Program Analyst

You will serve as a Program Analyst. The position's duty station will be a USGS facility to be negotiated upon selection. You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Salary: $89,508 (Step 1) to $116,362 (Step 10) *Salary listed is for Rest of United States; salary will be set in accordance with pay scale for selected location. *First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Major duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Performs advanced evaluation of programmatic or business operations, drafts proposed findings and recommendations for improvements and decision making. Uses qualitative and quantitative analysis methods to analyze program-related data and evaluate, identify, and analyze program or policy issues. Formulates, monitors and refines program performance metrics and measures. Coordinate and communicate with individuals or groups both within and outside of the agency to share work efforts, coordinate collaborative projects, provide advice, communicate status and solve problems. Drafts, reviews and edits, written materials, which can include informational/decision memoranda, talking points for senior level managers' meetings (from informal to international), and proposals/justifications for decision makers.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/15/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). You must include hours per week worked. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience independently performing the following: Analyzing and evaluating (on a quantitative or qualitative basis) the effectiveness of program operations in meeting established goals and objectives; and Drafting or reviewing written materials, which can include summaries or briefing content on the status of programs and operations, informational/decision memoranda, and proposals/justifications for decision makers. Examples of such experience must include at least 4 of the following:

• Analyzing, evaluating and communicating findings from programmatic or business operations.
• Identifying data and design requirements for effective performance metrics and program evaluations.
• Working on interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to organize the work of others and contribute to effective planning and execution of project deliverables.
• Developing written materials for briefings to leadership and other stakeholders on status of programs and operations.

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; religious; 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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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.