DESCRIPTION

Idaho Department of Lands
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is seeking a full time Lands Resource Specialist – Minerals position. This position will be located at the Eastern Area Office in Idaho Falls, ID.
Applications will be accepted through 4:59 PM MST on the posting end date.
Description
To perform technical, operational, and administrative duties to plan, design, and administer programs or projects associated with land management and/or natural resource protection; perform related work. The Lands Resource Specialist position is used for recruitment and training purposes for the Lands Resource Specialist, Senior. Through various types of on-the-job training, the employee will learn to carry out the duties of a Lands Resource Specialist, Senior. Typically, the Senior level requires 2-5 years of experience as a Lands Resource Specialist or equivalent work experience. Incumbents are expected to apply his/her technical knowledge and training while learning the state laws and department policies and procedures necessary to achieve the expertise and independence of the journeyman level Lands Resource Specialist, Senior.
Responsibilities:
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The primary duties of this Lands Resource Specialist (LRS) position are administration of Idaho’s Lake Protection Act (LPA), Surface Mining Act (SMA), Abandoned Mine Lands Program (AML), and endowment trust land mineral leasing.
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Responsible for real estate related duties associated with navigable rivers and lakes such as easements, encroachment permitting, and disclaimers of interest.
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Reviews and processes LPA related applications submitted by lake front landowners for completeness and compliance with statute and rules and deals with violations as necessary.
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Responsible for conducting inventories on lakes administered by the Department to identify unpermitted encroachments and potential violations to improve overall LPA compliance.
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Reviews reclamation plan applications, provides feedback to the operator concerning application completeness, prepares recommendations regarding plan approval or rejection, and conducts field inspections to ensure operational compliance with approved plans. Current active reclamation plans in the Eastern Idaho Area range from very large phosphate, molybdenum, and gold mines requiring interagency coordination, where the LRS may serve as facilitator, to small family owned gravel pits.
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Inventories abandoned mines, prioritizes mine closures, develops closure plans, coordinates with landowners, and develops and administers contracts for the closure of abandoned mines.
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Reviews mineral lease applications, including those for geothermal and oil & gas, on state endowment trust lands evaluates the economic and operational viability of the proposed mine, negotiates lease provisions including royalty rates, prepares recommendations regarding approval or denial of a lease, reviews and verifies lessee reported production reports, and conducts field inspections to ensure compliance with lease provisions.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience:
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Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience through technical reports, business correspondence, and oral presentations
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Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce maps and analyze spatial data
Some Knowledge of:
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State and federal laws, rules and regulations in relation to natural resource management activities
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Methods used to evaluate projects and/or data, analyzing alternatives, and making recommendations
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Public land survey legal descriptions, aerial photos and topographic and property ownership maps
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Financial analysis methods used to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions or proposals to choose the most appropriate one.
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Computer software such as word processing, spreadsheets and/or databases; Mining and reclamation operations; Vegetation management associated with mined land reclamation; Weed management.
Other: Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Desired Qualifications
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Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, Hydrology, Geomorphology or related degree.
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Experience with preparation of lease terms and conditions.
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Experience with lease administration that includes implementation and evaluation of contracts as well as field inspection, compliance, and reporting requirements.
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Experience writing technical reports.
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Some knowledge of navigable waters regulation or management.
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Some Knowledge of the operation and reclamation of gravel pits and/or mines.
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Some knowledge of real estate principles.
Benefits:
The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance; PERSI retirement benefits; paid sick, vacation, and parental leave; and 11 paid holidays per year. For additional information related to benefits and/or State programs, please visit https://dhr.idaho.gov/StateEmployees/Benefits.html.*
EEO/ADA/Veteran:
The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.
Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.
About the Idaho Department of Lands:
Become part of an organization where you will work with dedicated people who are committed and skilled in managing and protecting Idaho’s natural resources.
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) believes in its employees and values stewardship, service, accountability and cohesiveness. Our goals emphasize our people and processes, financial stewardship, and customer focus. We strive for a culture in which leadership equips, entrusts and expects employees to make decisions in fulfillment of our mission. View our Strategic Plan here.
Under the direction of the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners, IDL manages more than 2.5 million acres of state endowment trust land under a constitutional mandate to produce maximum long-term financial returns for public schools and several other State of Idaho institutions. Leases and other contracts are used to authorize revenue generating activities such as timber harvest, grazing, farming, mining, commercial use, residential use, and conservation in a prudent and sustainable manner.
Managing endowment trust lands is only part of our story. We also protect public resources such as water quality, fish, wildlife habitat, and recreation on navigable waterways, and ensure the protection of water quality and other resources by overseeing forestry and mining practices across all ownerships in the state. We also work to reclaim abandoned mines in Idaho. One of our most important resource protection responsibilities is fire prevention and suppression. We also aid landowners in managing their forest lands, work with communities to plant trees in urban settings, help keep working forests working through the Forest Legacy Program, and work with many partners to promote healthy forests on a landscape level. IDL also is the administrative arm of the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Please refer the Job description for details