This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is:75 miles from the Carlsbad Field Office, located at 520 E. Greene Street Carlsbad, New Mexico [contact via apply link]. 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. To qualify for the GS-05: You must have 3 years, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector with experience that provided a familiarity with real property laws and legal land descriptions, land titles, tract maps, and legal documents, or other experience that involved explanation, application, or interpretation of laws, regulations, policies, etc. Such experience may have been gained in positions such as law clerk, claims examiner, contact representative, or other work dealing with laws, rules, regulations, procedures, etc. -OR- Education: I have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate education. To qualify for the GS-07: You must possess at least one or more years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. This experience may include all of the following: 1) determining the accuracy and proper execution of applications or claims and the qualifications of applicants for legal rights as requested; 2) adjudicating routine lands, mining, or mineral leasing applications; 3) answering inquiries from the public or internal customers regarding public land laws and regulations; and 4) preparing routine correspondence -OR- Education: I have one full year of graduate level education that included or was supplement by 12 semester hours of course work related to the administration of land laws. Examples include course work in land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation. -OR- I have a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. that included at least 12 semester hours of course work related to the administration of land laws. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. To qualify for the GS-09: You must possess at least one or more years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. This experience may include all of the following: 1) reviewing and processing mineral leasing and mining law applications; 2) adjudicating land use applications and authorizations; 3) adjudicating and/or resolving land law issues and actions using applicable regulations, decisions, and policies; 4) applying laws, regulations, or governmental policies to fluid mineral and/or land law issues or authorizations; and 5) composing letters, notices, decision and/or memoranda to internal and/or external customers relative to land and/or fluid mineral actions - OR- Education: I have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D in a field of study such as land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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.