Land Law Examiner (Lands & Realty)

About the role

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is a Carlsbad, New Mexico, GS- 0965-11 working in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the NMP00-PECOS DISTRICT OFFICE. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. To qualify for the GS-11: You must possess at least one or more years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. This experience may include all of the following: Reviewing and processing the full scope of lands and minerals cases for completeness and legal sufficiency, including applications for permit to drill (APDs), Natural Gas Policy Act determinations, unitization and communization agreements, lease issuance and termination, operator resignations/designations, drainage, bonding, and associated development actions. Adjudicating complex agreements and applications for technical accuracy and compliance with federal land laws, regulations, and policies (e.g., FLPMA, Mineral Leasing Act), applying precedents, and independently developing facts and evidence for case decisions. Determining applicant qualifications and land status, including the ability to interpret legal land descriptions, verify boundaries, confirm applicable rights and interests, and ensure consistency with BLM policy and regulatory standards. Preparing and issuing leases, permits, grants, and other legal instruments that include required stipulations, royalty provisions, limitations, and conditions of approval. Ensures documents meet legal, procedural, and policy requirements. Drafting clear, defensible adjudication decisions and correspondence requesting additional information, outlining legal reasoning, and communicating outcomes to operators, stakeholders, or other agencies. Applying advanced analytical and technical skills, including use of BLM land, minerals, and case-management systems; GIS tools; and land records to evaluate status, determine compliance, and support adjudication findings. Coordinating with internal and external parties, providing authoritative guidance on case requirements, regulatory interpretations, and technical standards related to lands and minerals adjudication. - OR- Education: I have 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., directly related to duties performed by a Land Law Examiner. Examples of related coursework are 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- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS)

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