Summary You will serve as a Field Staff Law Enforcement Ranger for the Bureau of Land Management Pecos District in Carlsbad, NM. This position protects public lands, resources, and visitors by enforcing Federal laws and regulations and includes investigations, remote patrols, and incident response to support public safety and resource protection. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be offered. Responsibilities Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Develop and implement a law enforcement program involving investigations, apprehending violators, interagency coordination, education, and other law enforcement related activities. Enforcement, Apprehension, and Investigations: Investigate areas where acts of criminal activity, theft, vandalism or offenses of the criminal laws and regulations of the United States that relate to the public lands and resources have occurred. Analyze criminal activity and violation problems on public lands. Plan, implement, and coordinate law enforcement activities, including interpreting and enforcing laws; conducting investigations; promoting prevention and public safety; and performing investigative duties. Develop and maintain liaison with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; coordinates law enforcement efforts having impact with other agencies. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.. Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-Year Probationary period -OR- 2 year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probation or trial 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. Additional Requirements located under Qualifications Qualifications Requirements Continued... You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment. Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role, and ongoing proficiency must be maintained You must at least 21 years old. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions. Must successfully complete 40 hours of in-service training annually. Must maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority. Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile. 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 requirements, and you shall not exceed age 37 years, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian service in a 6(c) covered position 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. 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. 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. Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/08/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. 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. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified. This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Must have a current, valid State Driver's License by 09/08/2026. -AND- Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:. To qualify for this position at the GL-9 grade level: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GL/GS-07 level, performing at least four of the following duties: Investigating criminal activity involving violence against a person, theft, destruction of property, or trespassing; Issuing citations and assisting in filing criminal complaints; Preparing documentation for court proceedings and/or providing testimony; Conducting investigations that involve locating, securing, and protecting crime scenes; Gathering and/or seizing evidence. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least 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., if related. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: Experience: To qualify, you must possess one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL/GS-9 level in the Federal service, obtained in either the public or private sector. Specialized experience must include: performing criminal investigations and applying laws of evidence; testifying in court; preparing investigative reports; applying Federal and state laws; understanding administrative, civil, and criminal procedures; and coordinating criminal investigations. This experience must demonstrate work related to law enforcement activities involving public lands and natural resources. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. -OR- Combination of education and experience as listed above. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Maximum Entry Age, Exception Documentation: Veterans' Preference: 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. Prior 6(c) Retirement Coverage: 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. Volunteer 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. Education You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. 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. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. 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 more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications Additional Information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. If otherwise 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. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive. Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Physical Demands/Work Environment: The incumbent must safely use firearms, non-lethal weapons, and defensive tactics. Duties require strenuous physical activity, including standing, crawling, walking, and running over rough terrain, and the ability to shift quickly from sedentary to arduous tasks. A physical exam is required, and employees must meet the arduous physical and medical standards in BLM law enforcement policy. The incumbent must be prepared to defend self and others against physical or armed attack, including last-resort deadly force. Work occurs in office and field environments, often alone in remote areas for extended periods. Fieldwork involves mountains, deserts, canyons, and other difficult terrain with exposure to hazardous conditions, extreme weather, and potential physical attack. Travel may be on foot or by specialty vehicles or aircraft to conduct investigations, gather evidence, and make arrests The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
