USA Staffing

Position Title: Loan Assistant / Specialist (Agricultural)
Agency: Farm Service Agency
Announcement Number: FSA-21-10970399-DHA Opens in new window
Open Period: Friday, November 20, 2020 to Friday, August 6, 2021

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

A. Yes

B. No

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

A. Yes

B. No

4. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below:

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating?
OR
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?

A. Yes

B. No

1. Select the locations you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.

A. Phoenix, AZ

B. Davis, CA

C. Denver, CO

D. Honolulu, HI

E. Manhattan, KS

F. Reno, NV

G. Albuquerque, NM

H. Stillwater, OK

I. College Station, TX

J. Salt Lake City, UT

2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.

Please respond to the following questions. Any experience claimed in response to the questions MUST be supported by information in your resume. This information must be SPECIFIC, (i.e., duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments). Failure to provide supporting documentation may result in an ineligible rating.

1. From the descriptions below, choose the response that best describes the highest level of experience and/or education you have that demonstrates your ability to perform GS-5, Loan Assistant (Agricultural) work. (Note: One year of specialized experience is based on a 40-hour work week. If you have worked less than 40 hours per week, you must prorate your experience.)

A. I have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, OR I possess a bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, economics, accounting, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, statistics, or another field related to the position such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock, ranch management or rural sociology.

B. I have completed one year of graduate education OR I possess a master's degree or higher graduate degree with a major in finance, business administration, economics, accounting, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, statistics, or another field related to the position such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock, ranch management or rural sociology.

C. I have at least one full-time year of specialized work experience that demonstrated basic knowledge of loan examining and/or servicing principles, procedures and techniques as they apply to investigation, analysis and evaluation of financial factors and credit risks in granting and servicing of agricultural loans. In addition, this experience demonstrated basic knowledge of farm operations, land use and value, production of various crops and livestock, and prices and markets in the farming area.

D. I have three years of general work experience that required gathering and analyzing facts and figures and presenting information or conclusions in clear oral and written language; OR that provided a knowledge of the principles of financial analysis or insurance laws, such as contract, property, life casualty, or marine insurance.

E. I have less than four years of post-high school education in a field listed above, and less than the specialized experience, but I have a combination of the education and experience (i.e., 3 years of post-high school education and at least 3 months of specialized experience).

F. I have less than four years of post-high school education in a field listed above, and less than the general experience, but I have a combination of the education and general experience (i.e., 1 year of post-high school education and at least 27 months of general experience).

G. I do not possess the required education and/or experience to qualify for this position.

2. From the descriptions below, choose the response that best describes the highest level of experience and/or education you have that demonstrates your ability to perform GS-7, Loan Assistant (Agricultural) work. (Note: One year of specialized experience is based on a 40-hour work week. If you have worked less than 40 hours per week, you must prorate your experience.)

A. I have Superior Academic Achievement from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, economics, accounting, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, statistics, or another field related to the position, such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock or ranch management, or rural sociology with either: 1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale; 2) a 3.5 GPA based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; 3) class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; 4) membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

C. I have at least one full-time year of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service or private sector. This experience demonstrated basic knowledge of loan examining and/or servicing principles, procedures and techniques as they apply to investigation, analysis and evaluation of financial factors and credit risks in granting and servicing of agricultural loans. In addition, this experience demonstrated basic knowledge of farm operations, land use and value, production of various crops and livestock, and prices and markets in the farming area.

D. I have less than the full amount of graduate education and less than the amount of specialized experience, but I have a combination of graduate education and specialized experience.

E. I do not possess the required education and/or experience to qualify for this position.

3. From the descriptions below, choose the response that best describes the highest level of experience and/or education you have that demonstrates your ability to perform GS-9, Loan Specialist (Agricultural) work. (Note: One year of specialized experience is based on a 40-hour workweek. If you have worked less than 40 hours per week, you must prorate your experience.)

A. I have completed 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree with a major in finance, business administration, economics, accounting, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, statistics, or other fields related to the position such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock or ranch management, or rural sociology.

B. I have at least one full-time year of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service or private sector that demonstrated competence in agricultural loans. This experience may have been gained in such work as reviewing and passing upon applications for agricultural loans; servicing an agricultural loan portfolio of a bank or other loan association; or similar work. I have demonstrated knowledge of credit principles and practices to assess the fundamental soundness of individual loans by independently examining applications, supporting documents, and credit reports, and maintaining servicing activities on small agricultural loans. In addition, my experience demonstrated knowledge and understanding of farm operations, land use and value, production of various crops and livestock, and prices and markets in the farming area where loans are made and serviced.

C. I have less than the full amount of graduate education listed above and less than the experience described above, but I have a combination of graduate education beyond the first year (i.e., 18 semester hours) and experience.

D. I do not possess the required education and/or experience to qualify for this position.

4. Do you have experience volunteering for or working with federal, state, county, private, commercial, or non-profit organizations in matters related to agricultural production? (e.g. working as a temporary employee or volunteer in a Farm Service Agency office, or serving as an officer or member in FFA, Stockgrowers, or other agricultural club or organization.

A. Yes

B. No

5. Do you have experience working with farm finances or farm financial concepts? (e.g. working in agricultural leading, keeping records for a farming venture, or reporting farm financial data for tax purposes).

A. Yes

B. No

6. Do you have hands on experience in the field of agriculture? (e.g. management of a farm or working as a farm laborer).

A. Yes

B. No

7. Do you have education in the field of agriculture? (e.g. completion of a degree in an agricultural business, agricultural sciences, animal science, crop science, and farm and ranch management.)

A. Yes

B. No

8. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Submitting false information or attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for terminating you after you have been hired. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.

A. Yes, I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by me with my application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that I have truthfully and accurately represented my work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, certifications, accomplishments, etc.). I understand that the information provided is subject to investigation. I understand that misrepresenting my experience or education, or providing false, fraudulent or inaccurate information in or with my application may be grounds for not hiring me or for terminating me after I begin work. I also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).

B. No, I do not certify and I understand that by responding “no” to this certification that I will not receive consideration for this position.

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