Field Staff Law Enforcement Ranger.

Bureau of Land Management; Colorado; On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Bureau of Land Management in Colorado seeks Law Enforcement Rangers to conduct investigations, enforce federal laws, and coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies on public lands. The role requires fitness, background checks, and adherence to federal hiring rules.

Qualifications include a Ph.D. or three years of graduate education or equivalent experience, plus the ability to perform strenuous duties, pass a medical exam, and meet age and selection criteria.

Qualifications

• Experience: carry out duties involving investigation, apprehension, and/or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses; prepare/analyze investigation reports; apply federal and state laws; collaborate with other agencies.
• Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education; transcripts required.
• Combination of education and experience as listed above.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain liaison with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; coordinates law enforcement efforts with other agencies.
• Plan, implement, and coordinate law enforcement activities, including interpreting and enforcing laws; conducting investigations; promoting prevention and public safety; and performing investigative duties.
• Analyze criminal activity and violation problems on public lands.
• Investigate areas where acts of criminal activity, theft, vandalism or offenses of the criminal laws and regulations of the United States that relate to the public lands and resources have occurred.
• Develop and implement a law enforcement program involving investigations, apprehending violators, interagency coordination, education, and other law enforcement related activities.

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education

Job description

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and maintain liaison with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; coordinates law enforcement efforts having impact with other agencies.
• Plan, implement, and coordinate law enforcement activities, including interpreting and enforcing laws; conducting investigations; promoting prevention and public safety; and performing investigative duties.
• Analyze criminal activity and violation problems on public lands.
• Investigate areas where acts of criminal activity, theft, vandalism or offenses of the criminal laws and regulations of the United States that relate to the public lands and resources have occurred.
• Develop and implement a law enforcement program involving investigations, apprehending violators, interagency coordination, education, and other law enforcement related activities.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• 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
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment..
• Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• Firearm qualification and certification are required for the role, and ongoing proficiency must be maintained
• You must at least 21 years old. You must be free of any domestic violence convictions.
• Must successfully complete 40 hours of in-service training annually.
• Must maintain a delegation of law enforcement authority.
• This is a primary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C.8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age requirements, and you shall not exceed age 37 years,unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian service in a 6(c) covered position OR you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday.

*Additional Requirements located under Qualifications*

Qualifications

Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, pass a medical examination, and pass the Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB). The PEB is a fitness test consisting of five different components: 1) agility run - measures the ability to get up from the ground and sprint while changing directions; 2) bench press - measures upper body strength for one repetition; 3) 1.5 mile run - measures cardio/respiratory fitness; 4) sit and reach - measures flexibility in the lower back, legs and shoulders; and 5) body composition - measures body fat. Prior to appointment, selectees will be tested in all five components, and must pass the agility run, bench press and 1.5 mile run in the 25th percentile.

All Law Enforcement Rangers who are new to the BLM are required to complete the Introduction to Resource Protection Training Program within their first two years of assignment. All Law Enforcement Rangers will complete the Natural Resource Police Training (NRPT) at the FLETC, or an approved equivalent law enforcement training school, before they are delegated law enforcement authority. Successful completion of the BLM's Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) must occur within one year of receiving delegation of law enforcement authority. Failure to complete the FTEP will result in the loss of law enforcement delegation and/or termination of employment.

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.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 09/29/2026-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.

Selective Placement Factors:

• This is a primary position covered by enhanced retirement provisions which stipulate mandatory retirement at age 57 after 20 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in a primary covered position sufficient to complete 20 years of service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Carrying out duties involving the investigation, apprehension, and/or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses; Preparing/analyzing investigation reports by collecting evidence, witness statements, and other pertinent correspondence; Applying Federal and state laws related to administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings; Collaborating with other law enforcement agencies, management, and specialists to implement resource protection and law enforcement procedures.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

Education: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. This education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Combination of education and experience as listed above.

Maximum Entry Age, Exception Documentation:

• Veterans' Preference: You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.
• Prior 6(c) Retirement Coverage: Proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

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

Level 1 Law Enforcement Commission: Must currently possess or previously held (within the past three years), a FLETC issued Land Management Police Training, full Type I Law Enforcement Commission or equivalent; or be qualified to receive a Level 1 Commission upon appointment. NOTE: You must submit a copy of the training completion certificate or equivalent documentation.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit:

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case‑based basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:

All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

This is a primary law enforcement position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C.8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. The maximum entry age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.