Farm Service Agency - County Program Analyst - Lakefield, MN

To apply and learn more about this position visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/805368900

Program Analysts are employed in Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Service Centers throughout the nation. As a PA, you will work directly with farmers and ranchers in your county and state by helping implement FSA programs. Good communication skills, both orally and in-writing, are necessary as you will explain the programs and policies to producers through correspondence and in-person interactions. You will perform a wide variety of duties as a Program Analyst depending on the program area(s) in which you specialize. This position requires a high degree of initiative and judgment in planning and carrying out assigned tasks and resolving problems encountered. 

Some major responsibilities include:

· Explaining program provisions, benefits, and options to producers and other interested individuals/groups,

· Completing or assisting applicants in the completion of forms,

· Entering program data into the correct software applications,

· Initiating necessary contact to obtain required information and documents,

· Calculating and initiating program payments to producers,

· Collecting payments from producers,

· Establishing and maintaining office records, reports, and files,

· Conducting outreach efforts to increase program awareness and participation,

· Noting discrepancies in program records and taking appropriate action to correct errors, obtaining missing data, etc,

· As necessary, advising program participants about available appeal procedures.

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 and work schedules, and other family-friendly benefits such as:

· Earned annual leave

· Earned sick leave

· Paid holidays

· Health, Vision, Dental, & Life Insurance Benefits

· Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care

· Pension Plan & Retirement Savings Account

Annual Salary Range: $39,576 - $77,955

Qualifications:

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

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-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 bachelor's degree from such an accredited college or university. OR
• At least one year of general work experience in support of projects, programs, or assignments providing a requisite knowledge of agricultural operations, agricultural management, governmental programs, or related office and customer service functions that indicate the ability to: analyze problems, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; resolve conflict; communicate effectively both orally and in writing. OR
• A combination of education and experience as described above.

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

• Successful completion of one full year of graduate education from an accredited college or university. OR
• Superior Academic Achievement: A bachelor's degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university with either:
  • grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale;
  • 3.5 GPA based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
  • class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
  • membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. OR
• One-year specialized experience equivalent to grade CO-5 or GS-5 level. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates knowledge of basic principles, concepts, and methods of fact-finding, analysis, and problem-solving techniques as they apply to the analysis, evaluation, and application of agricultural program requirements. In addition, knowledge of and skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to assist in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural program operations to make recommendations for improvements. OR
• A combination of education and experience as described above.

You may start at the CO-09 level if you have one of the following qualifications:

• A Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university. OR
• One-year specialized experience equivalent to at least grade CO-7 or GS-7 in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates knowledge of agricultural program policies and practices to independently examine applications, supporting documents, and program reports. In addition, experience applying analytical and evaluative techniques to assist in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural program operations to make recommendations for improvements. OR
• A combination of education and experience as described above.

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.