Agricultural Program Specialist

This position is located in the Farm Service Agency, Georgia State Office in Athens, GA. This position serves as the Key Program Specialist and expert advisor to the SED and State Committee on an assigned major FSA program and its related activities in the State.

This position includes a direct supervisory component. Typical responsibilities include assigning and reviewing work; approving leave; developing performance standards and evaluating employee performance.

Recommends revision of program or operational policies to improve services or operational efficiency.

Develops and maintains contacts with general public for the programs and their onjectives.

Facilitates and promotes teamwork and leverages a team approach to addressing work processes and problems

Identifies others' skill deficits and developmental needs to help give them direction on how to improve at work.

Provides direction and helped define priorities for others while guiding and motivating them to achieve a common goal.

Provides technical guidance and direction to subordinate staff on implementation of farm program policies and regulations

Plans, develops, and manages the public information programs.

Advises county committees concerning program policies and procedures.

Assures the necessary training and instructional actual operation of new or revised programs.

Coordinates with others as necessary, including the Regional Information Coordinator to gather and develop informational materials and arrange for dissemination through appropriate media.

Assists the SED in carrying out the provisions of the county Internal Review Program.

Ensures appropriate actions are taken to correct identified deficiencies in program administration and servicing.

Makes preliminary studies of alleged program violations and makes recommendations for disposition.

Develops state notices, handbook supplements, and instructions and forms for use by County Offices in administering assigned farm programs.

Prepares appeal decisions, documenting agricultural farm program policies and regulations and which recommend necessary legal or administration actions as appropriate.

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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New FPAC supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period. Required to submit Confidential Financial Disclosure Report Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter.

College Transcript: If qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with course number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g., special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college to ensure proper evaluation. Your education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited toward qualifications. You may verify accreditation by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website. We will verify your education accordingly. Foreign Education: You must submit verification that education completed in a foreign institution, was recognized by an accreditation body accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. You must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Your transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. You may submit an unofficial copy of your 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 transcripts.