Location: Denver,CO, USA
Summary This position is a Realty Specialist, GS- 1170-9/11 working in Lakewood, CO for the R6-Division of Realty. Responsibilities As a Realty Specialist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Acquires real property interests in order to protect fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Real property interests are acquired through donations, easements, exchanges, deed restrictions, leases, cooperative efforts, and fee acquisitions. Participates on Comprehensive Conservation Planning (CCP) teams to identify opportunities that support regional landscape conservation efforts and the real estate interests deemed necessary to accomplish the mission of the Service. Provides information and guidance on formulation of land acquisition standards for landscape conservation identifying property needs and analyzing alternative strategies, as well as ensuring sufficient right-of-way and/or access and integrates these strategies into the final cohesive acquisition request. Prepares realty documents and acquisition agreements to include, but not limited to, exchange agreements, donations, leases, and easements. Administers contracts with title companies and abstractors to meet title curative requirements. Resolves issues with potential sellers and public officials regarding such topics as relocation arrangements, compensation in lieu of property taxes, and pro-rated shares. Assists in the development of planning documents for new refuges or the expansion of existing refuges. Includes information that will support long and/or short-range plans to establish new refuges in the United States. Maintains queries and reports from Realty's database of Realty Property Inventory of land improvements, structures, and fixtures. Ensures that all land records are maintained in the Land Record System (LRS). Works with other realty specialists, attorneys, title companies, taxing authorities and the Office of the Solicitor on title curative actions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 11/08/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess Minimum Qualification. Minimum Qualification [GS-09] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience may include assisting with land acquisition transactions, including explaining agency land protection programs, options, and policies to private landowners, and conducting research and completing associated records examinations and documentation; determining ownership and disposition or real estate, reviewing courthouse records and/or title reports to determine if there are an encumbrances on real property, issuing permits for activities on Federal lands, utilizing multiple computer systems to access and input realty related data (digital archiving, ArcGIS, Microsoft , spreadsheets and databases), and assisting in maintaining and retrieving information and reports from automated data systems. OR Possess at least two (2) full years of graduate level education leading to a master's degree that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this work. NOTE: Transcripts required. OR Possess a combination of qualifying specialized experience and more than one year of graduate education (both as described above) that, when computed as percentages of their respective requirements, equals at least 100% when combined. Only graduate education beyond the first full year (18 semesters) is creditable using this method. NOTE: Transcripts required, and your resume must include sufficient detail (e.g., complete begin/end dates, hours worked per week, duties performed, etc.) for each work period to be considered. Minimum Qualification [GS-11] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience may include: Reviewing permit applications for completeness and sufficiency and determining what, if any, curative or remedial measures are necessary prior to designating a right-of-way or land use application complete; Managing right-of-way or land use permitting projects or real estate projects involving common or familiar legal or environmental issues; Using software products to track and manage funds associated with permitted rights of way; and Drafting standard documents required for permitting right-of-way across public lands. OR Possess at least 3 full years of graduate level education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this work. OR possess a combination of qualifying specialized experience and qualifying graduate education (both as described above) that, when computed as percentages of their respective requirements, equals at least 100% when combined. Only education beyond the second graduate year (36 semesters) is creditable using this method. NOTE: Transcripts required and your resume must contain sufficient detail describing this level of experience to meet this standard. 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 Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information PCS Information: No PCS entitlements authorized Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP visit: Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures. Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s). Current appointees: Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND Must have performed at an acceptable level. Former appointees: Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; Must apply for position within 2 years after separation; Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND Must have performed at an acceptable level.