County Executive Director in Training

US-Farm-Service-Agenc; North Dakota; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

US-Farm-Service-Agenc announces a twelve-month training program in North Dakota with travel throughout the state. Candidates may relocate within the state after training.

Qualifications emphasize education beyond high school or graduate study, and specialized experience in agricultural programs. Applicants must meet the specified education/experience requirements and may start at CO-05 level with appropriate qualifications; CO-09 requires higher education or supervisory experience.

Qualifications

• Four years of education above high school in any field from an accredited college or university.
• One year of graduate-level education or grade CO-5/GS-5 level experience in agricultural programs and related operations.
• A Master’s degree or two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or equivalent experience, for CO-9.
• Combination of education and experience as described above.

Responsibilities

• meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date.
• specialized experience includes knowledge of agricultural program policies and practices to analyze applications and program reports.
• ability to apply analytic techniques to assess effectiveness of agricultural program operations and suggest improvements.

Education

Four years of post-high school education in any field

One year graduate education (CO-05)

Master's degree or two years graduate study (CO-09)

Job description

THESE POSITION LOCATIONS WILL BE DETERMINED UPON SELECTION OF THE CANDIDATES

Please see home county office locations listed to the right.

This is a twelve-month training program that may require travel throughout the state of North Dakota. Depending upon agency needs, candidates may be expected to relocate within the state when the training program is complete. 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:

• Successful completion of four years of education above high school, in an accredited business, secretarial, 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
• One year of general work experience in support of projects, programs, or assignments providing a essential knowledge of agricultural operations, agricultural management, governmental programs, or related office and customer service functions that indicate the ability to: analyze problems, gather relevant data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; resolve conflict; communicate effectively both orally and in writing: OR
• Combination of education and experience described above.

You may start at the CO-05 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.

An applicant must submit an unofficial copy of their transcript at the initial phase of the application process demonstrating that they qualify based on superior academic achievement. If selected for the position, an official transcript must be provided from the college or university before the applicant entering on duty. 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.

At CO-09, applicants must meet one of the following criteria in order to qualify for this position:

• A Masters 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 workexperience 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
• One year of any supervisory experience. OR
• A combination of education and experience as described above.