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Public Land Name:
BLM Carlsbad Field Office

Position Title:
Natural Resource Specialist, DHA-RAI Program

Agency: BLM

Position Type: DHA

Position ID Number:
2019804 and 2019805

Location:
Carlsbad, NM (2 positions)

Accepting Applications? No

# of current Applicants: 0

Position Description:
The intern will help with the daily work load within the Carlsbad Field Office as a Natural Resource Specialist. The Carlsbad Field Office is currently one of the busiest BLM offices in the nation for approving oil and gas permits and realty applications. We are looking for an individual who has a good understanding of biological and natural resources that would be good in working in a team environment. The intern would work alongside a seasoned employee to teach them the roles and functions of a natural resource specialist. This would provide the intern the access to one of the busiest offices in the country and a wealth of knowledge.

The intern would help coordinate and lead on ground inspections of proposed surface disturbing activities associated with oil and gas development and/or other land uses. This includes well pad locations, roads, pipelines and other activities needed to produce oil and gas. The intern would help conduct field inspections of oil and gas operations and/or surface use authorization for the purpose of determining companies with applicable laws and regulations, lease terms, onshore oil and gas orders. The intern would communicate on a daily basis with a variety of individuals to resolve land use conflicts between proposed land uses and other resource mandates. There are two DHA-RAI positions available for this project.

The intern would be taught the beginning processes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and how to properly write Environmental Assessments (EA’s), Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA’s) and or Categorical exclusions (CX’s). They would also learn about working within an interdisciplinary team environment, consisting of Reality Specialist, Biologists, Archaeologists, Range Management Specialists, Hydrologists, Cave and Karst Specialists, GIS Specialists, and NEPA Planners. This interdisciplinary team would help to teach the intern about natural resources and the need for protecting resources for future generations.

Goals, outcomes, and deliverables:
The goal of this project is (1) to help the local office with the workload and high demand of projects that are going through the office, and (2) to find willing candidates who are interested in protecting resources for future generations. The intern would help coordinate and lead on ground inspections of proposed surface disturbing activities associated with oil and gas development and/or other land uses. This includes well pad locations, roads, pipelines and other activities needed to produce oil and gas. The intern would help conduct field inspections of oil and gas operations and/or surface use authorization for the purpose of determining companies with applicable laws and regulations, lease terms, onshore oil and gas orders. The intern would communicate on a daily basis with a variety of individuals to resolve land use conflicts between proposed land uses and other resource mandates. Near the end of the internship, the intern will present a PowerPoint presentation, and report to management on what they have learned while on the internship project.

Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.):
The intern would work closely with the project coordinator during first couple of days, and gain background on the job that they would be performing. Then they would work with Natural Resource Specialists within our office, who would show them the resources on the ground and the resources that would need to be protected. The intern would work with other natural resource specialists within the office to help mentor them and teach them the duties that a realty specialist performs on a daily basis. The intern would report to project coordinator on a daily basis (i.e. what they were doing and what work had been accomplished for the day). There would also be time within the internship for the intern to work with other resource specialists to learn more about the natural resources within our field office. The intern will interact with resource specialists such as Archaeologists, Biologist, Hydrologist, Range Management Specialists, Cave and Karst Specialists, Reality Specialists, and other fellow Natural Resource Specialists. The intern would be given the opportunity for internal conversations with local management on plans and opportunities within the BLM organization. The intern will also interact with external oil and gas representatives. Could also be interactions with local ranching community and local non-profit groups we are working with on oil and gas related projects.

Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.):
The intern would be taught the beginning processes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and how to properly write Environmental Assessments (EA’s), Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA’s) and or Categorical exclusions (CX’s). They would also learn about working within an interdisciplinary team environment, consisting of Reality Specialist, Biologists, Archaeologists, Range Management Specialists, Hydrologists, Cave and Karst Specialists, GIS Specialists, and NEPA Planners. This interdisciplinary team would help to teach the intern about natural resources and the need for protecting resources for future generations.

