Program Analyst

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. Major 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. Requirements: You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable to appointment type) 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; and 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. The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations.