Agricultural Program Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Farm Service Agency, Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP), Safety Net Division.

The incumbent of this position serves as an Agricultural Program Specialist with the primary responsibility of delivering and administering policies, procedures, and automated systems for programs assigned to DAFP.

Initial program alignment will be in support of the areas of Acreage Reporting and Farm Records.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Basic Requirement: GS-1145 Series: Education: Undergraduate Education: Major study -- economics, agricultural economics, marketing, business administration, animal or poultry science/husbandry, agronomy, soil science, or related curricula dealing with the production and distribution of farm products.

Graduate Education: Major study -- dairy science, agricultural marketing, domestic agricultural development, farm management, agronomy, or other agricultural specialty areas.

OR Experience: Experience that demonstrated: Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing agricultural stabilization and conservation programs and of the particular application of national policies and objectives at the State level; Understanding of farming practices and customs in the United States, and of the economic needs of farm communities at the State level; Knowledge of current State and Federal agricultural trends; and Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with representatives of public and private organizations, farmers' associations, and others, and to interpret regulations, programs, and policies affecting them.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement For the GS-09 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Broad knowledge of farming practices and customs in the United States, and economic needs of farm communities.

Reviewing and/or commenting on national FSA farm program policy; Explaining program requirements and provisions, conducting reviews, and recommending solutions.

OR Education at the GS-09 grade level: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Economics, agricultural economics, marketing, business administration, animal or poultry science/husbandry, agronomy, soil science; dairy science, agricultural marketing, domestic agricultural development, farm management, agronomy, or other agricultural specialty areas.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as listed above For the GS-11 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Assisting in the planning of agricultural and FSA farm programs; Directing and/or coordinating agricultural programs on a statewide basis through county committees and county offices; Working with representatives of public organizations, farmers' associations, and others, to interpret agricultural regulations, programs, and policies affecting them.

OR Education at the GS-11 grade level: Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Economics, agricultural economics, marketing, business administration, animal or poultry science/husbandry, agronomy, soil science; dairy science, agricultural marketing, domestic agricultural development, farm management, agronomy, or other agricultural specialty areas.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as listed above For the GS-12 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience in applying laws and regulations governing agricultural stabilization and FSA farm programs to serve as an advisor on the application of national policies and objectives at the State level; Understanding of farming practices and customs in the United States, and of the economic needs of farm communities at the State level; Experience establishing and maintaining relationships with representatives of public organizations, farmers' associations, and others, to interpret agricultural regulations, programs, and policies affecting them.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-12 grade level.

For the GS-13 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: (Developing farm program policies, program plans, procedures and/or software requirements; Providing guidance on farm FSA farm program policy and procedures to field offices and other Agencies; Interpreting laws and regulations governing farm programs to serve as an adviser on the application of national policies and objectives at the State and/or county level; Applying technology to analyze, evaluate, and implement agricultural programs Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-13 grade level.

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.

Time-in-Grade Requirement: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

You must meet this requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Provide national focal point for handling requests for interpretations, changes, and modifications in assigned program areas.
• Provide direction and assistance to State offices with respect to assigned program operations and procedures.
• Establish and maintain relationships with producers, the trade, and other related groups, both domestic and international, and other divisions and offices of FSA to obtain policy and program recommendations.
• Direct the assembly and dissemination of automated systems and related procedures for assigned programs administered by the Division as well as by other FSA staffs and USDA agencies as assigned.
• Review and evaluate program activities in the field, prepare appropriate reports, and develop recommendations to correct deficiencies or improve operations.
• Analyze audit and investigation reports pertaining to assigned programs, draft responses, and take corrective action as necessary
• Assist in the assembly and dissemination of automated systems and related procedures for assigned programs administered by the Division as well as by other FSA staffs and USDA agencies as assigned.