On-the-Spot Hiring Program for Rangeland Management Specialists at the 61st Annual Meeting and Trade Show for the Society for Range Management, Louisville, Kentucky, January 26-31, 2008

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240November 1, 2007In Reply Refer To: 4000, 1400-361 (220) PEMS TRANSMISSION 11/05/2007Information Bulletin No. 2008-012To: All Field Offices From: Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and PlanningSubject: On-the-Spot Hiring Program for Rangeland Management Specialists at the 61st Annual Meeting and Trade Show for the Society for Range Management, Louisville, Kentucky, January 26-31, 2008Program Area: Rangeland Management and Federal Career Intern ProgramPurpose: To inform Field Offices (FOs) and State Offices (SOs) of the intent to coordinate an On-the-Spot Hiring Program for entry level Rangeland Management Specialists (0454 series) at the 61st Annual Meeting and Trade Show for the Society for Range Management (SRM), Louisville, Kentucky, January 26-31, 2008.Action: The Washington Office (WO) Rangeland Resources Division would like to inform you of a recruitment opportunity. We have been working with WO 700 (Human Resources) to enable the BLM to do noncompetitive on-the-spot hires of qualified entry level applicants for permanent positions under the Federal Career Intern Program. This On-the-Spot Hiring Program is scheduled to take place in Louisville, Kentucky during the upcoming SRM annual meeting and trade show, January 26-31, 2008. These meetings are in conjunction with the American Forage and Grasslands Council (AFGC) and will offer expanded hiring opportunities for students and young professionals. A Human Resources Specialist will be available in Louisville to review and qualify applications and complete the hiring process for the on the spot hires. The Field and State Offices are being asked to consider the opportunity to participate in this once-a-year program. More information is available at: http://www.rangelands.org.Background: Several federal agencies U.S. Forest Service, National Resources Conservation Services and Bureau of Land Management have successfully coordinated On-the-Spot Hiring programs at the Society for Range Management annual meetings in past years. The BLM first participated in this program at the SRM 60th Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada and successfully qualified 38 applicants, interviewed 24 candidates and filled nine Rangeland Management Specialist (RMS, 454-series) positions. The vacancies represented entry-level positions from nine different field offices and five different states. Applications were primarily received from graduating seniors representing 15 different universities and colleges. Following the February 2007 meetings, another 6 applicants were successfully hired by BLM offices from the qualified candidate list generated during the On-the-Spot Hiring Program.Federal Career Intern Program Hiring authority for this program is provided under the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP). The program was created under Executive Order 13162 and hiring authority is permitted when recruiting at regional or national levels. In accordance with 5 CFR, part 302, veterans' preference must be applied when filling positions in the excepted service. Successful candidates are typically offered entry level positions, must be able to report to work within six months of the job offer, and may be converted to permanent status after two years of acceptable internship. During the internship, work assignments are designed to provide an orientation to the agency and offer progressive on-the-job specialized work experience and training targeted to the full-performance duties of the RMS. For more information, please visit the FCIP website: www.opm.gov/careerintern.On-the-Spot Hiring Process The entire process averages a total of four days from Sunday to Wednesday of the SRM annual meetings. The BLM will be present at SRM organized Career Development Workshops on the first Sunday of the meeting and circulate job outreach notices as well as explain the agency hiring process to interested participants. Most applications are submitted and reviewed by the BLM Human Resource Specialists by Tuesday morning.Thirty minute interviews are scheduled for qualified applicants on Monday through Wednesday morning. The interview panel must consist of managers, program leads and /or specialists that have been delegated with hiring authority with one individual representing each job vacancy. At the completion of the interviews, tentative offers may be made to exceptional candidates with the intent to fill all available positions by Wednesday afternoon.Contact: If you have any questions or are interested in participating in this program please contact Linda Coates-Markle, BLM Liaison to the Society for Range Management, Division of Rangeland Resources (WO 220) at 303-986-3309 or lcmarkle@blm.gov.Signed by: Deb Rawhouser, Acting, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and PlanningAuthenticated by: Robert M. Williams Division of IRM Governance, WO-560