Land Specialist 1, 2, 3, or 4 (Resource Analytics)

State of Louisiana • Baton Rouge, LA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of State Resources (OSTR) is responsible for the stewardship, administration and strategic management of Louisiana’s publicly owned land, mineral, water and subsurface assets for energy-related development. At the direction of the State Mineral and Energy Board (SMEB), the Office supports the full lifecycle of public resource management — beginning with the initial bid and contract evaluation, negotiation and title verification. Once agreements are in place, OSTR oversees operational compliance, ensuring that developers and operators meet performance standards, fulfill contractual obligations, and remit appropriate royalty payments to the State. This integrated model allows OSTR to uphold its fiduciary obligations, enforce accountability, and manage Louisiana’s resource portfolio with foresight and precision. OSTR’s role expands beyond land and minerals to ground and surface water management, creating a foundation for conservation, monitoring, and strategic planning statewide. As the Land Specialist within the Resource Analytics Division of the Office of State Resources, you will play a key role in identifying opportunities that maximize the State’s financial returns from its natural resources. As the Division’s sole Land Specialist, you will serve as a subject-matter expert in land use, mineral interests, and the oil and gas and alternative energy industries, providing analysis and recommendations that inform negotiations, settlements, and royalty payments. You will evaluate opportunities involving unleased mineral interests and mineral rights on conflict acreage where the State may have a claim, helping ensure these resources are responsibly managed and leveraged for the benefit of Louisiana. Working closely with the Petroleum Scientist Manager and a broad network of State, federal, and industry stakeholders, you will help improve royalty returns, strengthen resource management strategies, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement across the Office of State Resources.

Requirements

• Three years of experience in property and land rights acquisition, appraisals, or relocation assistance; land title research or abstracting, land surveying or cadastral work; or oil and gas lease negotiations or land work involving plotting and location of well sites and access routes; OR Six years of full-time work experience in any field; OR A bachelor’s degree.
• Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Office of State Resources' senior technical expert in the analysis of state-owned lands and minerals, and leasing records by conducting complex title examinations and ownership determinations involving multiple conveyances, legal descriptions, historical records, surveys, and public documents.
• Support the State's position in disputes involving complex ownership issues through interpretation of Louisiana property law and land management policies.
• Provide technical oversight of state mineral and surface lease administration by evaluating complex lease actions, ownership interests, production data, and legal documentation.
• Maintain statewide land and mineral ownership databases, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.
• Analyze ownership, leasing, royalty, and resource data to identify trends, evaluate program performance, and provide recommendations that support executive decision-making.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and analytical tools to improve efficiency and data-driven decisions.
• Coordinate with attorneys, engineers, geologists, finance staff, and executive leadership on complex issues and make recommendations on negotiation positions to benefit the State.
• Present findings and recommendations to executive leadership and the State Mineral & Energy Board, and coordinate initiatives with internal staff and external stakeholders to improve statewide land management.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level