Loan Assistant/Specialist (Agricultural)

Farm Service Agency • San Antonio, TX

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is located in the Farm Service Agency in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The Loan Assistant/Specialist assists the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs at 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 all requirements of the Farm Loan Training Program and may be reassigned to another training office during training. After completing training, Farm Loan Officers may be reassigned to a different duty station if workload changes or vacancies occur.

The position involves interviewing loan applicants, reviewing loan applications, gathering information to assess applicant eligibility, and providing technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to applicants and borrowers. It requires applying knowledge of agency farm loan programs and eligibility requirements, as well as farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, agricultural production, and local prices and markets. The role also reviews loan-related changes and makes recommendations concerning releases, subordinations, adjustments, transfers, and similar actions.

The position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. Promotion potential may be available under a career development plan, but promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check, and continuous automated record checks during the period of eligibility or employment.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period and receive written certification that continued employment advances the public interest to remain employed after the probationary period.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Applicants must meet the applicable basic education or experience qualifications for the grade level sought. Qualifying fields of study may include finance, business administration, economics, accounting, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, real estate operations, statistics, agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock or ranch management, or rural sociology.
• For GS-05 based on experience, three years of general experience, including one year equivalent to at least GS-04, involving gathering and analyzing facts and figures and communicating conclusions clearly, or knowledge of financial analysis principles or insurance laws; qualifying education or a combination may also qualify.
• For GS-07 based on experience, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 involving basic loan examination or servicing principles and agricultural credit-risk analysis, with knowledge of farm operations, land use and value, crop and livestock production, and local agricultural prices and markets; qualifying graduate education, superior academic achievement, or a combination may also qualify.
• For GS-09 based on experience, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 involving agricultural loans, credit principles, independent examination of applications and supporting documents, credit reports, servicing small agricultural loans, and knowledge of farm operations and local agricultural markets; qualifying graduate education or a combination may also qualify.
• Current federal employees applying for a promotion must meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at the next lower grade by the announcement closing date.
• Applicants qualifying based on education must provide transcripts; foreign education must include the required equivalency documentation and English translation.

Responsibilities

• Interview 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 technical knowledge of farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, crop and livestock production, and prices and markets in serviced farming areas.
• Assist the Farm Loan Manager with administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties.
• Complete on-the-job and classroom training in the administration of farm loan programs.
• Review loan-related changes and make recommendations concerning releases, subordinations, adjustments, transfers, and similar actions.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type.
• Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

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