RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - 09012026-80409

About the role

The Right of Way (ROW) Acquisition and Relocation Technical Specialist will work both independently and in a team setting, providing support and expertise to the Region Acquisition/Relocation Section. This position will assist the Acquisition/Relocation Team Lead with implementing statewide work plans, meeting the Section’s strategic vision, and ensuring compliance with Federal and State laws and requirements pertaining to Acquisition and Relocation. Responsibilities include acquiring free and clear title to necessary rights of way for transportation projects and administering the Relocation Assistance Program to displaced and impacted residential and non-residential occupants, while ensuring all actions are in compliance with Tennessee statutes and the Uniform Act (PL 91-646).

Responsibilities

• Perform ROW functions in accordance with the Uniform Act (PL 91-646), Tennessee statutes, and the TDOT ROW Manual to ensure compliance and audit standards are achieved.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely documentation of all actions taken during negotiations and relocation including inventories of acquired property, property owner contacts, offers, written notices, closing documents, and determination of relocation benefits.
• Administer and manage project data in TDOT ROW Division’s database program and software.
• Participate on Project Teams as part of a matrix organization and attend public meetings and hearings for transportation projects in support of the Project Managers and Project Teams.
• Conduct good faith negotiations on low value, non-complex, and nominal payment parcels essential to the completion of transportation construction projects while focusing negotiation efforts to accomplish TDOT project delivery goals, maintain critical schedule deadlines, and manage risk.
• Prepare for and conduct real estate closings on low-value, non-complex, and nominal payment parcels by verifying ROW plans, understanding the terms of sale, selecting the appropriate conveyance documents, updating title information, accounting for all interest holders, and resolution of taxes.
• Determine eligibility for relocation benefits and provide relocation assistance and advisory services for Personal Property Moves on residential, non-residential, non-profit organizations, outdoor advertising sign owners, and farm operations impacted by the acquisition of rights of way.
• Assist in determining eligibility for relocation benefits and provide relocation assistance and advisory services for non-complex residential occupants displaced or impacted by the acquisition of rights of way, including owners and tenants.
• Calculate or otherwise determine relocation benefit payment amounts for non-complex residential occupants for moving cost payments, replacement housing payments, incidental expenses, and increased interest costs, provide a complete and thorough explanation of benefits to displaced parties, and assist with processing claims and appeals.
• Assist with field research, data collection, analysis, and the writing of the Conceptual State Relocation Plans (CSRP) and Acquisition Stage Relocation Plans (ASRP).
• Provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers, exercise effective listening skills, assist in the implementation of policies and procedures related to ROW acquisition and Relocation, provide prompt responses, maintain complete and accurate documentation, and communicate effectively.
• Assist with responses to Public Records Requests involving ROW issues and assist TDOT Legal and the Attorney General’s Office with eminent domain proceedings, including depositions, testimony, summary reports, and strategy sessions.
• Assist the Region Senior Technical Specialist – Property Management/Excess Land (PM/EL) with handling excess land requests, clearance activities for ROW Certification, encroachment clearance, environmental review coordination, Project Manager support, management of acquired properties, property inventories, and related responsibilities.
• Conduct good faith negotiations for rights of way essential to completion of transportation construction projects on tracts with greater complexity such as more severe takings, difficult title issues, commercial operations, uneconomic remainders, and loss of access; and tracts classified as “special acquisitions” including local agency, utilities, and stream mitigation (TDOT Technical Specialist II and III).
• Determine eligibility for relocation benefits and provide relocation assistance and advisory services for residential occupants displaced or impacted by the acquisition of rights of way, including owners and tenants (TDOT Technical Specialist II and III).
• Calculate or otherwise determine relocation benefit payment amounts for residential occupants for moving cost payments, replacement housing payments, incidental expenses, and increased interest costs, provide a complete and thorough explanation of benefits to displaced parties, and assist with processing claims and appeals (TDOT Technical Specialist II and III).
• Determine eligibility for relocation benefits and provide relocation assistance and advisory services for non-complex non-residential occupants displaced or impacted by the acquisition of rights of way such as businesses, non-profit organizations, farms, and outdoor advertising signs (TDOT Technical Specialist II and III).

Qualifications

• TDOT Technical Specialist I: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field of study as may be outlined in the position description.
• TDOT Technical Specialist II: Bachelor’s Degree and 1 year of demonstrated competency in a related field as may be outlined in the position description.
• TDOT Technical Specialist III: Bachelor’s Degree and 2 years of demonstrated competency in a related field as may be outlined in the position description.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation reserves the sole right in determining the level of position based on the applicant’s work experience, education, skill level, and all other appropriate factors, including business needs. Within 6 months of hire, employees must demonstrate successful mastery of corresponding work competencies and skill blocks of the Technical Specialist Competency Program for the level of worker for which they were hired. If skills and competencies are not met during that period, the employee can be demoted to the level of worker for which he/she is qualified.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

• Required for all levels: Knowledge of transportation engineering principles; transportation finance principles; contract development principles and applications; technical report writing; ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders; ability to manage time and prioritize assignments; ability to use critical thinking to problem solve and make informed decisions; ability to learn technical concepts and apply them; ability to follow verbal and written instructions; ability to conduct work with precision and accuracy; ability to read and interpret project plans.
• Additional for TDOT Technical Specialist II and III: Skilled in the application of engineering principles; skilled in the application of transportation finance principles; skilled in the application of state and federal regulations to transportation projects; skilled in technical report writing; skilled in the development of contract principles and applications; ability to work in project teams; ability to maintain effective work relationships with individuals and groups, both internal and external; ability to manage time and prioritize work items to ensure project assignments are completed.
• Additional for TDOT Technical Specialist III: Ability to resolve conflicts, coach, and mentor others, and support a culture of accountability, collaboration, and accomplishment; ability to analyze a process and offer actionable feedback for use in improving the effectiveness, quality, and efficiency of the existing process.

Conditions of Employment

• Incorporating overtime, weekends, and night shifts into schedules as work schedules dictate.
• Extended durations outdoors in extreme weather conditions.
• Working in and around construction and vehicular traffic.
• Walking on uneven terrain.
• Climbing ladders and construction scaffolding.
• Carrying equipment and samples in excess of 25 pounds.
• Driving long distances as required to perform daily duties.
• Performing work in which personal protective equipment will be required.
• Sitting for extended periods while driving or working on computers.
• Standing for extended periods while working outdoors or in a laboratory setting.