Legal Instruments Examiner
What you'd do
This position is located in Carlsbad, NM at the Carlsbad Field Office (CFO). Information about Carlsbad and the surrounding area can be found here: City of Carlsbad and information about CFO can be found here: Carlsbad Field Office BLM We expect to fill 1 vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.
Major duties
Review, process, and adjudicate oil and gas applications, including APDs, Sundry Notices, bonding actions, and Plugging and Abandonment documents. Conduct research and apply laws, regulations, and policies to evaluate complex factual information and make determinations. Perform bonding and bond review responsibilities, ensuring adequate coverage, recommending adjustments, and updating bond records. Use agency data systems to collect, enter, and maintain program information (e.g., AFMSS, LR2000 or similar databases). Prepare written determinations, correspondence, and case documentation, and maintain complete and accurate case files. NOTE: Assignments at the lower grade levels will be developmental in nature.
What you need to qualify
Your application must demonstrate that you meet all requirements for the grade you are seeking. If you are unsure whether your background aligns with the duties listed, please describe your experience clearly and thoroughly in your resume so it can be evaluated. No assumptions will be made about your experience. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-05 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS EXAMINER SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In order to qualify for the GS-05 Legal Instruments Examiner using specialized experience, you must possess at least one full year of experience comparable to the GS-04 level or equivalent performing one of the following duties: Reviewing applications and supporting documents, preparing control sheets, and checking them for basic completeness Using established laws, regulations, manuals, or precedent decisions to gather and verify factual information Entering and updating data in automated systems such as AFMSS, MLRS, or similar databases, and maintaining routine case files OR EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: In order to qualify for the GS-05 Legal Instruments Examiner using education as a substitution for experience, you must have successfully completed a full four-year course of study above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. Please note that per Office of Personnel Management (OPM) policy, one year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. You must submit a copy of official transcripts in order to qualify. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: In order to qualify for the GS-05 Legal Instruments Examiner using this method, you must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. You must submit a copy of official transcripts in order to qualify. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-06 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS EXAMINER SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In order to qualify for the GS-06 Legal Instruments Examiner using specialized experience, you must possess at least one full year of experience comparable to the GS-05 level or equivalent performing one of the following duties: Assisting with examining and processing APDs, Sundry Notices, bonding updates, and Plugging and Abandonment documents Conducting basic research to gather and verify information using established sources Preparing routine correspondence to request additional information Entering, updating, and maintaining program data in agency databases (e.g., AFMSS, LR2000) and establishing case files. Maintaining operator succession records and verifying bonding documentation No education substitution is available at this grade. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-07 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS EXAMINER SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In order to qualify for the GS-07 Legal Instruments Examiner using specialized experience, you must possess at least one full year of experience comparable to the GS-06 level or equivalent performing one of the following duties: Independently examining and processing NOS, APDs, Sundry Notices, and other oil and gas applications Conducting research and analysis to evaluate factual information and apply laws and regulations Preparing procedural and compliance-related correspondence and determinations Performing bonding and bond review duties, including verifying sufficiency, updating records, terminating bonds, and recommending increases Using agency data systems (e.g., AFMSS, LR2000) to collect, update, and monitor case information. No education substitution is available at this grade. Other Notes: Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Volunteer Experience: 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 include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies". POSITION DETAILS: Physical Demands: The incumbent is subject to the pressures associated with meeting deadlines and adjusting to sudden unexpected shifts in priority and workload. The work required of this position calls for the exercise of a high level of concentration. The work is mainly sedentary, but may require periods of walking, standing, bending, driving an automobile, etc. Incumbent frequently carries case files and other similar materials. The work does not require any special physical effort or ability. Work Environment: The work area is usually an office setting that is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.
Before you apply
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