Realty Officer (Division Manager, Land Resources Division)

You will serve as a Realty Officer (Division Manager) with the National Park Service, providing realty services and cartographic services to NPS management, the regions, and individual park units, as well as, on occasion, the Department, Congress, and, when called upon, the White House. This position is responsible for the NPS Lands Program nationwide, including advocating for funding support for regional-based staff and oversight of the various Regional Program Centers as the need arises.

Major duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Oversees all day-to-day operations of the Land Resources Division, including budgeting, personnel management, work assignments, and staff development. Making decisions on hiring, performance, training, and workflow oversight. Directs, implements, and evaluates the National Park Service's land acquisition program-covering fee and less-than-fee interests, mineral rights, and water rights. Provides legislative reviews, preparing high-level correspondence, and supporting Congressional testimony representing the NPS in national-level meetings and briefings, ensuring informed decision-making across the Department, Congress, and stakeholder groups. Oversees the development, quality control, and maintenance of the National Park Service's land acquisition program and its budget data, approving all land cost estimates and allocating acquisition funds Service-wide Manages the annual Land Acquisition Ranking System (LARS) process, analyze legislation and regulations affecting land acquisition, and provide technical guidance and briefing materials to senior NPS and Departmental leadership. Directs complex transactions with major conservation partners, coordinate with the National Park Foundation, and support OIG investigations, audits, and program reviews involving land acquisition and rights-of-way.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/18/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. 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. -AND- Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: To qualify for this position at the GS-15 grade level: Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to:

1. Program management and oversight with detailed knowledge of financial and budget background in identifying needs and actions for budget formulation and execution.
2. Provides assignment, and evaluation of work; Planning and organizing activities; Administering personnel matters and dealing with employee management concerns.
3. Provides overall strategic direction, implementation, and review of the land acquisition programs; includes acquisition of various types of interests in land, including fee, less than fee (development rights, scenic easements, access rights, leasehold, etc.), mineral interests and water rights.

You must include hours per week worked. 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

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Requirements

Must be a 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 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. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary 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 period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.