Program Analyst.

National Cemetery Administration; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Cemetery Administration in St. Louis, MO seeks a Program Analyst to determine eligibility for burial in VA national cemeteries and to schedule interments.

The role acts as the primary contact for Veterans and their representatives, reviewing documents to verify service eligibility and coordinating burial logistics. Engagement includes outreach and responding to inquiries from internal/external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07.
• Experience in gathering, analyzing, documenting and presenting data.
• Ability to run and monitor a project and provide customer service.

Responsibilities

• Process burial eligibility requests and determine eligibility for VA national cemeteries.
• Serve as primary contact for Veterans and representatives and schedule interments.
• Review legal documents and records to determine service qualifying for burial.
• Provide guidance to internal and external parties on burial benefits and respond to inquiries.

Skills

Customer Service

Analytical Thinking

Communication

Self-Management

Technical Credibility

Education

Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree

Job description

Duties

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA), National Cemetery Scheduling Office (NCSO), Eligibility Office in St. Louis, MO. The primary responsibility of the Eligibility Office is determining eligibility for Veterans, unclaimed remains believed to be Veterans, dependents of Veterans, or others for burial in VA national cemeteries at their time of need. Eligibility Office Program Analysts also provide determinations in advance of need through the Pre-Need benefit program and determinations of eligibility for VA memorial benefits for those interred in VA grant-funded state and tribal cemeteries.

The incumbent assumes full performance level accountability for processing requests for burial in VA national cemeteries, including determination of eligibility, which may be at, or in advance of, the time of need. Incumbent serves as the primary contact for the Veteran and his or her representative and acts as the first contact and the decision maker for determining eligibility and for scheduling burial in VA national cemeteries nationwide. In time of need cases, this position is responsible for reviewing legal documents and records and for determining service qualifying for burial in a national cemetery at the time of initial contact whenever possible. Determinations are based on military discharge documents provided by the caller or on documents obtained from NCA or VA systems. This position is responsible for scheduling interments at the time of initial contact whenever possible or for informing the caller of additional evidence required when eligibility cannot be established. When eligibility cannot be established at the time of initial contact, this position is responsible for obtaining required documents, for communicating eligibility determinations, and for scheduling interments for individuals determined to be eligible at the time of need. In addition to these duties, this position is responsible for providing technical guidance and information to both internal and external parties of interest concerning all requests for burial benefits, as well as for assisting in responses to congressional and other executive-level inquiries and correspondence.

The incumbent may receive incoming requests through multiple channels to include phone, email, internet portal, fax, or VA automated systems. The incumbent prepares interment applications in the burial system of record for casket burials, cremation burials, and memorial services based on information provided by funeral directors, Veterans, family members, or other authorized representatives. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining required availability levels and will consistently adhere to assigned schedules. Incumbent will be responsible for personal time management and adherence to proper call and phone not-ready code procedures in the Cisco Unified Intelligence Center (CUIC) or the telephony system of record.

The incumbent accurately records all military service verified to include branch of service, service number, dates of service, character of service, war periods, valor awards, highest rank held by service member, and other data during case establishment.

Performs public outreach as needed.

Work schedule

Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available

Telework: Not Available

Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position.

Position Description Title/PD#

Program Analyst/PD1579413

The full performance level of this position is GS - 10. At the level GS-09, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision.

Promotion Potential

The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Relocation Expenses

Not Authorized

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report

Not Required

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement

Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Specialized Experience

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing analytical work, analyzing business needs for clients, communication and customer service skills, ability to run and monitor a project, and experience in gathering, analyzing, documenting and presenting data.

OR

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 18 semester hours of graduate-level education earned.

Competencies

• Customer Service
• Self-Management
• Technical Credibility
• Analytical Thinking
• Communication

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.

Note

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary but requires occasional standing, walking, bending, stooping, or lifting.

Required

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;
• 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.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

PLEASE NOTE

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:

Special Employment Consideration

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy

The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

Please visit the

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.