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Posted: January 29, 2026 (0 days ago)

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County Executive Director Expanded

Farm Service Agency

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Location

Milbank, South Dakota

Salary

$40,736 - $116,362

per year

Closes

February 11, 2026

GS-5 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $33,878 - $44,042

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience. Bachelor's degree.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing county-level operations for the Farm Service Agency, helping farmers and agricultural programs run smoothly in rural South Dakota areas.

It requires overseeing projects, analyzing issues, and providing customer service related to government agricultural support.

A good fit would be someone with a background in business, agriculture, or office management who enjoys problem-solving and working with communities.

Key Requirements

  • Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in any field, or four years of post-high school education in business, secretarial, or technical areas
  • Experience: At least one year of general work experience in agricultural operations, management, governmental programs, or related office/customer service functions
  • Specialized skills: Ability to analyze problems, gather data, plan/organize work, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively orally and in writing
  • Higher levels (CO-07/09): Graduate education, superior academic achievement, or specialized experience in agricultural program analysis and evaluation
  • Eligibility: Open only to current FSA County Office and GS FSA Federal employees in South Dakota
  • Location-specific: Positions in Milbank, Parker, Yankton (shared with Tyndall), SD

Full Job Description

These are County Executive Director - Expanded positions, in the following locations: Grant County in Milbank, SD Turner County in Parker, SD Yankton County in Yankton, SD - This location is a shared management operation with Bon Homme County in Tyndall, SD.

Per 27-PM, Par. 472E, this vacancy is being advertised with an expanded area of consideration. This vacancy is Open to current FSA CO and GS FSA Federal employees within the state of South Dakota only.

Qualifications are in accordance with requirements in Handbook 27-PM. Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date in the announcement.

including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified below: You may start at the CO-05 level if you have one of the following qualifications: Successful completion of four years of education above high school in an accredited business, secretarial or technical, junior college, college or university in any field in which high school graduation or the equivalent is a prerequisite or bachelor's degree from such an accredited college or university.

OR At least one year of general work experience in support of projects, programs, or assignments providing a requisite knowledge of agricultural operations, agricultural management, governmental programs, or related office and customer service functions that indicate the ability to: analyze problems, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; resolve conflict; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

OR A combination of education and experience as described above.

You may start at the CO-07 level if you have one of the following qualifications: Successful completion of one full year of graduate education from an accredited college or university.

OR Superior Academic Achievement: A bachelor's degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university with either: grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale; 3.5 GPA based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

An applicant must submit an unofficial copy of their transcript at the initial phase of the application process demonstrating that they qualify based on superior academic achievement.

If selected for the position, an official transcript must be provided from the college or university before the applicant entering on duty.

OR One-year specialized experience equivalent to grade CO-5 or GS-5 level.

Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates knowledge of basic principles, concepts, and methods of fact-finding, analysis, and problem-solving techniques as they apply to the analysis, evaluation, and application of agricultural program requirements.

In addition, knowledge of and skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to assist in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural program operations to make recommendations for improvements.

OR Six months of experience as a CED or CEDT at the CO-5 level. OR A combination of education and experience as described above.

You may start at the CO-09 level if you have one of the following qualifications: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university.

OR One-year experience equivalent to at least grade CO-7 or GS-7 in the federal service.

Experience demonstrates knowledge of agricultural program policies and practices to independently examine applications, supporting documents, and program reports.

In addition, experience applying analytical and evaluative techniques to assist in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural program operations to make recommendations for improvements.

OR 1 year of any supervisory experience. A combination of education and experience as described above.

You may start at the CO-11 level if you have one of the following qualifications: One-year experience equivalent to at least grade CO-9 or GS-9 in the federal service.

You may start at the CO-12 level if you have one of the following qualifications: One-year experience equivalent to at least grade CO-11 or GS-11 in the federal service.

If the selectee is not a current CED or has not successfully completed the CEDT program, then successful completion of the CEDT training program per requirements in handbook 27-PM paragraphs 472P and 477 is required.

Major Duties:

  • Responsible for directing and managing program and administrative operations for one or more counties.
  • Carrying out permanent and ad hoc farm bill programs and policies established by USDA as well as crop insurance operations under policies established by the Risk Management Agency (RMA).
  • Providing basic FSA farm loan program services.
  • May perform additional farm loan program assignments based on authorities delegated.
  • Performing office and field activities as needed to accomplish program objectives.
  • Managing and directs activities of subordinate staff.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/29/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/29/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: FSACO-12873607-26-SD-HA