Water and Lands Specialist

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals

Duties

Serves as a Water and Lands Specialist responsible for performing a variety of functions in the administration and support of the water and lands programs in the Lahontan Basin Area Office (LBAO), which include ensuring water rights are identified, transfers monitored, and contracts and resource management plans executed. Preparing data to determine the relative rights to use of water; preparing definitive water right adjustments, agreements and compromises that facilitate operations; researching and reviewing legislation, legislation history, contracting history, and other available data from various sources to determine water rights and water availability; interpreting laws, rules, regulations, instructions, land descriptions, etc., and writing and preparing contracts, agreements and explanation on water rights matters. Develops and evaluates data pertinent to water rights, quantification and qualification of these rights, administration of these rights, and changes, i.e., use of water under these rights in the ownership or use location which impact the use of water under these rights. Assists with implementation and maintenance of grazing programs for the management of over 200,000 acres of land that utilizes proper grazing object resources. Serves as a liaison with project principals and coordinates with other agencies and organizations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.

Who May Apply:

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/pr specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes: Knowledge of water laws and water rights, water transfer provisions, water service and repayment contracting policies, water rights legal opinions, and precedent cases applicable to the negotiation and administration of water rights contracts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR

Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. [Note: Remove the words "such as that identified in Education above" if the position you are filling does not require education in specific fields found in an Individual Occupational Requirement.] Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR
(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR
(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (). OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

The superior academic achievement provision is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-07 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a qualifying grade point average (GPA), class standing, or honors society. For more information, visit .

To qualify at the GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes: Experience performing duties related to water resources or lands projects, including reviewing and assisting with administration of water rights contracts and agreements, water transfer proposals, water rights actions, or similar technical documents to determine compliance with established directives and recommend appropriate course of action; researching and reviewing a variety of sources , related to water and land rights (i.e., legislation, rules, regulations, other administrative and policy directives, contracts, permits, licenses, leases, easements, inventory, trespass and exchange of withdrawn or acquired Federal land, etc.). This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

To qualify at the GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes: Administrating existing water rights and repayment contracts, agreements, actions, or similar technical documents to determine the relative rights to use of water, compliance with established directives, and recommendations for appropriate course of action; Negotiating new, or changes to existing, water and land contracts, or assists supervisor in negotiating more complex contract issues; preparing data to potentially be used in courts of law to determine the relative rights to use of water; preparing definitive water right adjustments, agreements and compromises that facilitate operations; researching and reviewing legislation, legislation history, contracting history, and other available data from various sources to determine water rights, water availability and approve water transfer proposals; interpreting laws, rules, regulations, instructions, land descriptions, etc., and writing and preparing contracts, agreements and explanation on water rights matters.This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

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.

Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

You must meet all requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 08/12/2024.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the grade levels. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the and .

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the .

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