Agricultural Program Specialist

Full Job Description

Multiple positions may be filled from this vacancy. These positions are in the Farm Service Agency, Virginia State Office located in Richmond, Virginia.

About the position: Responsible for administering and advising on assigned Farm Programs in the State, interpreting regulations and legal requirements, providing guidance to County offices on complex, precedent setting, or unusual situations.

Provides information to producers, public, and groups interested in the program and its operations.

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.

Individual Occupational Requirements 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.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Agricultural extension work as a subject-matter specialist, county agent, or assistant or associate county agent.

Teacher of vocational agriculture.

District director, State program specialist, or county office employee performing duties in the operational phases of farm programs such as production adjustment, price support, and conservation.

Experience at the county, district, or State government levels in the operational phases of farm programs of the type carried out through such agencies as the Soil Conservation Service, Farmers Home Administration, or related programs.

In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements, 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: Reviewing and/or commenting on national FSA conservation policy. Interpreting and applying regulations to resolve program administration issues or problems.

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 or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

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 conservation 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 or LL.M., if related.

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 conservation 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 maintaining relationships with representatives of public organizations, farmers' associations, and others, to interpret agricultural regulations, programs, and policies affecting them.

The substitution of education is not qualifying for the GS-12 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:

• Serves as resource person to the Supervisor, State Executive Director, State Committee, County Offices and District Directors for information and advice on assigned programs.
• Provides technical guidance on problems and resolves matters between program participants and County FSA Office.
• Interprets national program policies, procedures and regulations to determine their applicability to impact upon program administration in the State.
• Identifies and analyzes program non-compliance, recommending corrective solutions.
• Attends meetings and develops contacts with various governmental agencies, producers and trade organizations, County offices, State agricultural officials, and the public.
• Investigates allegations of fraud or program abuses.