Summary
Join the Bureau of Land Management as a Land Law Examiner, where you will examine and adjudicate land and mineral cases that support the management of public lands and resources. We expect to fill 1 vacancy in one of the following locations. Learn more about these communities and surrounding areas below: Alturas, CA Cedarville, CA
Duties
Position Overview As a Land Law Examiner, you will play an important role in the management of public lands and resources by examining and adjudicating a wide variety of land and mineral cases. At the full performance level, you will independently research land status and ownership, analyze legal and factual issues, apply public land and mineral laws and regulations, and prepare decisions and other documents that support land and resource actions. This work combines detailed research, problem solving, written analysis, and coordination with applicants, other agencies, and the public. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Review and process a wide range of land, realty, mining, and mineral cases for accuracy and completeness; develop facts and evidence; identify legal and factual issues; verify applicant qualifications, acreage, and land descriptions; and obtain additional information needed to make well-supported determinations. Examine and adjudicate land and realty actions involving rights-of-way, land exchanges and acquisitions, withdrawals, conveyances, occupancy and use, land sales, and other public land actions; determine applicable requirements, fees, bonding, limitations, reservations, and conditions. Review and process mineral leasing and mining cases involving permits, leases, mining claims, bonding, operator actions, agreements, and other mineral activities; determine applicant qualifications and evaluate cases for technical accuracy, legal adequacy, and compliance with applicable requirements. Research and apply public land, mineral, and Indian land laws, regulations, legal decisions, policies, manuals, and other authorities; analyze and reconcile conflicting information, determine which requirements apply, and develop legally supportable conclusions. Research and evaluate land ownership, title, rights, encumbrances, withdrawals, restrictions, and land status; review title documents and prepare leases, permits, grants, conveyance documents, and other records needed to complete land transactions. Prepare correspondence, notices, and decisions that clearly explain case facts, applicable requirements, conclusions, and required actions; recognize unusual, novel, policy-sensitive, or potentially precedent-setting matters that require higher-level review. Maintain accurate and complete case information in electronic data and recordkeeping systems; perform quality-control checks and ensure supporting documents and required environmental information are included in the official case record. Communicate and coordinate with applicants and their representatives, Bureau employees, Federal and State agencies, legal staff, public-land users, and members of the public to gather information, explain regulations and procedures, respond to inquiries, and address differences involving land and mineral applications and actions. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork
Requirements
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands. If selected at the GS-09 grade level, you will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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.
Education
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. In addition to the application and minimum qualifications questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required. 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. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Veterans' preference will be based solely on the claimed preference. Your eligibility will not be changed based on the documentation provided. If you are uncertain which preference to claim, you can learn more by visiting the VetGuide. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.