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Careers at Rural Development

Help Us Make a Difference in Rural Communities

How do you make change in the world?  Join the team that’s investing in a strong future for the people of Rural America.

A strong community is rooted in its people. USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with grants and relending programs so first responders can put people’s safety first, schools can teach kids, and hospitals can care for everyone.  Our partnerships support infrastructure so the people of rural America get connected to new markets and jobs of the future.  Together, with local leaders and partners, we promote growth and prosperity in communities.  

Rural Development is an on the ground, place-based, community driven government agency – we are here to make tomorrow’s Rural America a better, stronger place to live, work and play. 

Join us!  RD offers employees good pay, training and development opportunities, coaching and mentoring programs, flexible schedules for work/life balance, and an employee assistance program. We recognize our dedicated teams with career development opportunities and awards for their excellence and for the difference they make in local communities.  RD also offers a variety of benefits to include retirement, matching retirement savings and investment plans, health and life insurance, supplemental dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, accrued leave programs, paid family leave, and Federal holidays. 

When you’re a part of USDA Rural Development, you’re part of an organization that puts rural people and rural communities first.
 

USDA Rural Development touches lives. We invest in rural communities because when rural America thrives, all America thrives. Whether we're working with homeowners, small business owners, Tribal leadership, or rural communities, it's that partnership that bears positive fruit. Together, America Prospers.

Why Work for Us

diverse career paths

Diverse Career Paths

Working at Rural Development you can explore diverse career paths such as: Loan Specialists, Loan Technicians, Engineering, Finance and Lending, Information Technology, Human Resources, Contracting, and many other exciting career paths.

salaries and benefits

Salaries and Benefits

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development strongly believes in supporting our employees with desirable benefits which compare favorably with other employers. We provide competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, which includes paid vacation, sick leave, health coverage and retirement plans, thrift savings plans, life and long-term care insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

work life balance

Work Life Balance

We know that maintaining a balance between your professional and personal responsibilities is vital to your happiness and your professional success.  We offer a number of programs aimed to help you achieve work/life balance including health and wellness programs, employee assistance programs, alternate workplace arrangements, and flexible work schedules.

Who is Eligible to Apply

all US citizens and nationals

All U.S. Citizens and Nationals

All U.S. citizens and nationals are eligible to apply for careers with Rural Development.

veterans

Veterans

We are committed to hiring veterans.  Veterans bring a wealth of skills and experience that make them well suited for employment in the Federal workforce. Veterans eligible for special hiring authority such as the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) may compete for positions along with current federal employees under merit promotion procedures.   Veterans may also compete for positions open to all U.S. citizens under competitive examining procedures which may allow veteran preference over nonveterans. For additional information, please visit the Feds Hire Vets website. 

disability

Disability

We are proud to offer employment opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified individuals may be hired non-competitively through the Schedule A Hiring Authority. For additional information and useful links, please visit OPM’s web page on Disability and Employment.

recent grads

Pathways Student Programs

We offer different pathway opportunities for students and recent graduates.  The Pathway programs provides meaningful training and developmental opportunities to those who are beginning their Federal Careers. It consists of the Internship, Recent Graduate and Presidential Management Fellows Programs. Several opportunities with RD are available through this program. For additional information, please visit OPM’s web page for Students and Recent Graduates.

 

How to Apply

To apply for positions with Rural Development, please visit the USAJobs website (www.usajobs.gov) and search for available positions.  Once you have determined that you are qualified for a job and want to apply for the position, the How to Apply section of the job announcement will help you understand your next steps and will carefully guide you through each step of the application process.  This section may state deadlines and will list required supporting documents such as a formal application and resume.

Here are some videos to help you get started with USAJobs:

Hiring Process

Below is a quick summary of how the federal application process works:

  • Create a USAJobs Profile and search for available jobs
  • Review Job Announcement
  • Prepare your Application in USAJobs
  • Submit Application to Agency
  • Agency Reviews Application and determines Qualifications
  • Hiring Manager will review the highest qualified applications and selects applicants to interview based on agency policy.
  • Candidate is selected and contacted to start the job offer process.  At this time, a tentative job offer will be extended.  After the tentative job offer is accepted, the agency will start the background investigation.
  • Once the background investigation is successfully completed, a final job offer will be extended to the candidate with a start date.
Chasity L. Gatson Assistant Deputy Administrator for the Office Single Family Housing

Chasity L. Gatson | Assistant Deputy Administrator for the Office Single Family Housing
“Make strategic professional choices that align with your expertise and skills, you do not need to follow any direct path when your successes are merited. Apply, advocate for yourself, and pursue your due because your diverse perspective is needed.”

Philip Eggman Public Information Officer

Philip Eggman | Public Information Officer for Washington State
"We have a chance to tell a story that will make the difference in the lives of people living in Rural America. It is honorable work, worthy of our best efforts, craft, and skill. We made a difference."