Production Accountability Technician

Summary Explore a new career with the Bureau Land Management - where our people are our most precious resource. You will serve as a Production Accountability TechnicianThe responsibilities of this position involve selecting and auditing the most difficult oil and gas lease cases to ensure production accountability. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. Responsibilities Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Perform specialized auditing methods and procedures, audit production accountability reviews, and propose new processes and procedures and/or review the impact of new guidance. Educate operators on compliance and reporting requirements per comprehensive rules, regulations, techniques, and procedures concerning oil and gas production. Utilize the proper oil and gas field operation terminology in order to effectively communicate with the public, operators, and other state and Federal agencies. Interview and respond to inquiries from field inspectors, inter-agency staff, oil and gas operators, and purchases as needed to acquire information and clarify questions that cannot be ascertained through paper reviews alone. Initiate enforcement actions regarding administrative violations for improper reporting of royalties and production in a timely manner. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands. 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/31/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. To receive credit for experience, 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. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: 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: (1) performing a range of technical and clerical tasks that contribute to the completion of Records Verification (RV) Reviews on all assigned cases; (2) responding to routine procedural questions from field inspectors, inter-agency staff, oil and gas operators; (3) writing reports using data obtained during records verification to document findings. You must include hours per week worked OR Education: Education: 4 years above high school. Transcripts must be provided OR Combination of education and experience: Total qualifying education and experience as listed above when combined must total to 100 percent to qualify. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) conducting Records Verification (RV) reviews on assigned cases; (2) coordinating inspections to audit production records, begin surveillance, or complete on-site inspections; (3) writing reports using data analyzed during production audit inspections to document the findings, results, and corrective actions. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: 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: (1) assisting with Records Analysis (RA) reviews of oil and gas leases; (2) identifying anomalies and discrepancies in reported production data; (3) interviewing field inspectors, inter-agency staff, and oil and gas operators; (4) preparing delegated enforcement actions that include issuing written order letters, incidences of non-compliance and shut-in orders. To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) providing guidance and advice regarding the selection of high-risk cases to review; (2) auditing oil and gas lease cases to ensure production accountability; (3) conducting Records Verification for a wide variety of cases; (4) serving as liaison between the minerals staff, law enforcement staff, inter-agency auditors, investigators, and industry representatives. 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. Education For GS-05 Only: You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. This position does not allow substituting education for experience at the GS-06,07 or 08 levels. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification Additional Information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) Physical Demands: The work involves light physical activity associated with office work. It may involve some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items. The incumbent is subject to high levels of concentration, as well as pressures associated with meeting deadlines and adjusting to sudden unexpected shifts in priority and workload. Working Conditions: The work environment is primarily in a business office setting. Occasional site visits to field locations require the use of personal protection equipment and sound safety practices when exposed to moving machinery, explosive mixtures of gases or liquids, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. Site visits may also require climbing stairs or ladders, walking on uneven surfaces, and exposure to inclement weather. All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.