Summary This position is located in the Farm Service Agency, Arkansas State Office, District 6 in Hazen, Arkansas. About the position: Manages and directs the Farm Loan Programs administered in one or more USDA Service Centers providing serices to one or more counties in the State. Responsibilities Serves as the Service Center technical authority on the Farm Loan Programs and the primary point-of-contact on all farm loan issues addressed in the counties serviced. Supervises and directs the work of a subordinate staff responsible for making, servicing, and liquidating loans under FSA farm loan authorities. Has delegated loan approval authority and performs the full range of loan specialist duties. Attends public meetings with various groups and associations and performs public relations and outreach efforts in the geographic areas serviced. Applies knowledge of the technical and administrative concepts, principles, and practices of farm loan and financial management. Applies knowledge of farm operations, land use and value, and production and marketing of various crops and livestock. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date 02/02/2024 of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined. Specialized experience for the GS-12 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Experience that demonstrates competence in agricultural loans. Experience reviewing and passing upon applications for various kinds of agricultural operations representing all types of ownership (i.e., single owner, partnerships, and corporations, etc.); servicing an agricultural loan portfolio of a bank or other loan association. In addition, experience must demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the technicalities of farm financing and credit, 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. MANDATORY SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR FOR GS-12: Must possess or have possessed Agricultural Loan Approval Authority. NOTE: Your resume must specifically address the experiences and Selective Placement Factor needed to be considered. Failure to document may result in an ineligible rating. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the GS-11 grade level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Loan Specialist Series 1165 (opm.gov) 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. Education THE SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION IS NOT QUALIFYING FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL. Additional Information If selected, applicant will be required to provide proof of Agricultural Loan Approval Authority within 7 days of receipt of the Tentative Job Offer. Failure to provide required documentation will jeopardize further consideration. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP/RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.