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County Program Technician

USDA Farm Service Agency
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Duties

 

  • Carrying out office activities and functions pertaining to one or more of the program areas administered in the county.
  • Interpreting and explaining procedures, program regulations and forms to producers and other agency personnel.
  • Utilizing various web-based software applications to maintain producer data and processing automated forms.
  • Using a high degree of initiative and judgment in planning and carrying out assigned tasks and resolving problems encountered.

Requirements

 

Conditions of Employment

 

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Must be a high school graduate, or have a GED.
  • Must be 18 years of age, or 17 years of age for high school graduates.

Qualifications

 

Qualifications are in accordance with requirements in Handbook 27-PM.

* Experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled. To be creditable, experience must have been equivalent to at least 1 year in the next lower grade level.

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-04 level if you have one of the following qualifications:

  • Successful completion of two 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 may be substituted for experience. OR
  • One year general experience related to office work, or equal background in the operations of a farm or ranch that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position.

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 Bachelors degree from such an accredited college or university. OR
  • One year of experience equivalent to the CO-4 level applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to farm or agricultural programs carried out by respective agencies or institutions. (e.g. USDA Agencies, State Departments, State or Local and Extension Services, Vocational Agriculture Schools.)

*You may start at the CO-06 level if you have one of the following qualifications:

  • One year of experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the CO-5 level applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to farm or agricultural programs carried out by respective agencies or institutions. (e.g. USDA Agencies, State Departments, State or Local and Extension Services, Vocational Agriculture Schools.)

*You may start at the CO-07 level if you have one of the following qualifications:

  • One year experience equivalent to grade CO-6 or GS-6 applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to independently perform a full range of farm program processes. (e.g. USDA Agencies, State Departments, State or Local and Extension Services, Vocational Agriculture Schools.) Experience that shows your ability to perform progressively more complex, responsible, or difficult duties: and that shows your ability to learn the specific work of this position.

Education

 

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit with your application package evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution was appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. Education standards. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process; however, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for instructions on submitting the transcript. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

 

 

  • Veterans' preference does not apply since this position is being advertised under Title 7 authorities.
  • Relocation expenses are not authorized.
  • When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
  • Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the State. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at FSA. Once you have accepted a Tentative Job Offer (TJO), you will no longer be considered for additional vacancies on the certificate.
  • Location Consideration: Your application may be considered throughout the state of Missouri.
  • This is a Title 7, Non-Federal, Non-Civil Service position.
  • This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.
  • Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDAs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
  • Optional - This position may be eligible to telework up to four (4) days per biweekly pay period (2 day per week) upon supervisory approval. This position may also be eligible for flexible work schedules in accordance with Department and Agency directives.
  • Benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

 

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

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet:

  1. Minimum qualification requirements and
  2. Your resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

Those determined to meet qualifications will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

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 qualifications. Providing inaccurate information on County and Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from County and 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/12410570

 

Required Documents

 

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

  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; for current or previous Federal or FSA County employees, it should also include the Title, Pay Plan, Series and Grade and Step for each work experience entry.
  4. Other qualifications.
  • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient at the time of application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. 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. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

For current and former CO or GS employees, the following documents are encouraged but not required.

  • Performance Appraisal (Most Recent Signed) or a statement stating why you don't have a Performance Appraisal.
  • SF-50 (Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) or equivalent showing position title, series, grade and salary.)

NOTE: If selected, applicant will be required to provide this documentation within 7 days of receipt of Tentative Job Offer. Failure to provide required documentation will jeopardize further consideration.

You will not be contacted for additional information.

 

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.