Land Law Examiner (Minerals).

About the Role

There are 3 vacancies: 2 focusing on fluid minerals and 1 focusing on solid minerals. Duties vary by specialization as outlined below.

Responsibilities

Fluid Minerals

• Process and adjudicate record title and operating rights assignments, including research and review to ensure compliance with pertinent laws and regulations.
• Analyze, research, and verify entire and undivided interest in record title assignments and operating rights transfers for regulatory compliance and abstract lessee interests.
• Determine lease account status using the Business Information System; request additional information if deficiencies are identified.
• Research BLM Records to verify acreage and legal land descriptions.
• Prepare assignments for approval, ensuring case abstracts reflect current interest holdings, and notify appropriate agencies of approved assignments (e.g., surface managing agency, Office of Natural Resources Revenue).
• Draft letters and decisions requesting additional evidence or further compliance with regulations and precedent decisions.

Solid Minerals

• Bond Adjudication: Coordinate with field offices, agencies, and operators to manage reclamation and performance bonds for authorized operations. Ensure bonds are legally binding, fully funded, and enforceable. Tasks include intake, form verification, solvency checks, database and file management, riders and amendments, forfeiture notification, and collection.
• Mining Claim Adjudication: Coordinate with operators and interagency staff to process filings. Review filings for compliance with federal and state laws, prepare decision documents or notices, request additional information or curative actions, perform land status determinations, respond to appeals, request missing or deficient fees, and manage databases and files.
• Minerals Program Support: Provide cross-functional support to the Branch, including assisting public room staff, business administration staff, and management with inquiries, data calls, and other tasks. Duties may be developmental when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

• 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.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Resume must demonstrate qualification requirements as defined in the announcement; responses to questions must be reflected in the resume.
• May require overnight travel up to 1-2 nights per month and must obtain a government charge card for travel and purchase authority.
• Must complete required training and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment for GS-09 and GS-11 positions.
• Cannot hold an active real estate license or have an interest/stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period to evaluate fitness for continued employment. Continued employment beyond this period requires written certification that it advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (08/12/2026). Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

GS-07 Grade Level

Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level, including:

• Determining the accuracy and proper execution of applications or claims and qualifications of applicants for legal rights.
• 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.

Resume must include hours worked per week.

OR Education: One full year of graduate-level education with at least 12 semester hours in coursework related to the administration of land laws (e.g., 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 required.

OR Combination: Combination of education and experience as listed above. Resume must include hours worked per week and transcripts.

OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Bachelor’s degree in a qualifying field with one of the following:

• Upper third standing in graduating class.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher (overall or in the last 2 years of the curriculum).
• Membership in a national scholastic honor society.

Must include 12 semester hours in coursework related to land law administration and provide official transcripts.

GS-09 Grade Level

Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level, including:

• Processing and/or adjudicating basic lands and minerals cases.
• Researching and reviewing legal land descriptions and ownership status from various sources.
• Using basic computer and software applications to handle data.
• Communicating effectively with internal and external customers on routine topics.

Resume must include hours worked per week.

OR Education: Master’s degree or equivalent, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B./J.D. in a qualifying field (e.g., 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 required.

OR Combination: Combination of education and experience as listed above. Resume must include hours worked per week and transcripts.

GS-11 Grade Level

Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level, including:

• 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 sources.
• Using a variety of computer and software applications to handle data and complete work assignments.
• Communicating effectively with a broad range of internal and external customers to resolve complex problems.

Resume must include hours worked per week.

OR Education: 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 qualifying field (e.g., 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 required.

OR Combination: Combination of education and experience as listed above. Resume must include hours worked per week and transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: Includes paid and unpaid experience, such as volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations.