What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forestry Attorney (EMNRD #70849) position at State of New Mexico?
Posting Details
The mission of the EMNRD is to position New Mexico as a leader in energy and natural resource areas. This
includes developing reliable supplies of energy and energy-efficient technologies with an approach toward
conserving renewable and nonrenewable resources; considering the environment and ensuring responsible
reclamation of land and resources affected by mineral extraction; growing and managing healthy, sustainable
forests: and improving the state park system that protects New Mexico¿s natural, cultural, and recreational
resources and contributes to local economies statewide.
The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Forestry Division was created in 1957 to address the critical needs of our state¿s forests and watersheds.
The Forestry Division¿s responsibilities include responding to wildfire emergencies on state and private lands, providing statewide leadership to improve forest health and watershed conditions, and administering a wide variety of programs for state and private lands that range from providing rural volunteer fire departments with grants for the personal protective equipment, to helping private landowners identify insects damaging their trees, to protecting rare plants and conserving ecologically important lands. Through careful resource management, community engagement, and productive collaboration with stakeholders, the Forestry Division promotes healthy, sustainable forests and watersheds for the benefit of current and future generations.
Why does the job exist?
Development of policies, preparation of pleadings such as briefs to administrative boards and courts, legal review and approval of intricate contractual documents, rulemaking, strategic management of complex litigation, formulation of recommendations on difficult personnel and disciplinary actions, legal liability matters, and provision of all other types of legal advice to the New Mexico Forestry Division and other EMNRD management.
How does it get done?
Provide legal advice and representation for the Forestry Division within EMNRD regarding complex and time sensitive matters.
Have in-depth familiarity with applicable state and federal laws that govern the activities of the Forestry Division. Draft and review legal documents required for litigation, which require knowledge of the substantive law that is the subject of the administrative hearings and litigation and the rules of civil procedure and evidence.
Have in-depth familiarity with applicable state and federal laws that govern procurement. Review and ensure legal sufficiency of Forestry Division grants, agreements, and procurement process. Review and ensure legal sufficiency of procurement documents such as technology development contracts, project work inspection contracts, requests for proposals, general and professional service agreements, and legal notices as directed by the General Counsel and the Forestry Division Director.
Provide guidance to Forestry Division to ensure wildfire response activities are within the parameters of the Master Cooperative Fire Agreement and over 100 Joint Powers Agreements with local governments.
Review and edit policies, procedures, forms and other documents pertaining to internal Division operations as directed by the General Counsel and Forestry Division Director.
Take a partner role in rule development by reviewing proposed rules or rule revisions for legal sufficiency and compliance with State Records Center and Archives requirements, draft rules or amendments, draft notices of rulemaking, prepare testimony and other documents for rulemaking hearings, and file rules with the State Records and Archives Center.
Represent the Forestry Division in administrative and judicial hearings, understand factual and legal issues requiring independent decisions as to strategy and tactics, conduct cross-examination of witnesses, present opening and closing statements, draft proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and file briefs. Work with counsel from other state or federal agencies.
Support the Forestry Division in the development of proposed legislation, including drafting, and ensuring that bills are consistent with applicable laws. Review proposed legislation that may affect EMNRD and draft bill analyses as requested.
Represent the Forestry Division in meetings, legislative, and regulatory hearings and other public forums.
Provide comprehensive and specialized legal services for special assignments and projects of the Forestry Division requested by the Forestry Division Director, General Counsel and EMNRD Secretary.
Who are the customers?
The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department seeks an experienced attorney to represent the Forestry Division and such other programs as may be assigned by the Office of General Counsel. The individual selected for this position will represent the Forestry Division in judicial and administrative proceedings; advise senior management including the Forestry Division Director and Cabinet Secretary; participate in developing policies and rules; prepare legal documents; draft and review contracts; and support the Forestry Division in the development and review of proposed legislation.
Ideal Candidate
The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department seeks an experienced attorney to represent the Forestry Division and such other programs as may be assigned by the Office of General Counsel. The individual selected for this position will represent the Forestry Division in judicial and administrative proceedings; advise senior management including the Forestry Division Director and Cabinet Secretary; participate in developing policies and rules; prepare legal documents; draft and review contracts; and support the Forestry Division in the development and review of proposed legislation.
