Rangeland Management Specialist (Field Unit Local Hiring)

Summary You will serve as a Rangeland Management Specialist and help assess rangeland health, support permits and planning, guide improvements and treatments, and work with land users to promote sustainable public lands. Position is also open to all U.S. citizens under a separate announcement: CCCR-27-13096241-DE-JLH Position is also open to status candidates under announcement: CCCR-27-13096245-MP-JLH You must apply to each announcement separately to be considered under all recruitment methods. Responsibilities Position Overview As a Rangeland Management Specialist, you will help care for the health of public lands and support the people who rely on them. Your work will blend time outdoors assessing rangeland conditions with time in the office evaluating information, preparing recommendations, and coordinating with ranchers, Tribes, partners, and other resource specialists. You will collect and analyze scientific data, develop clear management plans, review grazing proposals, and help ensure rangelands remain productive, resilient, and available for multiple uses. You will also play a key role in explaining processes, sharing information, and building constructive working relationships with land users and community members. Whether you join at a developmental level or the full performance level, you will receive training, mentorship, and support to grow your technical skills and professional confidence. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Lead rangeland evaluations and monitoring activities by collecting, interpreting, and analyzing field data to determine rangeland health, trends, and management needs. You will assess vegetation, soils, riparian conditions, and resource impacts to help guide land-use decisions. Develop and implement conservation and grazing management plans by preparing allotment evaluations, drafting technical recommendations, and contributing to multiple-use decisions. You will ensure plans align with laws, policies, land-use plans, and resource objectives. Review and process grazing permits, authorizations, and related casework by evaluating proposals for compliance, recommending mitigation measures, resolving unauthorized use, and preparing clear and defensible documentation. You may provide expert input during protests, appeals, or hearings. Plan and design range improvements and vegetation treatments to support healthy rangeland conditions. This includes coordinating structural improvements, developing vegetation management approaches, and considering sensitive resources such as riparian areas and threatened or endangered species. Collaborate with ranchers, Tribes, landowners, partner agencies, and interdisciplinary teams to identify issues, share information, build consensus, and support responsible land stewardship. You will serve as a technical advisor and help others understand rangeland conditions, requirements, and management options. Prepare planning documents, environmental analyses, and technical reports that clearly communicate findings, recommendations, and resource impacts. You will ensure documents are complete, accurate, and aligned with Bureau policies and regulatory requirements. Use Bureau systems-such as the Rangeland Administration System (RAS) and related data tools-to enter and manage information, track permit activity, monitor projects, and support data-driven decisions for rangeland programs. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Field Unit Local Hiring Authority Defined Local Commuting Area: Kremmling Field Office (Kremmling, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (2103 E. Park Ave, Kremmling, CO 80459) San Luis Valley Field Office (Monte Vista, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (1313 E. Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144) Royal Gorge Field Office (Canon City, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (3028 E. Main St.,Canon City, CO 81212) Farmington Field Office (Farmington, NM) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (6251 College Blvd., Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402) Eagle Lake Field Office (Susanville, CA) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130) Little Snake Field Office (Craig, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (455 Emerson Street, Craig, CO 81625) To verify your local residency, please provide one document that includes your name and current address. Acceptable documents include: A mortgage statement or property deed showing your name and address. A current, signed lease or rental agreement. A recent utility bill or service statement (from the last 30-90 days) with your name and address. A home or auto insurance policy that lists your address. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. 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/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands. You must be able to operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle over rough, uneven, or remote terrain as part of regular fieldwork. Must meet Field Unit Local Hiring Authority requirements, including maintaining a permanent and exclusive residence within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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. 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. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/09/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. 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 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. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT - RANGELAND MANAGEMENT SERIES (0454) In addition to the grade-level qualifications below, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) through qualifying education or a combination of education and experience, as applicable: Education: You have a bachelor's degree or higher in range management or a directly related discipline that included a total of 42 semester hours, with the following distribution: 18 semester hours in range management subjects such as principles of range management, range ecology, range improvements, range inventories and studies, and rangeland planning; 15 semester hours in plant, animal, and soil sciences, with at least one course in each of the plant, animal, and soil sciences; and 9 semester hours in related resource-management subjects such as wildlife management, watershed management, natural resource or agricultural economics, forestry, agronomy, forages, or outdoor recreation management. