Job opening: Land Law Examiner
Salary: $54 203 - 86 190 per year
Published at: Feb 26 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.
This position is located in the Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, Division of Energy and Minerals, located in Sacramento, CA. Information and the surrounding area can be found at City of Sacramento.
We expect to fill 2 vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.
Duties
Reviews and processes the full range of lands and minerals cases for accuracy and completeness.
Performs a variety of case actions in the following areas: rights-of-way, withdrawals, land exchanges and acquisitions, occupancy and use grants and sales, mineral applications, leases and permits, mining claims, and related activities.
Applies appropriate laws and policies; prepares correspondence requesting additional information; and makes decisions concerning the application and compliance with pertinent regulations.
Prepares necessary leases, permits, grants, and other documents involving appropriate provisions as to royalty and other payments, limitations, and stipulations.
Reviews and makes determinations on applications for rights-of-way for oil and gas pipelines, transmission line, and roads, trails, and highways.
Adjudicates agreements for technical accuracy and legal adequacy.
Determines whether applicant is eligible to acquire interests; verifies acreage and land descriptions; and prepares notices of decision.
Analyzes reports from field office/state office realty and resource personnel and other agencies for adequacy and determines if special environmental stipulations or other requirements may be necessary.
Research BLM and other land records to determine land ownership, types of ownership, rights, encumbrances, withdrawals, restrictions, and other land status for case processing or public inquiries.
Utilizes data, systems, and applications to collect, enter, manipulate, update and maintain data according to prescribed Bureau and program standards.
Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
- You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
- Direct Deposit Required.
- Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
- Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
- If selected for this position, you will be required to annually complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 within 30 days of reporting to duty.
- May require a one year probationary period or two year trial period depending on appointment type.
Qualifications
This position has an individual occupation requirement (IOR) that must be met in order to be considered. Please read the Education section to ensure you meet these requirements.
In addition to the individual occupation requirement (IOR), you must meet the specialized experience as outlined below. In order to assess you meet a qualified status for this position and to refer you to the hiring manager, the agency must be able to determine that you meet the qualifications based on completed education, specialized experience, and/or both - please be sure to include this information in your resume.
To qualify for the GS-7, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5. Examples of specialized experience may include: Adjudicating or examining land descriptions, abstracting, or interpreting land records, survey plats, or tract indexes and books, provided the work demonstrated an understanding of the laws, regulations, and policies associated with land management programs. OR One full year of graduate level education related to the position; OR A combination of qualifying experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR Superior Academic Achievement.
Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Applicants may qualify for the GS-7 based on Superior Academic Achievement in one of three ways: grade point average, class standing, or membership in a national scholastic honor society.
1. GPA: GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
2. Class Standing: Applicants may qualify if they have graduated and were ranked in the top third of the graduating class.
3. Honor Society Membership: Membership in a nationally recognized scholastic honor society. Click here for a list of Honor Societies.
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 by the closing date of the announcement.
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level.
Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary. Some walking, bending, and carrying files may be required.
Work Environment: Work is in a typical office setting.
Education
This position has an individual occupational requirement (IOR). To be considered, applicants must meet the below requirement for each grade level you wish to be considered for.
- Graduate education (including law school) that includes 12 semester hours of course work related to the administration of land laws. Examples include course work in land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation.
OR
- Experience in or directly related to examination or adjudication of cases involving laws and regulations dealing with lands and resources.
You must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.
Contacts
- Address BLM California State Office
BLM California State Office, CA-945
2800 Cottage Way
Suite W-1623
Sacramento, CA 95825
US
- Name: Jessica Baker
- Phone: 209-305-2069
- Email: [email protected]
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