Realty Specialist (Generalist)
What you'd do
This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Anadarko, Oklahoma; Anchorage, Alaska; Billings, Montana; Gallup, New Mexico; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Nashville, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Vancouver, Washington.
Major duties
As Realty Specialist (Generalist), GS-1170, your typical work assignments may include, but not limited to: Process and manage realty contracts and conveyance transactions including leases, permits, easements, rights-of-way, patents, disposals, acquisitions, and restriction removals; ensure all required clearances (e.g., appraisals, NEPA, TSR) are secured. Consult with beneficiaries, lessees, co-owners, and other parties to explain processes, options, documentation, and requirements for trust real property actions; provide accurate and timely trust asset information. Research, analyze, and resolve complex or conflicting land and title issues, including ownership records, encumbrances, historical land use, and adjacent land use conflicts; provide findings and recommendations to BIA, tribes, landowners, and lower-graded staff. Conduct on-site inspections and field investigations involving possible trespass, encroachments, or natural resource damages to gather data for potential or identified claims. Monitor and document compliance with realty terms and conditions, including preventing trespass and misuse of trust assets; use automated systems such as TAAMS to track and record transactions. Coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments as well as private parties to negotiate and complete real estate actions; provide expert guidance and ensure proper application of applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Provide mentoring or training for lower-graded specialists on realty processes, compliance, and trust responsibilities. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
What you need to qualify
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, GS-1170). GS-5: 3 years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level, that demonstrates the ability to analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing (obtained in either the public or private sector). OR EDUCATION: Four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. GS-7: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service, that includes work assisting higher-graded specialists with basic real estate tasks such as preparing simple documents, gathering land records, or verifying routine information; supporting processing of routine applications (e.g., patents, easements, permits) by collecting required forms or checking for completeness; conducting basic research on routine land or title issues and summarizing findings for review; use automated systems such as TAAMS to retrieve or enter data; participating in audits, inspections, or field visits by observing and recording information for senior staff; providing basic customer support by answering straightforward inquiries from landowners, lessees, or beneficiaries under supervision. OR EDUCATION: One (1) full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). GS-9: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service in processing routine to moderately complex realty transactions (e.g., leases, rights-of-way, disposals) using intermediate knowledge of policies and regulations; analyzing standard land-into-trust requests or reviewing use of trust assets to ensure compatibility with policy needs, referring complex issues upward; conducting data analysis for lease compliance, ownership verification, or land use determinations; assisting in negotiation of terms and conditions in authorizing documents with willing participants; reviewing lease packages or other transaction documents for accuracy and completeness; using TAAMS and other automated systems to input, track, and retrieve realty information with increasing independence; assisting with on-site compliance inspections and preparing summary reports for supervisory review. OR EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related to this position. GS-11: I have at least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include managing trust and restricted property cases involving multiple owners, competing land uses, or significant coordination with tribes, landowners, or state/local entities; processing and analyzing moderately complex applications for land-into-trust, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements; recommending corrective actions for compliance deficiencies and participating in the development of solutions to land title or encumbrance problems; collaborating with supervisors on conveyance transactions requiring appraisals, NEPA, TSR, and other clearances to ensure procedural completion; conducting coordinated negotiations with landowners, tribal governments, or private entities on real estate matters; providing technical guidance to lower-graded staff and reviewing their work for accuracy; performing compliance monitoring and assisting with field investigations related to trespass, encroachments, or resource damage. OR EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. GRADUATE EDUCATION: Graduate education must be related to the occupation and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) Class standing-applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses; or (2) Grade-Point Average-applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society - membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and is typically in or related to the position to be filled. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.
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