Rangeland Management Specialist

Bureau of Land Management • Burley, ID

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Rangeland Management Specialist supports the health and sustainable use of public lands through field assessments, monitoring, planning, permit and casework review, and coordination with land users and resource partners. The role combines outdoor work assessing vegetation, soils, riparian conditions, and resource impacts with office work evaluating information, preparing recommendations, and coordinating with ranchers, Tribes, landowners, partner agencies, and other specialists. The position may be filled at a developmental or full performance level, with training and mentorship provided. Duties are developmental when the position is filled below the full performance level.

The specialist collects and analyzes scientific data, prepares management plans and technical documents, reviews grazing proposals and permits, and recommends improvements and treatments. The work supports multiple-use decisions while ensuring activities align with applicable laws, policies, land-use plans, and resource objectives. The specialist may also provide technical input during protests, appeals, or hearings and uses Bureau systems, including the Rangeland Administration System (RAS), to manage program information and track permit activity and projects.

The work is performed in an office and frequently outdoors in remote areas. Field conditions may include rough terrain, temperature extremes, inclement weather, camping, and exposure to insects, wildlife, and other hazards. The position requires operation of a four-wheel-drive vehicle over rough terrain; specialized equipment and safety precautions are required. Telework is suitable only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must be able to operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle over rough, uneven, or remote terrain as part of regular fieldwork.
• Must not hold an active real estate license or have an interest in or hold stocks in firms with interests in Federal Lands.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period, subject to agency evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• 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 among range management subjects (18 hours), plant, animal, and soil sciences (15 hours, including at least one course in each), and related resource-management subjects (9 hours); or the specified combination of coursework and appropriate experience or additional education.
• For GS-05, meet the Individual Occupational Requirement through qualifying education or the qualifying education-and-experience combination; no specialized experience is required.
• For GS-07, in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, qualify through one year of specified GS-05-equivalent specialized experience, one year of qualifying graduate education, superior academic achievement in a qualifying bachelor's degree, or the specified combination of experience and graduate education.
• For GS-09, in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, qualify through one year of specified GS-07-equivalent specialized experience, a master's degree or equivalent or two years of qualifying graduate education, or the specified combination of experience and graduate education.
• For GS-11, in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, qualify through one year of specified GS-09-equivalent specialized experience, three years of qualifying graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or the specified combination of experience and graduate education.
• Qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date of 11/09/2026. Resumes must specify full-time or 40 hours per week, or part-time hours per week, for experience to be credited.
• Submit transcripts supporting claimed education when using education to qualify; transcripts must contain the required academic and degree information. Foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education by a specialized credential evaluation organization.
• Must comply with Department of the Interior restrictions on acquiring or retaining claims, permits, leases, small tract entries, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, subject to limited exceptions.

Responsibilities

• Lead rangeland evaluations and monitoring by collecting, interpreting, and analyzing field data on rangeland health, trends, vegetation, soils, riparian conditions, and resource impacts.
• Develop and implement conservation and grazing management plans, including allotment evaluations and technical recommendations aligned with laws, policies, land-use plans, and resource objectives.
• Review and process grazing permits, authorizations, and related casework; assess proposals for compliance, recommend mitigation, resolve unauthorized use, and prepare defensible documentation.
• Provide expert input during protests, appeals, or hearings, as needed.
• Plan and design range improvements and vegetation treatments, coordinating structural improvements 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.
• 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 Bureau systems, including the Rangeland Administration System (RAS), and related data tools to manage information, track permit activity, monitor projects, and support data-driven decisions.
• Collect samples and complete field monitoring activities, including travel over rough terrain and, sometimes, overnight camping.

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; neither is guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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