Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Realty Specialist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duties

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At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Consults with regional leadership and provides guidance to field and regional staff on the acquisition and disposal of land and real property interests, ensuring compliance with federal, environmental, and Reclamation laws and regulations.
• Prepares, reviews, and maintains acquisition and disposal documentation-including contracts, deeds, title documents, environmental reviews, and legal descriptions-for accuracy and completeness; coordinates with title companies and Solicitor offices for final approvals.
• Provides technical guidance and responds to inquiries from federal, state, and local agencies, water districts, private entities, and landowners regarding complex realty transactions, land management, use authorizations, and appraisal processes.
• Participates in developing and revising regional guidelines, policies, directives, and training materials, and delivers training to field office personnel on Reclamation Lands and Realty programs.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, and briefing papers to address complicated inquiries and negotiate with various stakeholders-including landowners, corporations, attorneys, and government agencies-to ensure legal compliance and project needs are met.
• Maintains and updates official status records and Federal Business Management System (FBMS) records for all acquired and disposed land and property transactions, ensuring accurate asset recordation and compliance with safety instructions and regulations.

Salary by Locations

• 1 vacancy - Albuquerque, New Mexico ($90,479 -117,625)
• 1 vacancy - Salt Lake City, Utah ($89,508 -116,362)

Requirements

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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.

Must submit a resume and supporting documents (See Required Documents).

You must submit a performance appraisal if you are a current or former federal employee (see Required Documents).

Must meet specialized experience requirements (See Qualifications).

You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).

You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).

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.

You may be required to travel up to 10% of the time (some overnight stays) to attend meetings, conferences, training, site visits, etc.

You may be required to occasionally works outside of regular tour of duty with supervisor approval, e.g., Credit Hours, Overtime, etc.

You may be required to serve as contracting officer's technical representative (COTR).

You may be required to obtain FAC-COR certification within one year.

You may be required to submit an annual financial disclosure agreement (OGE-450).

Who May Apply:

• Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive)
• Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive)
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
• Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive)
• Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive)
• Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer)
• Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer)
• Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement)
• Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement)
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
• Military Spouses
• Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act

Qualifications

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

To qualify at the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in federal service having demonstrated experience in: (1) Legal / Regulator - Applies federal realty and land acquisition laws, environmental and cultural resource protection statutes, and regulations for federal, state, and local agencies. Interprets and implements legal procedures and documents for federal acquisition, management, and disposal of real property and lands. Coordinates with Federal Solicitors and selects instrument formats for case-specific transactions. Uses Department of Justice Title Standards in federal land acquisitions. Manages relocation, appraisal, and waiver evaluations to ensure compliance and protect federal interests. (2) Realty - Uses knowledge of realty instruments and supporting documentation, real estate and land management terminology, and procedures to prepare instruments meeting United States requirements. Reads, writes, and interprets land descriptions using field engineering and survey terminology. Leads or participates in realty and land acquisition negotiations, addressing federal concerns and securing resources for implementation. (3) Federal Land Record Systems - Uses Federal Business Management System (FBMS) and other federal land record systems to manage land asset records. Resolves land record issues and system glitches with financial management and staff. Provides consultation and training to management and realty staff on land record systems and procedures. (4) Communication/Collaboration - Communicates and collaborates with organizations and audiences to achieve solutions and resolve realty and land management problems. Uses project management, conflict management, mediation, team building, and negotiation skills in collaborative environments. Analyzes viewpoints to inform planning decisions and problem solving. Prepare reports reflecting data usage and analytical techniques.

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 Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 08/03/2026.

Physical Demands: The majority of the work is performed in an office setting. Work includes occasional field trips which require walking, climbing, stooping, and bending on smooth and rough terrain, to inspect the land, permanent crops, irrigation improvements and building improvements.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an office setting with occasional field assignments requiring exposure to some hazards associated with foot travel and travel to remote areas.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.




Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.