Wild Horse and Burro Specialist (Contracting Officer's Representative)

About the role

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for its national wild horse and burro gather program. The COR provides oversight of program-wide contacts, interagency agreements and cooperative agreements, and guides field CORs administering individual contracts. The position is open to U.S. citizens and is subject to a background investigation.

Key responsibilities

• Provide oversight of program-wide contacts, interagency agreements and cooperative/assistance agreements to WHB program management.
• Prepare scopes of work, market research, funding data and cost analyses for equipment, animals, contracts and staffing needs.
• Guide field CORs so contractors meet program specifications and contractual requirements.
• Prepare national gather schedules for the program.
• Review NEPA analyses and support litigation through expert feedback and declarations on wild horses and burros.
• Coordinate the analysis, collection and consolidation of annual program reports to meet DOI requirements.
• Assist in developing program-wide operating budgets and short- and long-term plans, estimate costs, prepare justifications for management approval and advise managers on the Annual Work Plan.

Required profile

• U.S. citizen or national; appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service; direct deposit participation and passing E-Verify are required.
• No active real estate license and no interest in firms with an interest in Federal Lands.
• A one-year probationary period applies; continued employment depends on a written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Level II Contracting Officer's Representative certification is a selective placement factor and is required.

Required skills

• At least one of: a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or a related discipline, or a combination of such coursework and experience.
• For GS-13, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12, such as serving as a COR for large contracts, helping develop operating budgets and plans, or managing complex situations as a COR during gathers.
• Volunteer experience counts toward specialized experience.