Minimum Qualification
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited-license/
Employment Requirements
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an office setting: late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage and stressful situations. Travel is required. Possible exposure to irate clientele. Incumbent will work under stress and frequent time constraints.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
The mission of the EMNRD is to position New Mexico as a leader in energy and natural resource areas. This
includes developing reliable supplies of energy and energy-efficient technologies with an approach toward
conserving renewable and nonrenewable resources; considering the environment and ensuring responsible
reclamation of land and resources affected by mineral extraction; growing and managing healthy, sustainable
forests: and improving the state park system that protects New Mexico¿s natural, cultural, and recreational
resources and contributes to local economies statewide.
The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Forestry Division was created in 1957 to address the critical needs of our state¿s forests and watersheds.
The Forestry Division¿s responsibilities include responding to wildfire emergencies on state and private lands, providing statewide leadership to improve forest health and watershed conditions, and administering a wide variety of programs for state and private lands that range from providing rural volunteer fire departments with grants for the personal protective equipment, to helping private landowners identify insects damaging their trees, to protecting rare plants and conserving ecologically important lands. Through careful resource management, community engagement, and productive collaboration with stakeholders, the Forestry Division promotes healthy, sustainable forests and watersheds for the benefit of current and future generations.
Why does the job exist?
Development of policies, preparation of pleadings such as briefs to administrative boards and courts, legal review and approval of intricate contractual documents, rulemaking, strategic management of complex litigation, formulation of recommendations on difficult personnel and disciplinary actions, legal liability matters, and provision of all other types of legal advice to the New Mexico Forestry Division and other EMNRD management.
How does it get done?
Provide legal advice and representation for the Forestry Division within EMNRD regarding complex and time sensitive matters.
Have in-depth familiarity with applicable state and federal laws that govern the activities of the Forestry Division. Draft and review legal documents required for litigation, which require knowledge of the substantive law that is the subject of the administrative hearings and litigation and the rules of civil procedure and evidence.
Have in-depth familiarity with applicable state and federal laws that govern procurement. Review and ensure legal sufficiency of Forestry Division grants, agreements, and procurement process. Review and ensure legal sufficiency of procurement documents such as technology development contracts, project work inspection contracts, requests for proposals, general and professional service agreements, and legal notices as directed by the General Counsel and the Forestry Division Director.
Provide guidance to Forestry Division to ensure wildfire response activities are within the parameters of the Master Cooperative Fire Agreement and over 100 Joint Powers Agreements with local governments.
Review and edit policies, procedures, forms and other documents pertaining to internal Division operations as directed by the General Counsel and Forestry Division Director.
Take a partner role in rule development by reviewing proposed rules or rule revisions for legal sufficiency and compliance with State Records Center and Archives requirements, draft rules or amendments, draft notices of rulemaking, prepare testimony and other documents for rulemaking hearings, and file rules with the State Records and Archives Center.
Represent the Forestry Division in administrative and judicial hearings, understand factual and legal issues requiring independent decisions as to strategy and tactics, conduct cross-examination of witnesses, present opening and closing statements, draft proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and file briefs. Work with counsel from other state or federal agencies.
Support the Forestry Division in the development of proposed legislation, including drafting, and ensuring that bills are consistent with applicable laws. Review proposed legislation that may affect EMNRD and draft bill analyses as requested.
Represent the Forestry Division in meetings, legislative, and regulatory hearings and other public forums.
Provide comprehensive and specialized legal services for special assignments and projects of the Forestry Division requested by the Forestry Division Director, General Counsel and EMNRD Secretary.
Who are the customers?
The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department seeks an experienced attorney to represent the Forestry Division and such other programs as may be assigned by the Office of General Counsel. The individual selected for this position will represent the Forestry Division in judicial and administrative proceedings; advise senior management including the Forestry Division Director and Cabinet Secretary; participate in developing policies and rules; prepare legal documents; draft and review contracts; and support the Forestry Division in the development and review of proposed legislation.
Ideal Candidate
The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department seeks an experienced attorney to represent the Forestry Division and such other programs as may be assigned by the Office of General Counsel. The individual selected for this position will represent the Forestry Division in judicial and administrative proceedings; advise senior management including the Forestry Division Director and Cabinet Secretary; participate in developing policies and rules; prepare legal documents; draft and review contracts; and support the Forestry Division in the development and review of proposed legislation.
Minimum Qualification
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited-license/
Employment Requirements
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an office setting: late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage and stressful situations. Travel is required. Possible exposure to irate clientele. Incumbent will work under stress and frequent time constraints.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
