College Graduate Loan Specialist (Commercial) Job in Palmer, AK

Vacancy No. CG-AK-12469890-2024-SR Department Agriculture, Rural Development
Salary $67,738.00 to $88,058.00 Grade 9 to 9
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/3/2024 Close Date 7/15/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Palmer, AK


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This position is located within USDA, Rural Development, Office of the Alaska State Director. This is a developmental position with duties designed to provide training and development to prepare the incumbent for advancement to the position of Loan Specialist (Commercial), GS-1165-12.

This is NOT a remote position. The incumbent will be expected to report to the office located in Palmer, Alaska.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Recent college graduates who have, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Bachelors or Graduate degree. Veterans who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree and were unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation of at least 4 years, may apply within two years of their discharge from uniformed service. This announcement will be utilized to fill positions through the College Graduate Hiring Authority.

Duties

  • Incumbent performs loan making and loan servicing activities within the RD loan and grant programs.
  • Regularly examines loan applications, supporting documents and credit reports to ensure creditworthiness, eligibility, feasibility, completeness and conformance with all RD requirements.
  • Prepares loan closing documents and reviews with applicant at the time of loan approval; reviews executed loan closing documents for completeness, accuracy and adherence to all program loan making requirements.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • 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

To be eligible for appointment under the College Graduate authority, applicants must meet requirement A or B.

A. Applicants who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years.

OR

B. Veterans who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree from a qualifying educational institution and have an intervening period of obligated service of at least four years in the uniformed services. The two-year eligibility period begins on the date of discharge or release from the uniformed service.

In addition to meeting the eligibility listed above, all 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 the GS-9 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: experience in performing mortgage loan making and/or mortgage loan servicing duties such as regularly examining loan applications, supporting documents and credit reports, and maintaining servicing activities of somewhat complex mortgage loans and/or grants; assisting higher level loan specialists by performing assigned portions of financial credit analysis in connection with more complex mortgage loans as a way of acquiring training and competency for more difficult loan examining and servicing assignments OR master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB. or J.D., if related. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

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

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.

Applicants must provide transcripts. Conferment date of degree must be evident on the transcript. Please see the Additional Information section below for detailed information that is required regarding transcripts.

Additional information

This is not a remote position. The incumbent will be expected to report to the office located in Palmer, Alaska.

College Graduate appointments are permanent competitive service appointments.

The full performance level (FPL) of the position may be up to the Loan Specialist (Commercial), GS-1165-12 level. 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.

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.

CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: 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.

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).

One of the following incentives may be offered:

  • Student Loan Repayment incentive.
  • Relocation incentive.
  • Recruitment incentive.
  • Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual incentive
This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

This position is being filled under the College Graduate Hiring Authority. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. All applicants who meet minimum qualifications and any basic requirements applicable to this position, will be forwarded to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager.

Veterans preference does not apply to selections made using the College Graduate Hiring Authority. Veteran applicants will be considered along with all other applicants who apply.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, 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/12469890

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (month/year); title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.
  • Transcript(s): unofficial copies are sufficient with the application; however, if selected, official transcripts will be required. If your official or unofficial transcripts do not provide the information listed below, include additional official academic documentation that meets the requirements. Official or unofficial Transcripts MUST include:
    • Student's Name
    • Name of the School
    • Specific Degree or Certificate Program
    • Current and Cumulative GPA/academic standing
    • Past and current coursework
    • Degree Conferment Date - if your transcript does not reflect your degree conferment date, you must provide official educational supporting documentation that includes your degree conferment/graduation date.
    • Evidence of meeting the "qualifications" through substitution of education if not by specialized experience as outlined in the announcement.
Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education visit NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.Veterans preference does not apply to selections made using the College Graduate Hiring Authority.If you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following:
  • Submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. The SF-15 Application may be provided but is not required.
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for RPL priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.

To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

NOTE: Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable.

Agency contact information

Stacy Randle
Address
Rural Development
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS to check your application status.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to David.Root@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.