Farm Loan Officer (Agricultural)

Farm Service Agency•Ephrata, WA

About The Position

This position is in the Farm Service Agency, Washington State Office. The location is negotiable within Washington State after selection. The Farm Loan Officer assists the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties. The role provides technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to loan applicants and borrowers; services farm loans; and exercises delegated authority to approve loans within a specific limit. It requires knowledge of agency farm loan programs and eligibility requirements, farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, agricultural production, and markets in the serviced farming areas. For the GS-11 level, the position requires Agricultural Loan Approval Authority. The position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.

Requirements

U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
Pass required background investigation and/or fingerprint check, continuous vetting, and E-Verify employment verification.
Serve a one-year probationary period.
Meet the GS-1165 basic requirement through relevant undergraduate or graduate education, or qualifying experience demonstrating competence in agricultural, commercial, realty, or other loans.
For GS-09, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, qualifying graduate education, or an allowed combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes agricultural loan review or servicing, applying credit principles to assess loans, and knowledge of farm operations, land use and value, production, and local markets.
For GS-11, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, qualifying graduate education, or an allowed combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes analyzing agricultural operations' solvency, credit risk, and repayment capacity; knowledge of agricultural business laws and practices and relevant tax and bankruptcy laws; working with smaller loans and less complicated business structures; and independently performing loan collection activities.
For GS-11, possess or have possessed Agricultural Loan Approval Authority; selected applicants must provide proof within seven days of receiving a tentative job offer.
Current federal GS employees applying for promotion must meet the 52-week time-in-grade requirement by the announcement closing date.
Submit transcripts if qualifying based on education; foreign education requires appropriate equivalency documentation.
Be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance; selected candidates are subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry and credit report.
Submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of initial appointment and annually thereafter.
Meet applicable financial disclosure requirements regarding business or personal transactions with agency applicants, borrowers, or business contacts.

Responsibilities

Assist the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties.
Service farm loans.
Provide technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to loan applicants and borrowers.
Approve loans within a specific limit under delegated loan approval authority.
Apply knowledge of agency farm loan programs and eligibility requirements.
Use knowledge of farm financing and credit, financial management concepts and practices, and farm operations.
Apply knowledge of land use and value, crop and livestock production, and prices and markets in serviced farming areas.
Independently perform loan collection activities, as applicable to the GS-11 specialized experience described.