FCA Examiner

Summary
Under the direction of the Director, Examination Guidance Division, the Senior Examiner is responsible for administering systems to ensure effective development and communications of examination policy and guidance to the Agency and Farm Credit System (System) institutions. Activities will promote implementation of risk-based examination concepts and the effective use of technology to provide for an efficient and effective examination program.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Duties
As Senior Examiner you will promote ongoing risk-based planning, supervisory and examination activities of System institutions to evaluate safety and soundness and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and other regulatory guidance. You may also promote effective use of technology to provide for an efficient and effective examination program, contribute to OE training and development programs, participate in recruiting and staff retention programs, and assist with OE planning and reporting processes. Specific duties includes:

• Administering systems to ensure effective development and communication of examination policy and guidance to the Agency and Farm Credit System (System) institutions.
• Promoting implementation of risk-based examination concepts and the effective use of technology to provide for an efficient and effective examination program.
• Researching policy issues and developing guidance for issues that arise during examinations.
• Contributing to training and development programs to build needed examination skills in OE.
• As directed, participating in examinations and supervising other examiners to maintain current skills and meet the needs of the OE.

These activities require significant coordination with other OE Divisions and Agency offices (i.e., Office of Regulatory Policy, Office of General Counsel, and Office of Information Technology), and System officials to identify and address needed examination guidance. The activities will be carried out in an effective and risk-based manner and will require the use of a high level of technical expertise, sound judgment, exceptional project management skills, and strong communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills to deal with challenging situations.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Submission of a financial disclosure report may be required.
• You must be a current FCA career or career conditional competitive service employee.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required

Qualifications
You may qualify at the VH-39 (GS-13) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-38 (GS-12) band level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specific experience includes:

• Developing and maintaining examination policies, guidance and interpretations that ensure institutions maintain safety and soundness and compliance with law and regulations.
• Developing and providing training to examiners on OE's examination polices, guidance and interpretations.
• Communicating and coordinating effectively. This includes making oral presentations, and the ability to participate in meetings and engage in difficult and/or complex negotiations.
• Managing projects, directing, and evaluating the activities of assigned staff to ensure that activities are executed in accordance with approved plans.

You may qualify at the VH-40 (GS-14) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-39 (GS-13) band level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specific experience includes:

• Developing and maintaining examination policies, guidance and interpretations that ensure institutions maintain safety and soundness and compliance with law and regulations.
• Developing and providing training to examiners on OE's examination polices, guidance and interpretations.
• Promoting the effective use of technology to provide for an efficient and effective examination program
• Communicating and coordinating effectively with officials at all levels within and outside of the FCA, including senior management and boards of directors. This includes making oral presentations, and the ability to lead meetings and engage in difficult and/or complex negotiations.
• Leading projects and supervising, directing, and evaluating the activities of assigned staff to ensure that activities are executed in accordance with approved plans.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Ability to build relationships and coalitions with the other Federal banking regulators, the Farm Credit System, external auditors and other interested internal and external parties. Involves the ability to explain, advocate, negotiate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner.
2. Knowledge of current issues, concerns and the application of lending and accounting standards by Farm Credit System institutions.
3. Knowledge of the Farm Credit System, financial markets, industry best practices, and FCA regulations.

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
You must meet all qualification requirements and submit all required supporting documentation by the closing date of this announcement. If you are found to be among the most highly qualified candidates you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.
Time-In-Grade Requirements: Current and former Federal employees (including VEOA eligibles) must have served one-year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade in the Federal service to meet time-in-grade restrictions per 5 CFR 300, Subpart F, by the closing date of the announcement.
Education
Education may not be substituted for experience to qualify for the VH-39 and VH-40 band levels.
Additional information

• Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
• All FCA employees are subject to the conflict of interest laws and Standards of Ethical Conduct imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report.
• FCA's supplemental ethics regulations restrict certain FCA employees concerning their direct or indirect interests in, or connections with, Farm Credit System institutions. These rules also require all employees to obtain approval for outside employment or business activities. Please contact the HR Division for additional information on these rules.
• FCA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
• This announcement may be used to fill similar vacancies.
• The base salary range for each grade level is as follows: VH-39 (GS-13 equivalent): $88,055 to $145,290 and VH-40 (GS-14 equivalent): $100,742 to $166,223.
• The following locality percentages, depending upon geographic location, will be added to the base salary: McLean, VA: 32.99%; Bloomington, MN: 26.89%; Greenwood Village, CO: 29.55%; Irving, TX: 26.87%; Sacramento, CA: 28.80%; and the rest of the U.S. 17.00%.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019, with some exceptions, prohibits the Farm Credit Administration from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, visit our website at (Careers at FCA | Farm Credit Administration) for information on filing a complaint.

• Benefits
  Review our benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps including submitting an application and completing the application questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Creative Thinking
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Oral Communication
• Project Management
• Written communication

This position requires an online assessment; the online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.
All qualified Non Competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit:

• Benefits
  Review our benefits
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  • Resume. Highlighting relevant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this position. Your resume must include the following information (1) paid and non-paid work experience including your position title, start and end dates (month/year) of employment, average number of hours worked per week and salary (separated by position series and grade for each federal position, if applicable ; (2) indication of the knowledge, skills and education you have that are pertinent to this position; (3) specific duties you have performed as a regular part of your job with indications of the level of responsibility and complexity of work; (4) Names and contact information for your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
  • Proof of Commissioned FCA Examiner or equivalent status
  • Performance Appraisal: Latest performance appraisal with a rating of record.
  • CTAP Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal).
  Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
  f applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the FCA HR Division between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two business days prior to the closing date of this announcement at or 703-883-4135. The alternate application package must be received in the Human Resources Division no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and documents sent via mail will NOT BE ACCEPTED.
  If you need technical assistance with your online application, you can contact the USAJOBS customer support desk Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. You can find answers to many of your questions on the USAJOBS Help Center.
  Agency contact information
  FCA HR Division
  Phone
  703-883-4135
  Email
  
  Address
  Office of Agency Services, Human Resources Division
  1501 Farm Credit Drive
  McLean, VA 22102
  US
  Next steps
  The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. Your ratings in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
  Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application. You can check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and selecting "Application Status." We recommend that you also opt to receive USAJOBS status update emails.
• Fair and Transparent
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

• Resume. Highlighting relevant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this position. Your resume must include the following information (1) paid and non-paid work experience including your position title, start and end dates (month/year) of employment, average number of hours worked per week and salary (separated by position series and grade for each federal position, if applicable ; (2) indication of the knowledge, skills and education you have that are pertinent to this position; (3) specific duties you have performed as a regular part of your job with indications of the level of responsibility and complexity of work; (4) Names and contact information for your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
• Proof of Commissioned FCA Examiner or equivalent status
• Performance Appraisal: Latest performance appraisal with a rating of record.
• CTAP Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal).

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

• To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
• Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

f applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the FCA HR Division between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two business days prior to the closing date of this announcement at or 703-883-4135. The alternate application package must be received in the Human Resources Division no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and documents sent via mail will NOT BE ACCEPTED.
If you need technical assistance with your online application, you can contact the USAJOBS customer support desk Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. You can find answers to many of your questions on the USAJOBS Help Center.
Agency contact information
FCA HR Division
Phone
703-883-4135
Email

Address
Office of Agency Services, Human Resources Division
1501 Farm Credit Drive
McLean, VA 22102
US
Next steps
The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. Your ratings in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application. You can check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and selecting "Application Status." We recommend that you also opt to receive USAJOBS status update emails.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request