Land Law Examiner (Minerals)
What you'd do
You will serve as a Land Law Examiner (Minerals) with Bureau of Land Management analyzes land records to determine ownership, rights, and legal document validity. This position is also being advertised under a separate Field Unit Local (FUL) job announcement. Applicants who meet FUL residency requirements and wish to be considered under both hiring authorities must apply to BOTH announcements. To view the FUL announcement, search USAJOBS for announcement number: BLM-CO-FUL-26-13019702-MH
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: 2 vacancies will be filled primarily focusing on fluid minerals. 1 vacancy will be filled primarily focusing on solid minerals. Please see the major duties listed below for each of these position. Fluid Minerals: Processing and adjudication of record title and operating rights assignments include research and review of the assignments and related material to determine if it is in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations. Analyzing, researching and verifying entire and undivided interest in record title assignments and operating rights transfers for compliance with regulations, abstracts lessee interests. Determines that lease account status is in good standing using the Business Information System; and if deficiencies are identified, requests additional information. Researching BLM Records to verify acreage and legal land description. Preparing assignments for approval ensures case abstract reflects current interest holdings, and notifies appropriate agencies of approved assignment (e.g., surface managing agency, Office of Resources Revenue, etc.). Writing letters and decisions requesting additional evidence of further compliance with regulations and precedent decisions. Solid Minerals: Bond adjudication for surface management and mineral materials operations - this involves coordination with field offices, other agencies and operators to adequately manage reclamation and performance bonds for authorized operations. Work will focus on ensuring the bond is legally binding, fully funded and enforceable. Work will consist of intake, form verification, solvency checks, database and file management, riders and amendments, forfeiture notification and collection. Mining claim adjudication - this involves coordination with operators and interagency staff to adequately process filings. Work will focus on reviewing filings, verifying compliance with federal and state laws and timely coordination. Work will consist of preparing decision documents and or notices, requests for additional information or curative actions, land status determinations, responses to appeals, requests for missing or deficient fees, and database and file management. Minerals program support - this involves providing support for cross-functional areas in the Branch. Work will consist of providing support to the public room staff, the business administration staff and management for questions, inquiries, data calls and other relevant tasks. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
What you need to qualify
Requirements Continued... 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 -OR- trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/12/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Determining the accuracy and proper execution of applications or claims and the qualifications of applicants for legal rights as requested; Adjudicating routine lands, mining, or mineral leasing applications; Answering inquiries from the public or internal customers regarding public land laws and regulations; Preparing routine correspondence You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate level education. This includes or supplemented by 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. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. You must include hours per week and transcripts. -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): I have successfully completed all of the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for this position as described above from an accredited college or university, and meets one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement based on the following: (1) class standing (upper third standing in the graduating class of a college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses); (2) grade-point average (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or (3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) 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; (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your official transcripts that show a confer/completion date and any additional documentation to support your response to this question). Applicants applying under SAA must have 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. Transcripts must be provided. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Processing and/or adjudicating basic lands and minerals cases; Researching and reviewing legal land descriptions and ownership status from various map and records sources; Using basic computer and software applications to handle data; and Communicating effectively with internal and external customers on routine topics. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D in a field of study such as land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. You must include hours per week and transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Processing and adjudicating complex and unusual minerals cases; Researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and regulations applicable to minerals cases; Interpreting legal land descriptions and ownership status from various map and records sources; Using a variety of computer and software applications to handle data and complete work assignments; and Communicating effectively with a broad range of internal and external customers to resolve complex problems. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a PH.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., in a field of study such as land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. You must include hours per week and transcripts. 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.
Before you apply
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