Real Estate Representative/ Associate Real Estate Representative

Preferred location: Florence, SC, but the selected candidate may work from any Duke Energy location in the lower Pee Dee area.

About the role

This is an intermediate-level position within the Real Estate land rights/acquisition job family. The Real Estate Representative is responsible for negotiating and acquiring land rights—typically easements, but also leases, fee purchases/dispositions, releases, encroachments, and permits—needed to install, operate, and maintain the company’s facilities.

The role requires an advanced understanding of real estate topics, including land title and records research, easement terminology, negotiation strategies, interpretation of engineered drawings and site plans, document preparation, stakeholder communication, records recordation and retention, and the use of mapping, indexing, and archiving systems. Familiarity with eminent domain and budget management is essential, with the ability to handle these aspects independently.

The Real Estate Representative manages standard transactions and occasional complex transactions involving high-profile projects, major customers, attorneys, or public officials. Responsibilities may include self-performance of real estate activities or oversight of vendors, depending on the project, jurisdiction, or business unit.

Responsibilities

• Utilize advanced communication and negotiation skills to acquire property and property rights for the company, its subsidiaries, and others. Apply critical thinking and negotiating strategies to facilitate acquisitions, including complex projects involving government, DOT, municipalities, or industrial entities.
• Demonstrate proficiency in company policies and procedures, communicating them effectively to the public and landowners with limited assistance from senior staff or management.
• Conduct standard and complex real estate transactions, including high-profile projects, small-value transactions, or non-monetary projects as needed.
• Research and value properties/property rights to estimate fair market value using accepted real estate valuation approaches. Compile market data, interview real estate professionals, and analyze public records for valuation purposes.
• Research public records to identify ownership and prepare documents. Analyze internal records for existing land rights to assist external customers and internal partners.
• Apply working knowledge of real estate law and engineering principles to company acquisition projects. Interpret engineering drawings, DOT, municipality, and highway drawings and legends.
• Conduct research and take action to obtain clear title to property, including interviewing stakeholders, coordinating attorney-prepared title opinions, and resolving title defects.
• Advise internal business partners and assist attorneys in eminent domain proceedings. Research and review franchise agreements, municipal charters, and other legal documents to determine company rights.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Facilitate communication between business partners for the acquisition and disposition of real estate interests.
• Resolve right-of-way issues within established schedules and budgets to ensure timely construction and efficient resource utilization.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in real estate matters, ensuring best practices and procedures are followed to protect and utilize company assets.
• Identify and act on opportunities to acquire easements to protect company assets. Use corporate collaboration tools and work management systems to track, manage, and report on workload.
• Provide oversight for vendor-managed projects, including defining project scope, tracking progress, managing risks, and acting as the point of contact for vendor-related questions. Administer vendor invoicing.
• Stay current on best practices, regulations, and laws related to real estate functions. Review professional journals, publications, and information from legal and tax departments to ensure compliance with real estate, tax, safety, and environmental laws.
• Maintain awareness of real estate market conditions through engagement with local, regional, and national professionals (e.g., appraisers, attorneys, negotiators, brokers). Participate in professional organizations such as the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA), SGA, and SEE.

Requirements

• Real Estate Representative:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, or a related field, or
  • High School/GED and 6 years of related work experience.
• Associate Real Estate Representative:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, or a related field, or
  • High School/GED and 4 years of related work experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain a notary commission within 6 months of hire.
• Occasional travel (5-15%).
• Field mobility classification: Work will primarily be performed remotely with occasional onsite meetings after the onboarding period. Employee should live within a reasonable commute to the posted reporting location.

Desired Qualifications

• Notary Public and/or Real Estate license (any jurisdiction/state).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience in the public utility industry (electric, gas, municipality) or a related technical field.
• Knowledge of workplans, surveying, paralegal work, land development, and/or engineering.
• Preferred soft skills: Highly organized, self-motivated, critical/problem-solving, budgeting, negotiation, and excellent written and verbal communication.