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Program Technician - USDA Farm Service Agency Todd County, MN


About this Job

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is an exciting and rewarding place to start, build and/or continue your career. Be part of our team and support the well-being of American agriculture and the American public.

FSA's diverse culture and benefits allow for a healthy balance between your career and home life. In addition to a generous salary, FSA offers a friendly and professional working environment with a diverse workforce, flexible hours/work schedules, and other family-friendly benefits such as: paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, retirement and supplemental savings plan, a wide array of health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, flexible spending accounts, and long-term care insurance.

 USDA is a great place to start or continue your career. USDA is ranked as one of the top 10 "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" by the Partnership for Public Service. Rankings are based on employee feedback regarding satisfaction with their work experience.

 
This position is responsible for:

  • 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.

** Specialized 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, specialized 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 of progressively responsible clerical, 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 may be substituted for specialized experience. OR

One year specialized experience applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to any farm or agricultural program.

You may start at the CO-06 level if you have one of the following qualifications:
One year specialized experience applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to process and service farm or agricultural programs.

You may start at the CO-07 level if you have one of the following qualifications:
One year specialized experience applying office methods and procedures to provide clerical and limited technical support to independently perform a full range of farm program processes. 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.

Additional information

  • Veterans preference does not apply.
  • 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.
  • This is a 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 the USDA TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
  • This position would be eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements in accordance with Department and Agency directives.

Contact Information:
Jay Backowski
County Executive Director
Todd County
USDA – Farm Service Agency
Phone: (320) 732-6618 ext 2
Email: Jay.Backowski@usda.gov

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is an agency of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that serves all farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans. The agency provides America’s farmers with a strong safety net through the administration of farm commodity and disaster programs. FSA’s long-standing tradition of conserving the nation’s natural resources continues through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The agency provides credit to agricultural producers who are unable to receive private, commercial credit, including special emphasis on beginning, minority and women farmers and ranchers.