Loan Assistant/Specialist (Agricultural)

Farm Service Agency • Clovis, NM

5d

About The Position

These positions are in the Farm Service Agency, New Mexico State Office, District 3 Service Center, with one position in Clovis, Curry County, New Mexico, and one in Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico. The positions assist the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties.

The work is developmental, with on-the-job and classroom training in farm loan program administration. Upon completion of the training program, Farm Loan Officers may be reassigned to a different duty station if workload activity changes or vacancies occur. The position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy.

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 satisfactorily complete a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period unless prior federal service is creditable; continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Applicants must meet the applicable GS-1165 basic requirement through qualifying education or experience in a related field or financial/loan work.
• For GS-5, must meet the general experience requirement of three years, including one year equivalent to at least GS-4, or qualify through the stated bachelor's-level education or a combination of education and experience.
• For GS-7, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5, qualifying graduate education, Superior Academic Achievement, or a combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes basic knowledge of agricultural loan examining or servicing and knowledge of farm operations, land use and value, crop and livestock production, and local markets.
• For GS-9, must have 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. Specialized experience includes agricultural loan work, independent examination of loan applications and supporting credit information, servicing small agricultural loans, and knowledge of farm operations and local markets.
• When qualifying based on education, must submit transcripts. Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires equivalency documentation and English-language transcripts or translations.

Responsibilities

• Interview loan applicants, review loan applications, and make preliminary inquiries to develop factual information for assessing 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 concepts and practices, farm operations, land use and value, crop and livestock production, and local prices and markets.
• 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 the administration of farm loan programs.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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