The DHA Resource Assistant Internship (DHA-RAI) Program at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a specialized internship opportunity within the Department of the Interior (DOI). The internships bring new and diverse viewpoints to the BLM while working on specific projects targeted for attracting, recruiting, and filling mission-critical and hard-to-fill occupations. The objective of the internship is to build a pathway towards employment in the DOI for highly-motivated students in higher education.

DHA-RA interns who successfully complete the internship requirements will receive a two-year eligibility period (starting from their degree completion date) during which they can be non-competitively hired by the DOI. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee that the participant will be hired into a federal position. For more information, please visit the BLM Direct Hire Program website.

Leadership Development:
The intern will participate in rigorous projects that focus skills and reveal the work qualities of the individual. The internship project provides the opportunity for the intern to develop or apply personal responsibility in their work. The rigorous schedule of the internship helps develop project management skills. The intern will also work with multiple stakeholders in their project, which will help the intern develop/demonstrate communication skills, and experience navigating organizational hierarchies.

Presenting Project Results:
The intern will present the findings from their project to management using a PowerPoint presentation near the conclusion of the internship. Participant is also encouraged to present their results at a GSA Annual Meeting or GSA Section Meeting.

Physical/Natural Environment:
See the BLM office's website for more information.

Work Environment:
We have adequate space within our office, and vehicles the intern may use. They would need a current driver’s license, the ability to drive on 4WD roads and rough, poorly maintained roads, and be comfortable with (1) going to the field by themselves, (2) extreme warm/cold, and (3) variable weather.

Qualifications:
Applicants that have completed coursework and/or experience in any of the following disciplines are preferred: Business, Real Estate, Natural Resources; Range Science; Natural Sciences (e.g., Geosciences, Biological Sciences), Agricultural Degree; GIS.

Candidates should demonstrate interest or experience in the following areas:

  • Skill development
  • Real-world problem solving
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Project management
  • Communication skills
  • Strong work ethic and independence
  • Teamwork and collaboration

In order to be eligible for a DHA-RA Internship, participants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent legal resident (“green-card-holder”). The DHA-RA internship focuses on ensuring the full representation of women and participants from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) or other schools with diverse student populations, to include African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans, Hispanics, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Applicants must be enrolled in, or recently graduated from an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited institution of higher education. Students enrolled in a graduate certificate program are not eligible to participate in DHA-RA Internships with the BLM. To qualify as a recent graduate, the student’s official graduation date cannot be more than six (6) months prior to June 3, 2019.

Prior to starting this position a government security background clearance will be required.

Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable):
Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

Please note many GeoCorps projects are in remote locations, where a vehicle is necessary or highly recommended for transportation and access to amenities (exceptions include the Washington D.C. area, Alaska, and Hawaii).

Position Dates:
06/03/2019 to 08/16/2019; alternate start date must be pre-approved

Position Duration: 11 weeks, 40 hours/week; applicants must be able to complete 11 full weeks

Hourly Wage: $15.00/hour + $660 allowance for commuting expenses; participant also receives round-trip travel reimbursement up to $700.

Housing Details:
Free, on-site agency housing is generally NOT available. Participants will use a portion of their wage to cover costs of a local rental. If desired, GSA and the agency can provide assistance in locating suitable housing. The selected participant is encouraged to discuss the housing situation with local agency staff.

If you have questions about the application and selection process, please contact GSA's GeoCorps managers.  If you have questions about any aspect of the position — description, qualifications, housing, dates — please direct them to the contact(s) listed in the project description. Remember, application materials can only be submitted online. The project contact(s) will not accept application materials sent to them via e-mail, mail, fax, etc. See the full program details at the GeoCorps homepage.

PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Lesley Petrie
Education and Outreach Program Coordinator
3300 Penrose Place
Boulder, CO 80301
 (303) 357-1097
 lpetrie@geosociety.org
Website

SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Matthew Dawson
Education Programs Manager
3300 Penrose Place
Boulder, CO 80301
 (303) 357-1025
 mdawson@geosociety.org
Website