Summary

This position is located in a State or Area office in USDA/Rural Development (RD). The incumbent has responsibility for making and servicing loans/grants for selected loans and grants for rural facilities, utilities, and/or businesses.

This position may be eligible for hiring incentives.

The initial cutoff date for referral consideration will be 6/09/24.

This position is neither remote nor virtual. The employee will be expected to report in person to the assigned duty location.

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Overview

* Accepting applications

* Open & closing dates

05/23/2024 to 08/26/2024

* Salary

$59,966 - $113,047 per year

Salary listed is for Rest of United States. Locality pay may apply based on location of selectee.

* Pay scale & grade

GS 9 - 12

* Help

Locations

* Anniston, AL

* Bay Minette, AL

* Camden, AL

* Cullman, AL

* Show more locations (174)

* Huntsville, AL

* Montgomery, AL

* Ozark, AL

* Tuscaloosa, AL

* Tuskegee, AL

* Forrest City, AR

* Fort Smith, AR

* Harrison, AR

* Hope, AR

* Jonesboro, AR

* Little Rock, AR

* Monticello, AR

* Pine Bluff, AR

* Russellville, AR

* Crestview, FL

* Davenport, FL

* Gainesville, FL

* Jacksonville, FL

* Lake City, FL

* Marianna, FL

* North Fort Myers, FL

* Ocala, FL

* Royal Palm Beach, FL

* Wausau, FL

* Athens, GA

* Barnesville, GA

* Blackshear, GA

* Camilla, GA

* Cartersville, GA

* Dawson, GA

* Douglas, GA

* Fort Valley, GA

* Monroe, GA

* Newnan, GA

* Sandersville, GA

* Statesboro, GA

* Thomson, GA

* Tifton, GA

* Champaign, IL

* Effingham, IL

* Galesburg, IL

* Jacksonville, IL

* Marion, IL

* Mount Vernon, IL

* Oregon, IL

* Ottawa, IL

* Peoria County, IL

* Pontiac, IL

* Princeton, IL

* Quincy, IL

* Bloomfield, IN

* Columbia City, IN

* Crawfordsville, IN

* Indianapolis, IN

* Jasper, IN

* Knox, IN

* Muncie, IN

* North Vernon, IN

* Bowling Green, KY

* Campbellsville, KY

* Columbia, KY

* Elizabethtown, KY

* Hazard, KY

* Lexington, KY

* London, KY

* Madisonville, KY

* Mayfield, KY

* Morehead, KY

* Paintsville, KY

* Shelbyville, KY

* Williamstown, KY

* Alexandria, LA

* Amite, LA

* Lafayette, LA

* Monroe, LA

* Montgomery, LA

* Natchitoches, LA

* Batesville, MS

* Booneville, MS

* Brandon, MS

* Brookhaven, MS

* Canton, MS

* Cleveland, MS

* Decatur, MS

* Greenville, MS

* Grenada, MS

* Gulfport, MS

* Hattiesburg, MS

* Indianola, MS

* Jackson, MS

* Meridian, MS

* Natchez, MS

* Philadelphia, MS

* Starkville, MS

* Yazoo City, MS

* Asheboro, NC

* Asheville, NC

* Bolivia, NC

* Dobson, NC

* Franklin, NC

* Greenville, NC

* Halifax, NC

* Halifax County, NC

* Henderson, NC

* Jefferson, NC

* Kinston, NC

* Lumberton, NC

* Raleigh, NC

* Rockingham, NC

* Sanford, NC

* Shelby, NC

* Smithfield, NC

* Spruce Pine, NC

* Statesville, NC

* Winston-Salem, NC

* Winton, NC

* Ada, OK

* Atoka, OK

* Chandler, OK

* Duncan, OK

* Enid, OK

* Hobart, OK

* Muskogee, OK

* Stillwater, OK

* Vinita, OK

* Woodward, OK

* Aiken, SC

* Anderson, SC

* Chester, SC

* Columbia, SC

* Florence, SC

* Irmo, SC

* Kingstree, SC

* Orangeburg, SC

* Spartanburg, SC

* Walterboro, SC

* Chattanooga, TN

* Cookeville, TN

* Greeneville, TN

* Jackson, TN

* Knoxville, TN

* Lawrenceburg, TN

* Nashville, TN

* Union City, TN

* Abilene, TX

* Alice, TX

* Amarillo, TX

* Angleton, TX

* Belton, TX

* Brownwood, TX

* Decatur, TX

* Edinburg, TX

* Edna, TX

* El Paso, TX

* Fort Stockton, TX

* Fredericksburg, TX

* Georgetown, TX

* Hebbronville, TX

* Henderson, TX

* Hillsboro, TX

* Huntsville, TX

* Lubbock, TX

* Lufkin, TX

* McKinney, TX

* Mount Pleasant, TX

* Ozona, TX

* Seguin, TX

* Temple, TX

* Uvalde, TX

* Victoria, TX

* West, TX

* Remote job

* Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

* Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

* Relocation expenses reimbursed

* Appointment type

Permanent

* Work schedule

Full-time

* Service

Competitive

* Promotion potential

* Job family (Series)

1165 Loan Specialist

* Supervisory status

* Security clearance

Not Required

* Drug test

* Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

* Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

* Announcement number

DE-OCA-12409023-2024-FPJ

* Control number

792598400

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This job is open to

* Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

* The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens, Those with Veterans Preference and those who are ICTAP, CTAP and RPL eligibles.

