Summary Explore a new career with the BLM This position is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. Responsibilities The incumbent will be BLM’s principal liaison for the BIA and Tribal Offices concerning boundary surveys, land ownership, Fee-to-Trust transactions and other legal and technical matters related to trust and Federal interest lands. The incumbent is expected to be a senior technical specialist in Land Surveying with competencies developed for dealing with sensitive issues related to cultural awareness, local traditions, and the history affecting tribal lands. Participation in meetings or briefing with BIA employees, Tribal Councils, Tribal employees, individual Tribal members, as well as members of the general public, congressional staffs and others is required. This position is key to the successful implementation of the Department of the Interior Standards for Indian Trust Lands Boundary Evidence, 303 DM 7. This position functions as a Bureau of Land Management Land Surveyor (BIA Specialist) with the duty station typically assigned to a Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Office, or at a location determined by the BIA Deputy Director for Trust Services. The position is under the administrative and technical supervision of the Chief Cadastral Surveyor of the BLM State Office servicing one of the 12BIA Regional Offices. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. In addition to meeting the Individual Occupation Requirement, you must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Professional in-depth knowledge of the concepts, principles, and techniques of land surveying, including the underlying mathematics, physical sciences, and knowledge of land ownership laws and water boundary surveys with the ability to analyze title and acquisition documents that are utilized by the Tribes and individual Indians to convert fee lands to trust lands for complex and controversial surveys. Professional knowledge of the following: cadastral survey concepts; the history of the PLSS; geodesy; and the principles, practices, riparian concepts, techniques, and law; and techniques of surveying including underlying mathematics and physical sciences. For example; the knowledge to fully research all available survey records and any pertinent land laws and relevant case history to properly execute any assigned survey project; the skills to evaluate local surveys performed on Indian lands to ensure that they protect the intent of the original surveys and resurveys, used for land description purposes, and to protect the bona fide rights of the land owners. Practical knowledge of laws (case and statute), especially interpretations of land boundaries in treaties and Executive orders. This includes the ability to utilize or leverage the spirit of laws and existing policies to develop procedures that produce legal, defendable surveys which will withstand legal scrutiny. Applying advanced surveying expertise and a practical knowledge of these policies, laws and regulations, to make decisions which develop solutions to complex survey problems is imperative. Working knowledge and application of the capabilities of the latest and specialized surveying software and hardware available to perform necessary data or information collection, reduction, and finalization/production. In addition, this position requires a working knowledge of geodetic positioning techniques, and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: The work is performed primarily in office settings, but may involve some field visits. The office work is sedentary. The employee may walk, stand, bend and carry light items. Work Environment: Office work is performed in well lighted, air conditioned or heated, as appropriate, work settings. Field work is usually in areas where the terrain varies from nearly level land to mountainous terrain and extreme temperature variables. These locations are often remote with limited vehicular access and wilderness settings. The incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer. Education Basic Requirements: Degree: land surveying; or civil engineering with a surveying option/emphasis. The civil engineering major must have included at least 6 semester hours of surveying, 3 semester hours of land law, and 21 additional semester hours in any combination of the following: surveying, photogrammetry, geodetic surveying, geodesy, route surveying, remote sensing, cartography, survey astronomy, land information systems, computer-aided mapping, aerial photo interpretation, and survey analysis and adjustments. or Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in land surveying or civil engineering as described in paragraph A, plus appropriate experience or additional education. or The basic requirements for this series may be fully satisfied by a current registration as a land surveyor in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia obtained by written examination. Such registration must have been obtained under conditions outlined in the National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE) Unified Model Law for Registration of Surveyors. Applicants wishing to be considered under this provision must show evidence of registration based on successful completion of the written examinations. Registrations granted prior to adoption of a registration law with qualification requirements equivalent to the NCEE Model Law by the State, territory, or District of Columbia are not acceptable under this option. To be considered equivalent to the NCEE Model law, registration laws must include the four options listed within the NCEE Unified Model Law in the section specifying "General Requirements for Registration" as a Professional Land Surveyor. You are responsible for submitting all applicable documents for your application. If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information. Additional Information DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service Tax Law Impact for PCS: Moving expenses reimbursement is a taxable benefit. However, the Federal Travel Regulation 18-05 issued by General Services Administration has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance and Relocation Income Tax Allowance to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number WYMP-24-12517296-ERW, for status candidates and special hiring authority eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment. Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. See "Other" section for additional information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to PCS.