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PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Department of Agriculture
Agriculture, Rural Development
Servicing & Asset Management Office, Customer Loan Servicing Directorate, NEW LOAN SECTION
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the New Loan Section of the Escrow Branch; which is overseen by the Customer Assistance Division.

The incumbent will review loan history, adjusting loan balances/ repayment activity on borrower accounts. Analyze loan and customer financial activity to make account adjustments/ correct discrepancies as a result of program requirements, balancing and reconciling updates to loan servicing data and preparing worksheets to prove accuracy and initiating corrective actions.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/08/2024 to 07/19/2024
Salary
$50,204 to - $65,267 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Saint Louis, MO
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - May be required to travel for meetings, trainings, or conferences.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DE-STL-12470598-2024-CO
Control number
798632300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S., and CTAP/ICTAP/RPL eligible candidates.

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Duties

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  • Perform routine analysis to update loan activity and processes a variety of program related transactions to facilitate the effectiveness of Rural Development's nationwide loan portfolio.
  • Research, analyze, and reconcile routine to somewhat more complex program transaction histories resulting from a variety of sources such as tasks, customer inquiries, customer appeals, and external customer requests.
  • Make recommendations to the supervisor regarding improvements that can be made to the programs serviced for efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Maintain and analyze routine system reports to maintain servicing system data integrity. Enter internal data or customer related data into the loan servicing systems and databases.
  • Consult with higher graded employees and consider existing problems and constraints that may impact program effectiveness.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

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-07: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, or it's non-federal equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as performing routine analysis to update loan activity, processing program related transactions, reviewing loan history, adjusting loan balances and repayment activity on borrower's accounts. Entering internal data/customer related data into loan servicing systems and databases. Using word processing, database and spreadsheet software to prepare documents and to enter, revise, manipulate, sort, calculate, store and retrieve data. Reporting findings to higher-level employees and recommending corrective action for aspects of a program or function.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-07 level.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the series GS-0344 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

There is no educational requirement, or educational substitution for this position.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP 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/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • 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).
  • 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Administrative Management
  • Automation Skills
  • Oral Communication
  • Program Support
  • Work Planning and Organization
  • Written Communication


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12470598

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