Summary This position is located within the State or Area Office of USDA Rural Development (RD).The incumbent provides information to the public as well as technical and clerical support on various loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs administered by RD. This position may be eligible for hiring incentives. The initial cutoff date for referral consideration will be 5/29/24. This position is neither remote nor virtual. The employee will be expected to report in person to the assigned duty location. Responsibilities Serves as a primary representative providing technical information, assistance and guidance to applicants, borrowers, and lenders, concerning eligibility and other requirements for loans, grants, and/or loan guarantee programs administered by RD. Reviews and analyzes various loan/grant-servicing and related documents, forms and materials submitted for adequacy, completeness, accuracy of information, and conformity to established procedures and requirements. Prepares and reviews closing related documents to ensure adequacy, completeness, accuracy of information, and to ensure conditions are met in advance of closing. Follows-up and works with borrowers, closing agents and attorneys in preparation of closing. Performs routine clerical functions such as phone coverage, mail, monitoring supplies, timekeeping duties, etc. The incumbent initiates and prepares correspondence, maintains records, report and files. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. For GS-05: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates experience performing a full range of clerical assignments and required resolution of recurring problems related to loan/grant programs. Work consists of related steps, processes or methods requiring identification and recognition of the differences from among a variety of recurring situations regarding loan/grant programs. The work requires subject-matter knowledge of the organization's programs, business practices, rules, processes, or operations to determine what is being done, why actions are taken and how to accomplish assignments. Experience may have been gained in work comparable to compiling, maintaining, and updating data, list, and reports using knowledge of where data is obtained and independently acquiring information to perform standard tasks 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. For GS-06: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: use of specialized clerical assistance to perform a full range of standard and/or non-standard assignments resolving a variety of non-recurring problems to include a variety of assignments having different unrelated steps, processes, or methods such as processing transactions for credit programs, commercial, real estate, or other loan/grant programs having similar characteristic but requiring the use of different steps, procedures or methods to complete the process. Experience may have been gained in work comparable to examining program applications for completeness, discrepancies, meeting eligibility requirements, and other special prerequisites and identifying situations that are inconsistent with previous experience in similar situations using available information, regulations, or other guidelines or may involve fraud, etc. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-06 level. For GS-07: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates experience searching and compiling information; examining loan documents and records to ascertain sufficiency, accuracy, and implications of information. Experience providing oral and/or written information about loan program requirements and servicing matters. Experience maintaining reports, statistics, and other loan program related information; or other experience related to the position to be filled. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-07 grade level. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1101 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. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Additional Information This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that is actively being used to fill current and future vacancies. To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit a complete application prior to the established cut-off date(s). The initial cut-off date will take place on May 29, 2024 to begin the initial applicant consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered only if needed for future vacancies. The cut-off dates are June 09, 2024; June 23, 2024; July 7, 2024; July 21, 2024; August 4, 2024, and August 16, 2024. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible. This announcement will remain open until the closing date indicated; If you make corrections and resubmit your application, the date the application is last submitted will be used to determine those who are considered to have met the cut-off date. NOTE: The period of eligibility for applications is throughout the announcement until the closing date or until 500 applications are received for each location. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period at any time a vacancy becomes available and selections may be made at any point during the announcement open period. The agency will issue a list of eligible applicants to hiring officials within the period of eligibility. Applicants may make changes to applications to ensure experience is current. One of the following incentives may be offered: - Student Loan Repayment incentive. - Relocation incentive. - Recruitment incentive. - Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual incentive. - Superior Qualifications Appointment. To be eligible for appointment to this position, the new hire must be cleared to come on board once the results of the fingerprint check, review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the candidate's Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory. This position requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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. Arkansas- This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE Local 108 Bargaining Unit 1933 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation. Indiana-This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE/AFGE Local 622 Bargaining Unit 5909 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation. Oregon-This is a Bargaining Unit position under NFFE Local 7 Bargaining Unit 1964 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation. Texas-This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE/AFGE Local 571 Bargaining Unit 1974 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.