Summary This position is located in the Farm Service Agency, Vermont State Office, Farm Loan Program Branch, located in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont. This position manages and directs the Farm Loan Programs administered in one or more USDA Service Centers providing services to one or more counties in the State. A 25 % recruitment incentive may be authorized if applicable. Responsibilities This position manages and directs assigned Farm Loan Programs and provides guidance and service to the state's Farm Loan Teams. Major responsibilities include. Serves as a state technical authority on the Farm Loan Programs and as a primary point-of-contact on assigned farm loan issues in the state. 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. Has knowledge of the technical and administrative concepts, principles, and practices of farm loan and financial management. Has knowledge of farm operations, land use and vale, and production and marketing of various crops and livestock. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications DoApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by 02/09/2024, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study 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; OR Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-9 level in the Federal service or private sector equivalent. Experience that demonstrates competence in agricultural loans. Experience may have been gained in such work as reviewing and passing upon applications for a limited number and variety of agricultural operations (i.e., single owner, single enterprise operation, farm equipment and machinery, etc.), or servicing an agricultural loan portfolio of a bank or other loan association. In addition, experience must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the technicalities of farm financing and credit, and a general working knowledge 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; OR A combination of education and experience as listed above; For the GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include; comprehensive knowledge of agricultural production, financial management and credit principles and practices sufficient to analyze the solvency, credit risk and future repayment capacity of integrated agricultural operations and complex loans and loan applications; advanced knowledge of laws, rules and regulations concerning agricultural trade and business practices and of income tax laws, bankruptcy laws and other statutes; demonstrated skill in working with large loans, complex operations, such as corporations and trusts, as well as complicated servicing cases, including loan restructures, liquidations and bankruptcy. In addition to the above requirements; applicants must meet the below Selective Placement Factor Requirement: MANDATORY SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Must possess or have had possessed Agricultural Loan Approval Authority. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp 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. College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit with your application package evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution was appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. Education standards. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process; however, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for instructions on submitting the transcript. Additional Information If selected, and upon receipt of Tentative Job Offer, applicant will be required to provide proof of Agricultural Loan Approval Authority within 7 days of receipt of Tentative Job Offer. Failure to provide required documentation will jeopardize further consideration. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Reemployment Priority List (RPL). Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP/ICTAP/RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP 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. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a security investigation and a credit report. 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.