – The Technology Branch within the Funding and Technology Division (FTD) performs operations and maintenance for the 4 USDA IT food applications. Each application has specific functions to assist in delivering USDA Foods for the programs each supports. The branch activities to include the technical aspects for functional enhancements to testing and valuation to documentation to training. To accomplish the branch mission, we are part of the food distribution network leveraging technology and information systems that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of food distribution operations. PD -The Policy Division consists of three branches, which collectively interpret and formulate policy related to the administration of USDA Food Distribution Programs, farmers’ market nutrition programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the analysis, development, and clarification of policy, guidance, and regulations related to general program administration, benefit issuance and use, eligibility and certification of participants, and State agency-authorized WIC retail vendor management and operations for WIC, including electronic benefit transfer (EBT). OD – The USDA Foods Operations Division works with FNS Regional Offices and State agencies to collect and process USDA Foods orders for programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to ensure food is delivered timely and accurately to those in need. The Division oversees the food distribution process from order placement through delivery. The Division also manages the food inventory for the Multifood Warehouses that supply products for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
This position encompasses the work performed by the Program Analyst position in the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs (SNAS) office. The work conducted can be a combination of training, technical assistance, resource development & implementation, program & policy analysis, program monitoring & oversight, and operational administration of a Federal nutrition assistance program. Please see the qualifications section for specific branch details.