DEPUTY STATE DIRECTOR

Agriculture, Rural Development (DOA); Blackfoot (ID); Hybrid; USD 126,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

The Deputy State Director for USDA Rural Development leads statewide programs, advising the State Director and guiding senior staff across operations, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure compliance with RD policies.

Ideal candidates are U.S. citizens with GS-14 level experience, capable of interagency collaboration, budgeting oversight, and strategic planning, with willingness to travel up to 25% and telework eligibility as policy allows.

Qualifications

• Time in Grade: 52 weeks at next lower grade for current federal employees.
• For GS-14, 1 year of specialized experience at GS-13 level or equivalent.
• Volunteer work and paid experience both count toward qualifications.
• Education cannot be used to qualify for the GS-14 grade.
• Experience includes human resources, contracting, budgeting, and facilities management.

Responsibilities

• Assist the State Director in formulating and implementing the Rural Development program statewide.
• Develop annual goals and long-range plans to meet program objectives.
• Provide expert advice and oversee statewide program development and implementation.
• Represent the State Director with agencies, colleges, and the public to explain RD programs.
• Advise staff on policies, procedures, and directives from headquarters.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Interagency coordination

Program management

Communication

Job description

Summary

This position is located in Idaho State or Area Office of USDA, Rural Development. The Deputy State Director (DSD) participates fully with the State Director in furthering the mission of USDA Rural Development. Provides leadership and guidance to senior staff in administering, monitoring and evaluating various programs to assure compliance with Rural Development.

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF USDA, RURAL DEVELOPMENT ONLY.

Overview

• Blackfoot, ID
• Boise, ID
• Caldwell, ID
• Coeur d’Alene, ID
• Twin Falls, ID

$125,776 – $163,514 per year

GS 14

Full-time

Travel required: 25% or less – You may be expected to travel for this position.

Telework eligible: Yes – as determined by the agency policy. Remote job: No. Relocation expenses reimbursed: No.

Duties

• Assists the State Director in formulating and implementing the total Rural Development program within the State, exercising leadership in developing and implementing operating principles.
• Manages the development of annual goals and long‑range plans of operations throughout all organizational units to meet current and specific goals of the programs.
• Provides expert advice and oversees development and implementation of statewide programs.
• Represents the State Director with representatives of other USDA and federal agencies, colleges, local groups, and the general public to enlist cooperation, explains RD programs and gives or secures information on administrative matters.
• Advises staff regarding policies, procedures, and directives of higher‑level management or headquarters.

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.
• The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations.
• 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/.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in Grade : Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

For the GS-14 level : Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 or its non-federal equivalent that demonstrates expert knowledge of organizational management issues and program area operations to advise, analyze, recommend, and coordinate resolution of broad and difficult program, policy, and technical problems. Experience managing, directing and supervising the work of employees engaged in servicing and approving complex and difficult commercial loans, grants, or guarantee programs. Experience providing advice and oversight related to administrative matters involving human resources, contracting and procurement, budget and fiscal management, property, building and facilities management, travel, and emergency management. Experience developing networks and building alliances, collaborating across boundaries to build strategic relationships to achieve common goals. There is no education substitution for the GS-14 grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only.

Education cannot be used to qualify for this position.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Customer Service
• Decisiveness
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving
• Resilience

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Required documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

• Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
• Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least “Fully Successful” or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330. If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.

Agency contact information

Connie Stokes

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Address: Rural Development, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250, US

Next steps

Employees of the following USDA agencies who apply for this position, whose current permanent grade is equal to the grade of the advertised position, and whose selection would result in a relocation outside the commuting area of their current duty station may not currently be considered for selection to this position: Agricultural Research Service; Economic Research Service; National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service; United States Forest Service; Food and Nutrition Administration; Foreign Agricultural Service; Rural Development and component organizations; the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area, to include the FPAC Business Center, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Risk Management Agency, and Farm Service Agency and Farm Service Agency County employees; Office of the General Counsel; and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. This guidance is in alignment with the court order dated October 13, 2026, in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, et al. v. United States Department of Agriculture, Case No. 26-cv-09976-VC (N.D. Calif.).

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant’s criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization’s alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to [e-mail], subject line: Fair Chance Act.