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You have completed at least 42 semester hours distributed as above and possess appropriate experience or additional education demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform professional rangeland management work. Qualifying experience may include assisting in the conservation, regulation, and use of public lands for grazing; participating in range inventory and monitoring activities; or assisting in the operation or management of lands comparable to public rangelands. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-07 RANGELAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST In addition to meeting the IOR above, you must meet one of the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (GS-07): You have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-05 level performing all of the following: Assisting in the conservation, regulation, and use of public or federally controlled lands for grazing. Leading or supporting range inventory and monitoring activities that include field data collection. Inspecting and inventorying existing range improvements and identifying needed improvements. Assisting in the operation of a livestock ranch or in the management or preservation of lands comparable to public rangelands. Contributing to the development of livestock grazing management plans. OR EDUCATION (GS-07): You have completed one full year of graduate-level education in range management or a directly related field that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for GS-07 work. One full year of graduate education is the amount the school considers to represent one year of full-time study; if not defined, 18 semester hours is considered one year. OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (S.A.A.) (GS-07): You have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a field that meets the IOR and you meet one of the following: Class Standing: Upper third of your graduating class. GPA: 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 (overall or in the last two years), or 3.5 or higher out of 4.0 in your major or major courses completed in the last two years. Honor Society Membership: Election to a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (GS-07): You have a combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education that equals at least 100 percent of the GS-07 requirement and also satisfies the IOR. To determine your percentage, divide months of GS-05-level qualifying experience by 12, and divide qualifying graduate semester hours beyond the first year by 18; the sum must equal at least 100 percent. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-09 RANGELAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST In addition to meeting the IOR, you must meet one of the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (GS-09): You have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-07 level performing all of the following: Assisting in the conservation, regulation, and use of public or federally controlled lands for grazing. Supporting or conducting range inventory and monitoring activities that include field data collection and evaluation. Assisting in the operation of a livestock ranch or in the management or preservation of lands comparable to public rangelands. Assisting in the development of rangeland management plans designed to improve range conditions and minimize invasive species. OR EDUCATION (GS-09): You have completed a master's degree or equivalent, OR two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, in range management or a directly related field that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for GS-09 work. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (GS-09): You have a combination of qualifying graduate education and specialized experience that equals at least 100 percent of the GS-09 requirement. Only graduate education beyond 18 semester hours may be credited. Other Information Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work 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 translate directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Demands: You will work in an office setting, however, in order to gather samples and complete monitoring activities, you may frequently be required to walk or ride horses and/or vehicles over rough terrain, perform duties that require recurring bending, crouching, stooping, reaching or lifting. Work may also include lifting of moderately heavy items, such equipment and samples. Extended periods of driving four-wheel drive vehicles over rough terrain is required to reach remote areas. Overnight camping is sometimes required. You may be subjected to hostile wildlife, chemical and physical hazards. Work Environment: You will work in an office setting. However, frequently when necessary to complete the work, there is outdoor exposure. Outdoor exposure requires some discomfort in extremes of temperature or inclement weather. Outdoor work is performed in remote areas. The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomfort (e.g., outdoor camping, insect borne disease). Special safety precautions and specialized equipment are required. Education This position has a mandatory education requirement. 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. 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 This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy, etc.). See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence. Field Unit Local Hiring Authority Defined Local Commuting Area: Kremmling Field Office (Kremmling, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (2103 E. Park Ave, Kremmling, CO 80459) San Luis Valley Field Office (Monte Vista, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (1313 E. Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144) Royal Gorge Field Office (Canon City, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (3028 E. Main St.,Canon City, CO 81212) Farmington Field Office (Farmington, NM) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (6251 College Blvd., Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402) Eagle Lake Field Office (Susanville, CA) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130) Little Snake Field Office (Craig, CO) - Radius of 75 miles from official duty station; local commute 75 miles/90 minutes (455 Emerson Street, Craig, CO 81625) Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent position. A Federal employee who is transferring from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. 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. All Department of Interior (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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.