TITLE: NATURAL RESOURCE ASSISTANT – ADJUDICATION (2 POSITIONS)

START/END DATE: September 9, 2019 – August 7, 2020 (anticipated)

STIPEND: $500/week (+Education Award)

TERM: 48 weeks

REPORTS TO: Tom Zelenka (Petroleum Engineer) and Idu Opral Ijeoma (Geologist)

LOCATION: BLM New Mexico State Office (301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508)

STATUS: 1700-hour AmeriCorps Service Term (95% office work and 5% Travel)

BENEFITS: AmeriCorps Education Award $5,920; Public Lands Corps Certificate*; both with successful completion of the internship. The Corps Network health insurance provided by Cigna, AmeriCorps child -care assistance.

SUMMARY:

CONSERVATION CORPS NEW MEXICO (CCNM):

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. CCNM has a program office in Las Cruces. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office is seeking two qualified individuals to work closely with the BLM Fluids Minerals staff on Bond Adequacy Review determinations, which involves the review of existing oil and gas bonds to determine their adequacy and need for possible bond increases. Most bonds cover multiple leases and wells, and the selected individuals will review the total number of active and inactive wells covered by each bond. The selected individuals will help determine a total bond amount required and help identify criteria that may require bond increases. Other duties will include examining the compliance history of operators for any violations or non-compliance orders and reviewing operator reclamation history as it pertains to written orders and incidences of non-compliance. Currently New Mexico BLM has more oil and gas bonds, Federal and Indian, than any other state with the national requirement to review 20% of all bonds annually.

While field work will be minimal for this position, the selected individuals will gain valuable knowledge about this portion of the BLM Oil and Gas program by being involved with the BLM State Petroleum Engineer, Geologist, and Field Office specialist staff. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

• Evaluation of bond criteria to determine depth, production, and whether wells are producing or idle.
• Perform Bond Adequacy Reviews on annual Federal and Indian Bonds not reviewed in the last 5 years.
• Perform database queries and reviews utilizing the Automated Fluid Minerals Support System (AFMSS) and Legacy Rehost 2000 (LR2000) database system as their data pertains to the Bond Adequacy Review requirements.
• Complete Bond Adequacy Review Excel template to determine bond adequacy and complete a bond adequacy review package according to BLM regulations and guidance.
• Input Bond Reviews into the AFMSS database following their completion.
• For Federal Bond Reviews that indicate an inadequate bond amount, the intern will prepare and send template letters along with bond review packages to Field Office Authorized Officers.
• For Indian Bond Reviews with an inadequate bond amount, the intern will prepare and send template letters to Field Office Authorized Officers for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) review.
• Assist BLM Field Office staff as needed with operator Bond Reviews and the prioritization of specific Bond Reviews that may be of high priority for completion.

Required Skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in engineering, geology, physical science, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in a related field or specific duty as outlined above.
• Applicants must have strong written and oral skills and be proficient in ArcGIS and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly with Excel and Word.
• Experience working with databases, along with database management and mathematics skills.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, be able to work well with others in a professional setting, and be self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period.
• An understanding of Federal land resource management policies.
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Teamwork oriented with clear, direct communication and interpersonal skills.
• Previous experience with a Corps or youth serving organization.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc… May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• When in office, the position is near several other professional employees, and the participant must tolerate an average amount of conversation, telephone, and other office distractions and background noise.  
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff. 
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Participants will conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner during all interactions with BLM employees, state agencies, operators, and members of the public.

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions. 
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.
• Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.

SUBSTANCE FREE:

• In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. THIS PROCESS WILL DETERMINE THE INTERNSHIP’S EXACT START DATE.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.  

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application. If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Director Tucker Herbert at tucker@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.

Required Experience

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in engineering, geology, physical science, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in a related field or specific duty as outlined above.
• Applicants must have strong written and oral skills and be proficient in ArcGIS and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly with Excel and Word.
• Experience working with databases, along with database management and mathematics skills.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, be able to work well with others in a professional setting, and be self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period.
• An understanding of Federal land resource management policies.
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Teamwork oriented with clear, direct communication and interpersonal skills.
• Previous experience with a Corps or youth serving organization.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc… May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• When in office, the position is near several other professional employees, and the participant must tolerate an average amount of conversation, telephone, and other office distractions and background noise.  
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff. 
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Participants will conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner during all interactions with BLM employees, state agencies, operators, and members of the public.

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions. 
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.
• Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.

SUBSTANCE FREE:

• In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. THIS PROCESS WILL DETERMINE THE INTERNSHIP’S EXACT START DATE.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.  

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application. If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Director Tucker Herbert at tucker@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.