Summary This position is located in a State or Area Office in USDA/Rural Development (RD). 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 (Realty) GS-1165-9. Two positions will be filled from this announcement (1-Asheboro and 1-Lumberton). This is NOT a remote position. The incumbents will be expected to report to the Asheboro or Lumberton, NC Office. Responsibilities Performs a variety of routine tasks as training, and to gain experience and technical competence in the methods, procedures, principles, theories, and techniques utilized in administering RD loan and grant programs. Segments of higher graded duties and projects may be assigned to provide experience and competency for future more complex loan examining and servicing work. Under the guidance of a higher graded specialist, meets with other lenders and potential borrowers to explain RD programs and requirements. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. GS-7 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level; 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, loan eligibility requirements, or financial and credit requirements; reviewing loan applications for eligibility and financial soundness; and analyzing information provided by loan applicants and making recommendations to a higher-level loan specialist about loan eligibility OR completion of one full year of graduate level education OR Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) in a related field (see below). Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. Superior Academic Achievement 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: 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 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. 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. 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 have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years OR 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. 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. College Graduate appointments are permanent competitive service appointments. The full performance level (FPL) of the position may be up to the Loan Assistant/Specialist (Realty), GS-9 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. 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 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.