Rangeland Management Specialist

Bureau of Land Management • Susanville, CA

12d

About The Position

The Rangeland Management Specialist helps care for public-land rangeland health and supports people who rely on these lands. The work combines outdoor assessment of rangeland conditions with office-based evaluation of information, recommendations, planning, and coordination with ranchers, Tribes, partners, and other resource specialists. The specialist collects and analyzes scientific data, develops management plans, reviews grazing proposals, and helps keep rangelands productive, resilient, and available for multiple uses. The role also involves explaining processes, sharing information, and building constructive relationships with land users and community members. Positions may be filled at a developmental level or at the full performance level, with training, mentorship, and support provided.

The position involves rangeland evaluations and monitoring; conservation and grazing-management planning; reviewing permits and related casework; designing range improvements and vegetation treatments; collaboration with land users and resource teams; preparation of planning documents, environmental analyses, and technical reports; and use of Bureau systems, including the Rangeland Administration System (RAS). Duties are developmental when the position is filled below the full performance level. Work includes an office setting and frequent outdoor work in remote areas, with possible telework subject to supervisor approval.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 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.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary or two-year trial period, depending on eligibility.
• Must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for the Rangeland Management Series (0454): a bachelor's degree or higher in range management or a directly related discipline including 42 semester hours distributed as specified, or the qualifying education-and-experience combination described in the announcement.
• For GS-07, must meet the applicable qualification pathway: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05, one full year of graduate education, superior academic achievement with a qualifying bachelor's degree, or the specified combination of experience and education. The specialized experience pathway includes grazing-land conservation or use, range inventory and monitoring with field data collection, range-improvement inspection and inventory, ranch or comparable land management, and contribution to grazing plans.
• For GS-09, must meet the applicable qualification pathway: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07, a master's degree or equivalent, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or the specified combination. Specialized experience includes grazing-land conservation or use, range inventory and monitoring with field data collection and evaluation, ranch or comparable land management, and assisting with plans to improve range conditions and minimize invasive species.
• For GS-11, must meet the applicable qualification pathway: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or the specified combination. Specialized experience includes grazing-land conservation or use, leading range inventory and monitoring with field data collection and evaluation, range-improvement inspection and inventory, comparable land management, and developing plans to improve range conditions and minimize invasive species.
• Qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date, 11/09/2026. Resumes must state full-time or 40 hours a week, or part-time and the hours worked per week, for experience to be credited.
• Must submit transcripts to support education used to qualify; foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
• May not hold an active real estate license or have an interest in or hold stocks in firms with interests in Federal Lands.
• Must comply with applicable Department of the Interior ethics prohibitions concerning rights in Federal lands.

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; address 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 help others understand rangeland conditions, requirements, and management options.
• Prepare planning documents, environmental analyses, and technical reports communicating findings, recommendations, and resource impacts while meeting Bureau policies and regulatory requirements.
• Use Bureau systems, including the Rangeland Administration System (RAS), to manage information, track permit activity, monitor projects, and support data-driven decisions.
• Collect samples and complete monitoring activities, potentially walking or riding horses or vehicles over rough terrain and driving four-wheel-drive vehicles to remote areas.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible, qualified candidates on a case-by-case basis; it is not guaranteed.
• Training, mentorship, and support to develop technical skills and professional confidence.

What This Job Offers

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