Summary This position is located in a State or Area Office in USDA/Rural Development (RD). This is a developmental position with duties designed to provide training and development to prepare the incumbent for advancement to the position of Loan Specialist GS-1165-9. This is NOT a remote position. The incumbent will be expected to report to the office. Two positions will be filled from this announcement. Responsibilities Performs a variety of routine tasks as training, and to gain experience and technical competence in the methods, procedures, principles, theories, and techniques utilized in administering RD loan and grant programs. Segments of higher graded duties and projects may be assigned to provide experience and competency for future more complex loan examining and servicing work. Under the guidance of a higher graded specialist, meets with other lenders and potential borrowers to explain RD programs and requirements. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement as defined below. To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the experience requirements as follows: GS-5 level: Applicants must possess three (3) years of general experience, one of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service performing work in support of loan making and/or servicing duties such as providing information to applicants, inputting information into automated systems, and preparing files and reports or experience gathering and analyzing facts and figures, and presenting the 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, OR possess a Bachelor's degree OR 4 full years of progressively higher-level education leading to such a degree. Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. GS-7 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates 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 relation to the granting and servicing of mortgage loans. Experience may have been gained in work equivalent to furnishing general information concerning loan programs, loan eligibility requirements, or financial and credit requirements; reviewing loan applications for eligibility and financial soundness; and analyzing information provided by loan applicants and making recommendations to a higher-level loan specialist about loan eligibility OR completion of one full year of graduate level education OR Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) in a related field (see below). Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on completed courses.2. Grade-point average - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed bases on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- finance, business administration, economics, accounting, insurance, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, real estate operations, statistics, or other fields related to the position, such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock or ranch management, or rural sociology. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1165 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Conversion: In addition to meeting the pathways requirements for conversion, an applicant converting to a Loan Assistant/Specialist (Commercial), GS-1165-05/07/09 is required to also meet the OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1165 series. Education Applicants must provide transcripts. Please see the Additional Information section below for detailed information that is required regarding transcripts. To be eligible for a Pathways Recent Graduate position, applicants must meet one of the following educational requirements; Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. A transcript must be submitted with your application. Additional Information Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Upon successful completion of the Recent Graduate Program requirements in accordance with 5 CFR 362.204 (qualifications, one year continuous work experience, satisfactory performance, mandatory training completion, etc.) you may be non-competitively converted to a term, career­ conditional or career appointment within 120 days to a: Loan Assistant/Specialist, (Commercial) GS-1165-5/7/9 career ladder position. The full performance level (FPL) of the position to which converted may be up to the GS-9 level. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position. NOTE: An agency is not required to convert any individual in a Pathways position, to a position in the competitive service. Conversion to a competitive service position is not an entitlement. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements and/or telework as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Note: For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard for the GS-1165 series click: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards