Loan Assistant/Specialist (Agricultural)

Farm Service Agency • Fremont, NE

3d

About The Position

The position is located in the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Nebraska State Office, in Fremont, Nebraska. It assists the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs through a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties. The role is developmental and includes on-the-job and classroom training in farm loan program administration. Farm Loan Officers must successfully complete the Farm Loan Training Program and may be reassigned to another training office while in training. After completing the program, they may be reassigned to a different duty station if workload changes or vacancies occur.

The position conducts interviews with loan applicants, reviews applications, and makes preliminary inquiries to gather facts and assess applicant eligibility. It also provides technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to applicants and borrowers. The work applies knowledge of agency farm loan programs and eligibility requirements, farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, crop and livestock production, and prices and markets in the serviced farming areas.

The announcement describes qualification pathways at the GS-5, GS-7, and GS-9 levels. Candidates must meet the applicable education and/or experience requirements by the announcement closing date. The position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy; recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. The role requires U.S. citizenship or national status, applicable Selective Service registration, background investigation and continuous vetting, E-Verify, direct deposit, and a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Must pass satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check and be subject to continuous automated record checks.
• Must complete a one-year probationary period and receive written certification for continued employment.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must meet the applicable GS-5, GS-7, or GS-9 basic and specialized qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
• For GS-5, qualifying pathways include three years of general experience, including one year equivalent to GS-4; a qualifying bachelor's degree; or a combination of education and experience.
• For GS-7, qualifying pathways include one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5; one full year of qualifying graduate education; superior academic achievement with a qualifying bachelor's degree; or a combination of education and experience.
• For GS-9, qualifying pathways include one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7; a qualifying master's or equivalent graduate degree or two years of progressively higher-level graduate education; or a combination of education and experience.
• If qualifying based on education, submit college transcripts; foreign education must meet the stated equivalency and translation requirements.
• Current federal GS employees applying for promotion must meet the 52-week time-in-grade requirement by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews with loan applicants, review loan applications, and make preliminary inquiries to gather facts and assess applicant eligibility.
• Provide technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to loan applicants and borrowers.
• Apply knowledge of agency farm loan programs and eligibility requirements.
• Apply knowledge of farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, crop and livestock production, and prices and markets in the serviced farming areas.
• Assist the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties.
• Complete on-the-job and classroom training in farm loan program administration and successfully complete the Farm Loan Training Program.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package is available; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

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