Summary This position is located in a State or Area office in USDA/Rural Development (RD). The incumbent has responsibility for making and servicing loans/grants for selected loans and grants for rural facilities, utilities, and/or businesses. This is NOT a remote position. The incumbent must report for work at the listed duty location. Responsibilities Performs loan servicing assignments of limited scope and complexity for SFH loan and grant portfolio as well as for loan and grant underwriting and/or servicing for rural facilities to contribute to the development of the employee. Reviews and analyzes preapplications, applications and all supporting documents to determine loan or grant eligibility and inputs data into appropriate automated database system. Works with a program specialist and/or supervisor in the development and implementation of an outreach and marketing program for the servicing area. Prepares written loan/grant recommendations and submits to supervisor for review. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. For GS-07 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Basic knowledge of loan examining and/or servicing principles, procedures and techniques as they apply to investigation, analysis, and evaluation of financial factors and credit risks in relation to the granting and servicing of mortgage loans. Experience may have been gained in work equivalent to furnishing general information concerning loan programs, eligibility requirements, financial and credit requirements; reviewing loan applications for eligibility and financial soundness; and analyzing information provided by loan applicant and making recommendations to a higher-level loan specialist about loan eligibility. OR possess one (1) full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (see definition of S.A.A. below) OR an equivalent combination of experience and education as noted above are acceptable. Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on completed courses.2. Grade-point average Applicants must have a grade-point average of: a. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed bases on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR b. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. For GS-09 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Knowledge and understanding of mortgage loan making/servicing and credit principles and practices in order to assess the fundamental soundness of single-family housing loans and to independently examine applications, supporting documents, and credit reports, and maintain servicing activities on small mortgage loans. Experience may have been gained in work equivalent to furnishing information to borrowers and applicants on loan programs, eligibility requirements, financial and credit requirements; analyzing information provided by loan applicants, determining eligibility for mortgage loans, and making loan recommendations to a senior employee; assisting senior level employees in initiating action to graduate borrowers who are eligible for other credit sources; and participating in providing credit counseling to all borrowers and debt adjustment services; OR 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 Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- finance, business administration, economics, accounting, insurance, engineering, mathematics, banking and credit, law, real estate operations, statistics, or other fields related to the position, such as agriculture, agricultural economics, farm, livestock or ranch management, or rural sociology. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Determine your qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required. Determine your education as a percentage of the education required. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for position at grade GS-09. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1165 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 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. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. 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. 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 is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE LOCAL 1585 Bargaining Unit 1947 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.