Range Conservation Scientist 1- Land Use Specialist

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values:

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana's forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We practice accountability.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

Area Overview:

The DNRC Eastern Land Office is responsible for the administration of Trust Land and Forestry Division programs in Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud and Wibaux counties. The Eastern Land Office is responsible for the management and administration of approximately 1,234,000 surface acres of School Trust Lands and 1,316,000 acres of Trust mineral estate contained within the Office boundaries. The office is responsible for lease administration, grazing, agricultural production, oil and gas permits, gravel and precious mining permits, right-of-way easements, Land Use Licenses for other surface and subsurface uses and administration of the Recreational Access Law. Provides support to the Eastern Land Office fire program when called upon to do so by the Area Manager.

Job Overview:

The Eastern Land Office-Land Use Specialist has operational responsibility for assigned departmental programs and field activities, property and personnel within the defined geographical region of the Eastern Land Office. The LUS performs diverse, scientific professional tasks in the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of all assigned natural resource management programs within the office.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all‐inclusive of the duties the incumbent may be assigned.

Trustland Administration Duties:

Researches proposed actions with the Land Program Manager's guidance and interacts with project proponents, leaseholders, special interest groups, paleontologists, archaeologists, wildlife biologists, and professionals of other disciplines on an as-needed basis. Conducts site inspections, assesses impacts to affected resources.

Assist the Land Program Manager in activities of all Trust Land Management Division programs within the Eastern Land Office along lines of established goals, policies and procedures to accomplish objectives and tasks using knowledge of sound natural resource management, operations manuals and related federal, state and local laws.

Range/Agricultural Management:

Coordinates preparation of lease forms; listing of leases up for renewal; requisitions acreage data from county Farm Service Agency (FSA) and county Clerk & Recorder's offices, soils data from Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices and Soil Survey publications; procures aerial and topographical coverage of tracts and delineates state ownership on each.

Assesses effectiveness of lessee management and performs comprehensive pasture and rangeland inventories using artistic and scientific principles of Soil and Range Science. Edaphic attributes, physiographic region and average annual precipitation are employed to determine range sites. Species composition by weight is determined by ocular reconnaissance, then comparatively evaluated with that of potential for each site to appraise range condition and thereby determine proper stocking rates. The degree of forage utilization by livestock is also assessed during the survey. Interpolation of data is frequently required as information under consideration may be uncertain and is often ambiguous or distinct.

Special Uses/Real Estate Management:

Conducts preliminary archaeological, paleontological and historical resource surveys for proposed disturbances of Trust Lands. Documents observations and submits reports to Department specialist.

Researches, conducts site inspections, assesses impacts to existing and future land management, interacts with appropriate Department staff, project proponents, current land users and other interested parties to make determinations regarding requests for licenses. Monitors use and conducts inspections to verify licensee's compliance to license terms. Ensures that rental payments are current.

Minerals Management:

Conducts site inspections and evaluations of proposed or existing oil and gas wells, pipelines, pad location adjustments, and access routes; permits to prospect for, or mine, metalliferous and non-metalliferous minerals; and permits to conduct seismic activities on tracts of state surface and/or mineral ownership.

Prepares environmental documents evaluating the effects of all proposed mineral exploration activities, developments, and associated activities involving State Land interests, imposes special stipulations on permits, easements and licenses regarding duration, bonding requirements, site access, noxious weed control responsibilities, and reclamation requirements in line with Departmental policy.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE:

• Online State of Montana application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• References

HELPFUL HINT: You must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

Benefits:

• Work/life balance
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• A vibrant Employee Assistance Program
• State of Montana employment may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Look here to learn more and understand whether or not you may qualify.

Additional benefit package information is available here.

• If you are interested in a complete job description, please contact HR at Stacey.Gabrio@mt.gov.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• Bachelor's Degree which includes areas of study or knowledge and skills in Agronomy, Range Science, Wildlife Biology, Natural Resource Management, Natural Resources, Rangeland Ecology, Land Resources, Environmental Resources, and Land Rehabilitation.
• No prior work experience required.
• This agency will accept alternative methods of obtaining necessary qualifications.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Requires extensive field work in remote areas.
• Ability to walk 5-10 miles per day in rugged environments.
• Driving 15,000 per year with a majority of miles on gravel or unimproved roads.
• Overnight stays are required.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK:

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver's license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card"

Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification.