Rangeland Management Specialist

Bureau of Land Management • Roswell, NM

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Rangeland Management Specialist helps care for public rangelands by assessing their health, supporting grazing permits and planning, guiding improvements and treatments, and working with land users to promote sustainable management. The role combines outdoor fieldwork assessing rangeland conditions with office work evaluating information, preparing recommendations, and coordinating with ranchers, Tribes, partners, and other resource specialists. The specialist collects and analyzes scientific data, develops management plans, reviews grazing proposals, and helps ensure rangelands remain productive, resilient, and available for multiple uses. The position also involves explaining processes, sharing information, and building constructive relationships with land users and community members. Training, mentorship, and support are provided, whether the position is filled at a developmental or full performance level. Duties are developmental when the position is filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Participation in Direct Deposit is required.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must not hold an active real estate license or have an interest in or hold stocks in firms with interests in Federal lands.
• Must be able to operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle over rough, uneven, or remote terrain as part of regular fieldwork.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, depending on eligibility.
• Must meet the Rangeland Management Series (0454) Individual Occupational Requirement: a bachelor's degree or higher in range management or a directly related discipline with 42 semester hours distributed as specified (18 hours in range management; 15 hours in plant, animal, and soil sciences, including at least one course in each; and 9 hours in related resource-management subjects), or the specified combination of education and relevant experience.
• For GS-05, must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement through qualifying education or the education-and-experience combination; no specialized experience is required.
• For GS-07, in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, must qualify through one year of specified GS-05-equivalent specialized experience, one full year of related graduate education, superior academic achievement in a qualifying bachelor's degree, or an allowed combination of experience and education.
• For GS-09, in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, must qualify through one year of specified GS-07-equivalent specialized experience, a master's degree or equivalent or two years of progressively higher-level related graduate education, or an allowed combination of experience and education.
• For GS-11, in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, must qualify through one year of specified GS-09-equivalent specialized experience, three years of progressively higher-level related graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or an allowed combination of experience and education.
• Qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date, November 9, 2026.
• To receive credit for experience, the resume must state full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week.
• Applicants using education to qualify must submit transcripts containing the required academic details; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
• Must be able to perform fieldwork that may require walking or riding horses or vehicles over rough terrain, recurring bending, crouching, stooping, reaching, and lifting, including moderately heavy equipment and samples.
• Must be able to drive four-wheel-drive vehicles for extended periods over rough terrain and reach remote areas; overnight camping is sometimes required.
• Must be able to work outdoors in temperature extremes or inclement weather and face potential wildlife, chemical, physical, and insect-borne disease hazards; safety precautions and specialized equipment are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead rangeland evaluations and monitoring by collecting, interpreting, and analyzing field data on rangeland health, trends, and management needs, including vegetation, soils, riparian conditions, and resource impacts.
• Develop and implement conservation and grazing management plans, prepare allotment evaluations and technical recommendations, and contribute to multiple-use decisions consistent with laws, policies, land-use plans, and resource objectives.
• Review and process grazing permits, authorizations, and related casework; evaluate proposals for compliance, recommend mitigation measures, resolve unauthorized use, and prepare clear documentation.
• Provide expert input during protests, appeals, or hearings as needed.
• Plan and design range improvements and vegetation treatments, coordinating structural improvements and vegetation management approaches while 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.
• Serve as a technical advisor and explain rangeland conditions, requirements, and management options to others.
• Prepare planning documents, environmental analyses, and technical reports that communicate findings, recommendations, and resource impacts and comply with Bureau policies and regulatory requirements.
• Use the Rangeland Administration System (RAS) and related data tools to enter and manage information, track permit activity, monitor projects, and support data-driven program decisions.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible and qualified candidates on a case-by-case basis; an incentive is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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