Program Analyst

Summary

The Engagement and Response Branch functions as the Department's primary liaison to Congressional Appropriations Committees, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and other external partners engaged in oversight of USDA programs and funding. The incumbent functions as an analytical authority on Congressional engagement, budget-legislative analysis, and appropriations interpretation across USDA. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

• •Serves as the senior program analyst responsible for USDA’s enterprise process for preparing, coordinating, and supporting Departmental participation in Congressional budget hearings.
• •Leads the analytical review and development of briefing materials by validating data quality, ensuring accuracy of program information, and confirming alignment with Administration priorities.
• •Serves as USDA’s principal program analyst for evaluating appropriations provisions to determine operational, budgetary, legal, and strategic impacts.
• •Develops analytical frameworks and hearing strategies for OBPA and USDA leadership, advising on risks, recommended responses, and key narrative themes.
• •Conducts qualitative and quantitative analyses of complex statutory language, interprets program implications, and recommends implementation strategies to ensure compliance with Congressional intent.
• •Prepares decision support materials for leadership, including impact analyses, risk assessments, and operational options.
• •Independently evaluates and identifies legislative trends, emerging program issues, and political sensitivities likely to shape questioning to determine impacts on USDA hearing readiness.
• •Ensures statements reflect validated program positions, incorporate comprehensive analytical insights, and anticipate key Congressional concerns.
• •Oversees USDA’s analytical interactions with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
• •Manages official hearing records by reviewing transcripts, identifying substantive corrections, and resolving discrepancies in factual or analytical content.
• •Conducts authoritative analysis of Congressional intent by integrating input from Office of General Counsel, policy offices, and mission areas.
• •Advises senior leaders by analyzing implications of General Provisions and amendments that may affect multiple programs or mission areas.
• •Duties described above are at the full performance GS-13 level, duties at the GS-11 and GS-12 levels will be developmental.

Qualifications

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: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must meet the Specialized Experience and/or Education requirements as shown below. If qualifying based on experience, your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. GS-11: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which included experience responding to inquiries regarding programming, budgetary, and financial management policy; and, performing detailed analytical reviews of appropriations bills, committee reports, and legislative documents. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M. if related. OR A combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for the GS-11 grade level. GS-12: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which included experience responding to inquiries regarding programming, budgetary, and financial management policy; performing detailed analytical reviews of appropriations bills, committee reports, and legislative documents; and drafting, refining, and analyzing formal testimony and supporting materials to ensure data accuracy, clarity of narrative, and alignment with relevant program and budget information. GS-13: Qualifying experience for GS-13 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-12 which included experience responding to inquiries regarding programming, budgetary, and financial management policy; performing detailed analytical reviews of appropriations bills, committee reports, and legislative documents; drafting, refining, and analyzing formal testimony and supporting materials to ensure data accuracy, clarity of narrative, and alignment with relevant program and budget information; and, developing organizational-wide guidance and analytical products that explain impacts of new budgetary statutory requirements and appropriations provisions. 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.

Education

Education may be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-11 level as described above. Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-12 and GS-13 levels.