Agricultural Program Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Farm Service Agency, Delaware State Office, Office of the State Executive Dir., located in Dover, Kent County, Delaware.

Responsible for administering and advising on assigned Farm Programs in the State, interpreting regulations and legal requirements, providing guidance to County offices on complex, precedent setting, or unusual situations. Provides information to producers, the public, and groups interested in the program and its operations.

Learn more about this agency

• Serves as resource person to the Supervisor, State Executive Director, State Committee, County Offices and District Directors for information and advice on assigned programs.
• Provides technical guidance on problems and resolves matters between program participants and County FSA Office.
• Interprets national program policies, procedures and regulations to determine their applicability to impact upon program administration in the State.
• Identifies and analyzes program non-compliance, recommending corrective solutions.
• Attends meetings and develops contacts with various governmental agencies, producers and trade organizations, County offices, State agricultural officials, and the public.
• Investigates allegations of fraud or program abuses.

• 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. If selected, you may be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note, we are unable to reimburse for any fees incurred.
• Probationary Period – Successful completion of a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. Refer to Next Steps for more information.
• 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.gov.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Undergraduate

Education:

Major study economics, agricultural economics, marketing, business administration, animal or poultry science/husbandry, agronomy, soil science, or related curricula dealing with the production and distribution of farm products.

Graduate

Education:

Major study dairy science, agricultural marketing, domestic agricultural development, farm management, agronomy, or other agricultural specialty areas. OR

• Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing agricultural stabilization and conservation programs and of the particular application of national policies and objectives at the State level;
• Understanding of farming practices and customs in the United States, and of the economic needs of farm communities at the State level;
• Knowledge of current State and Federal agricultural trends; and
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with representatives of public and private organizations, farmers' associations, and others, and to interpret regulations, programs, and policies affecting them.

• Reviewing and/or commenting on national FSA program policy;
• Interpreting and applying regulations to resolve program administration issues or problems;
• Explaining program requirements and provisions. conducting reviews, and recommending solutions. OR

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as:
  Economics, agricultural economics, marketing, business administration, animal or poultry science/husbandry, agronomy, soil science; dairy science, agricultural marketing, domestic agricultural development, farm management, agronomy, or other agricultural specialty areas. OR

A combination of education and experience as listed above.

• Assisting in the planning of agricultural and FSA programs;
• Directing and/or coordinating agricultural programs on a statewide basis through county committees and county offices;
• Working with representatives of public organizations, farmers' associations, and others, to interpret agricultural regulations,…