Program Analyst

National Cemetery Administration • Saint Louis, MO

6d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The work is primarily sedentary but requires occasional standing, walking, bending, stooping, or lifting.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• Combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 18 semester hours of graduate-level education earned.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Providing determinations in advance of need through the Pre-Need benefit program.
• Providing determinations of eligibility for VA memorial benefits for those interred in VA grant-funded state and tribal cemeteries.
• Processing requests for burial in VA national cemeteries, including determination of eligibility.
• Serving as the primary contact for the Veteran and his or her representative.
• Acting as the first contact and decision maker for determining eligibility and for scheduling burial in VA national cemeteries nationwide.
• Reviewing legal documents and records and determining service qualifying for burial in a national cemetery at the time of initial contact whenever possible.
• Scheduling interments at the time of initial contact whenever possible or informing the caller of additional evidence required when eligibility cannot be established.
• Obtaining required documents, communicating eligibility determinations, and scheduling interments for individuals determined to be eligible at the time of need.
• Providing technical guidance and information to both internal and external parties of interest concerning all requests for burial benefits.
• Assisting in responses to congressional and other executive-level inquiries and correspondence.
• Receiving incoming requests through multiple channels to include phone, email, internet portal, fax, or VA automated systems.
• Preparing interment applications in the burial system of record for casket burials, cremation burials, and memorial services.
• Maintaining required availability levels and consistently adhering to assigned schedules.
• 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.
• Accurately recording 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.
• Performing public outreach as needed.

Benefits

• 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.
• Review our benefits
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level