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Duties

* Reviews and analyzes preapplications, applications and all supporting documents to determine loan or grant eligibility and inputs data into appropriate automated database system.

* Prepares written loan/grant recommendations and submits to supervisor for review. Reviews file for completeness and compliance with all prescribed regulations and practices before loan closing.

* Provides a wide variety of servicing actions for assigned less difficult loan cases. Analyzes annual financial statements and reports on closed loans.

* Works with a program specialist and/or supervisor in the development and implementation of an outreach and marketing program for the servicing area.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

* 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

* Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.

* 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 E-Verify at

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

GS-09 level: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Basic knowledge in performing loan making and/or loan servicing duties such as regularly examining loan applications, supporting documents, credit reports, and maintaining servicing activities of somewhat complex loans and/or grants. Experience assisting higher level loan specialists by performing assigned portions of financial credit analysis in connection with more complex loans as a way of acquiring training and competency for more difficult loan examining and servicing assignments OR Masters or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB or JD if related. Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

GS-11 level: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of complex mortgage, commercial loan making/servicing, and credit principles and practices in order to assess the fundamental soundness of business, corporate or municipal loans. Experience independently examining applications, reviewing corporate financial documents, and servicing activities on a variety of mortgage and commercial loans. Experience may have been gained in work equivalent to analyzing financial information provided by loan applicants; determining eligibility for loans, appraising real estate, repayment ability; reviewing, performing financial analysis of commercial concerns for investment purposes; servicing the loan portfolio of a bank and other loan association and approving applications for agricultural, commercial, and bank loans. . OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree if related OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR a combination of education as described and specialized experience.

GS-12 level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience independently reviewing and making decisions on applications for commercial loans, municipal bonds, servicing a commercial/non-profit , and municipal loan portfolio, to include decision-making on liquidations.; performing financial and credit analysis of commercial concerns, reviewing and examining feasibility studies and business plan proposals based on business structures and economic factors. There is no education substitution for this grade level.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1165 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at:

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.

* Knowledge of Building Standards, Costs, Specifications and Contracts

* Knowledge of Commercial and Community Program servicing requirements.

* Knowledge of Commercial and Community Programs loan and/or grant making requirements.

* Oral Communication

* Program Administration/Project Management

* Written Communication

Education

This position does not have an education requirement, but education may be substituted for experience.

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- finance, business administration, economics, accounting, insurance, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, real estate operations, statistics, or other fields related to the position, such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock or ranch management, or rural sociology.

Additional information

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that is actively being used to fill current and future vacancies.

* To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit a complete application prior to the established cut-off date(s).

* The initial cut-off date will take place on June 09, 2024 to begin the initial applicant consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered only if needed for future vacancies.

* The cut-off dates are June 09, 2024; June 23, 2024; July 7, 2024; July 21, 2024; August 4, 2024, and August 16, 2024.

* You are encouraged to apply as early as possible. This announcement will remain open until the closing date indicated; If you make corrections and resubmit your application, the date the application is last submitted will be used to determine those who are considered to have met the cut-off date.

NOTE: The period of eligibility for applications is throughout the announcement until the closing date or until 500 applications are received for each location. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period at any time a vacancy becomes available and selections may be made at any point during the announcement open period. The agency will issue a list of eligible applicants to hiring officials within the period of eligibility. Applicants may make changes to applications to ensure experience is current.

One of the following incentives may be offered:

* Student Loan Repayment incentive.

* Relocation incentive.

* Recruitment incentive.

* Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual incentive.

* Superior Qualifications Appointment.

To be eligible for appointment to this position, the new hire must be cleared to come on board once the results of the fingerprint check, review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the candidate's Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory. This position requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation.

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Arkansas- This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE Local 108 Bargaining Unit 1933 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

Indiana-This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE/AFGE Local 622 Bargaining Unit 5909 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

Oklahoma - This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE 3354 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

Texas-This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE/AFGE Local 571 Bargaining Unit 1974 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

* Benefits

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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit:

* Benefits

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* Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

* Resume that includes:1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (month/year); title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.

* If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

* If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.

* If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS

* Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

* How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

NOTE: Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable.

Agency contact information

Tiara Gonzalez

Phone

0000000000

tiara.gonzalez@usda.gov

Address

Rural Development

1400 Independence Ave SW

Washington, DC 20250

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS to check your application status.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to david.root@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.

* Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

* Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

* Criminal history inquiries

* Reasonable accommodation policy

* Financial suitability

* Selective Service

* New employee probationary period

* Signature and false statements

* Privacy Act

* Social security number request

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Required Documents

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How to Apply

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.

To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

NOTE: Please verify that documents you are uploading fro