Loan Specialist (Agricultural)

Farm Service Agency • Franklin, TX

2d

About The Position

This position is located in the Farm Service Agency in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas. The Loan Specialist assists the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties. The position provides technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to loan applicants and borrowers, and has delegated authority to approve loans within a specific limit. The role requires knowledge of agency farm loan programs and eligibility requirements, farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, and the production, marketing, prices, and markets for crops and livestock in the serviced farming areas.

The position requires Agricultural Loan Approval Authority at the GS-11 level. The selectee must provide proof of that authority within seven days of receiving a tentative job offer. The position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. The selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance and will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry and a credit report.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service or exempt.
• Pass satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint adjudication and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Enroll in direct deposit for federal payments.
• Submit Confidential Financial Disclosure Report Form OGE-450 within 30 days of initial appointment and annually thereafter.
• Be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance; the selectee is subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry and a credit report.
• Meet the GS-1165 basic requirement through qualifying education in a related field or specialized loan-related experience.
• For GS-11, have one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-9 level, including knowledge of agricultural production, financial management and credit principles; ability to assess solvency, credit risk, and repayment capacity of moderate-size agricultural operations; knowledge of relevant agricultural trade, business, tax, and bankruptcy laws; experience with smaller loans and less complicated business structures; and independent loan collection experience.
• Alternatively for GS-11, have three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a qualifying field, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• Possess or have possessed Agricultural Loan Approval Authority for GS-11 and provide proof within seven days of receipt of the tentative job offer.
• If a current federal GS employee applying for promotion, meet the 52-week time-in-grade requirement by the announcement closing date.
• Submit transcripts if qualifying based on education; foreign education must include appropriate equivalency verification and English translation.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Farm Loan Manager in administering farm loan programs in a USDA Service Center serving one or more counties.
• Provide technical advice, guidance, and credit counseling to loan applicants and borrowers.
• Approve loans within a specific delegated loan approval limit.
• Apply knowledge of farm loan programs and eligibility requirements.
• Evaluate farm financing and credit, financial management, farm operations, land use and value, and crop and livestock production, marketing, prices, and markets in the serviced farming areas.
• Perform loan collection activities independently, as required by the specialized experience criteria.

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: Mid Level