Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Vernal, Utah. Information about Vernal and the surrounding area can be found here. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. Responsibilities This position serves as a Field Staff Law Enforcement Ranger for the Green River District. Investigates crimes and apprehends violators to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands and facilities. Coordinates law enforcement activities such as identifying law enforcement issues and investigation and apprehension efforts with other Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies. Collects on-site evidence, interviews witnesses or suspects, follows up on leads, searches records and conducts surveillance while investigating acts of criminal activity on public lands. Prepares investigative reports. Ensures comprehension of and compliance with Federal and/or State laws and regulations. Participates in search and rescue efforts of public lands visitors. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified: 1) Possess (or can obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position. 2) Safely utilize firearms, non-lethal weapons and defensive tactics in the conduct of daily activities. 3) Maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority. 4) Due to the position being physically vigorous, meet the maximum entry age restrictions. 5) Must complete a Basic Law Enforcement School (with emphasis on natural resources law enforcement) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) (or equivalent) and must successfully complete 40 hours of in-service training annually. 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 at the GS-11 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level comparable in difficulty and complexity to perform the duties of a Field Staff Law Enforcement Ranger. Qualifying specialized experience includes: participating in search and rescue activities; detecting criminal actions or conducts and creating solutions or suggestions to prevent such activities; collaborating with Federal, State, Tribal and/or local law enforcement agencies and specialists to implement law enforcement procedures; communicating with the public and providing education regarding safety and security; and conducting criminal investigations, arrests and issuance of citations. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years (54 semester hours) of graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field of study. 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 difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours may be combined with experience. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level. This is a primary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. Firearm Requirement: This position authorizes you to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition [Title 18, U.5.C., Section 922(g)(9)]. A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term "convicted", as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned or any person whose civil rights have been restored unless the pardon, expungement or restoration of civil rights expressly prohibits the possession of firearms or ammunition. Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statute are not qualified for this position. Applicants under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. Must successfully complete 40 hours of in-service training annually. All Law Enforcement Rangers who are new to the BLM are required to complete the introduction to Resource Protection Training Program within their first two years of assignment. All Law Enforcement Rangers will complete the Natural Resource Police Training (NRPT) at the FLETC or an approved equivalent law enforcement training school before they are delegated law enforcement authority. This training must be completed within the first 12 months of appointment. Successful completion of the BLM's Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) must occur within one year of receiving delegation of law enforcement authority. Failure to complete the FTEP will result in the loss of law enforcement delegation and/or termination of employment. Physical Demands: The incumbent must be able to safely utilize firearms, non-lethal weapons, and defensive tactics in the conduct of daily activities. The work requires considerable strenuous physical exertion, e.g., long periods of standing, crawling, walking and running over rough, uneven, rocky surfaces and through wooded or brush areas, performing these activities day or night, when the incumbent may be required to respond immediately from a sedentary activity to an extremely arduous activity. The duties of this position are so rigorous that a physical examination is required to ensure that the employee assigned can perform the duties without physical injury to self or others. Employees must meet the arduous physical and medical standards identified in BLM law enforcement policy. The incumbent must be prepared, at all times, to defend himself/herself and others against physical and armed attack, including the use of physical violence or, as a last resort, deadly force. Work Environment: Work is performed both in an office setting and outdoors with exposure to hazardous and environmentally adverse conditions. Fieldwork is normally performed alone in isolated areas and for extended periods of time. Many investigations occur in isolated areas of the public lands. The remote areas are in high mountains as well as desert areas, canyons, and other @types of rough terrain. This @type of work involves potentially high risks with personal exposure to dangerous situations, including possible physical attack or other uncrontrollable conditions. The incumbent is regularly exposed to temperature and weather extremes, and will travel on foot or by specialty vehicles, e.g., four-wheel drive, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles, aircraft, or horseback to these remote locations to gather evidence and to arrest violators. Education 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 85 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. This position is not eligible for Telework. 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. The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF- 50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.
