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PROGRAM ANALYST

HQ USAF and Support Elements

Pentagon, Arlington, VAFull-time$144–187K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$144–187K/yr
Location
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Job overview

The Senior Air Force Program Analyst serves in the Global Mobility and SOF Division, Department of the Air Force, Director of Programs. The role supports strategic funding decisions by applying planning, programming, and budget guidance to identify alternatives for major missions within fiscal constraints. It also develops methods to evaluate planning and budget actions, presents conclusions to senior audiences, and coordinates PPBE support with Air Staff, service headquarters, and Department of Defense offices.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

PPBE KnowledgeAir Force PolicyBudget ForecastingCost ProjectionFinancial AnalysisStrategic BasingMilitary Operations PlanningFact AnalysisBriefing DevelopmentWritten CommunicationOral CommunicationNegotiationRelationship Management

Qualifications

GS-13 Specialized ExperienceGS-13 Time-in-Grade

Full job description

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as a Senior Air Force Program Analyst in the Global Mobility and SOF Division, Department of the Air Force, Director of Programs.

Duties

Applies expertise, develops, interprets, and implements policies and procedures to provide Air Force strategic funding decisions based on the planning, programming, and budget guidance to facilitate the identification and determination of alternative ways to achieve the best mix of forces, equipment, and support attainable, within fiscal constraints, for major mission and operational plans. Develops new methods for testing and evaluating the effectiveness of planning, programming, and budget actions/processes in support of major Air Force mission and operational plans. Prepares and presents high level briefings of conclusions; many being highly subjective and not readily susceptible to verification until actual operational situations are encountered. Maintains a continuous liaison with other Air Staff, other service headquarters counterparts, and DOD offices to integrate Air Force PPBE support actions. Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Management and Program Analysis Series 0343. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-13, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes mastery of advanced management and organizational principles and practices and a comprehensive knowledge of planning, programming, budget and execution system (PPBE)regulations, guidelines, and processes; and a thorough knowledge of Department of Defense and AirForce planning, acquisition, and management processes to provide PPBE guidelines and advisory services in support of major Air Force missions for the combat air forces and operations plans, and similar operations planning efforts; Comprehensive knowledge of the Federal, DOD, and Air Force planning, programming, budget and execution system (PPBE); and thorough knowledge of Air Force program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events; High degree of skill in analyzing and comparing cost benefits, cost projections, budgetary tradeoffs, fiscal strategies, and programmatic factors to produce fully justified options that can be presented to higher levels of management for use in defending fiscal decisions. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of the Department of Defense planning, programming, budget and execution system(PPBE) and Department of Air Force policy, procedures, and schedules for developing Program Objectives Memoranda, Budget Estimate Submissions and Financial Plans in support of major AirForce missions for the combat air forces and operations plans; and methods for developing budget forecasts, cost projections, financial exhibits, unfunded requirements justifications, POM narratives, offsets and disconnects, reclamas, and issue papers. Knowledge of Air Force program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events. Knowledge of the Air Force Strategic Basing Process to include the Basing Request Review Panel (BRRP), the Strategic Basing Executive Steering Group (SB-ERG), and the Air Force Corporate Structure. Knowledge of the relationship of the various Air Force entities involved in overall planning and execution of military operations and evaluations, and the way the PPBE process supports them. Knowledge of Air Force installations to include the interaction of Total Force (Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve). Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts, draw conclusions, conduct analysis, devise recommended solutions, and package the entire process in briefings, papers, or reports suitable for top management use and decision-making. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; negotiates complex issues; and maintains good working relations. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. BASIS OF RATING: Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable. Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements. Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements. The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. Other Information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

How this job compares

Set against the 1,113 open Program Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 5, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$144–187K/yr
  • Virginia median$98–140K/yr105 salary ranges
  • US median$90–131K/yr686 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $166K, is 36% above the Virginia median midpoint ($122K) — in the top quarter of Program Analyst salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 230 open Program Analyst jobs in Virginia and 1,113 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience; Program Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for 3 years at the median (1,007 postings).
Education
336 of the 1,113 open Program Analyst jobs (30%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 5, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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