RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - 10202026-81896

Job ID: 81896 | Location: Madison County, Jackson, TN | Department: Transportation | Type: Full-Time Regular

Pay

Monthly: $5,151.00 – $6,437.00 | Annually: $61,812.00 – $77,244.00

Schedule

Hybrid: three days in the office, two days working from home.

About the role

The Right of Way (ROW) Acquisition and Relocation Technical Specialist works both independently and in a team setting, providing support and expertise to the Region Acquisition/Relocation Section. This position assists 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, including the Uniform Act (PL 91-646) and Tennessee statutes. Duties involve acquiring free and clear title to necessary rights of way for transportation projects, administering the Relocation Assistance Program for displaced residential and non-residential occupants, and supporting Project Teams and Project Managers with insights on project impacts, cost-saving design options, and risk management decisions. The specialist must possess and demonstrate a wide range of ROW skills including real estate principles, appraisal valuation, title searches, legal descriptions, instruments of conveyance, property inventories, eminent domain, civil rights, and related computer applications, as well as transportation project and engineering knowledge such as plans reading, the Project Delivery Network (PDN), and access management guidelines. Participation in the ROW Proficiency Training Program (class attendance, training modules, on-the-job training) is required, working toward advancement as a ROW professional. Effective communication of ROW concepts through training, mentoring, and collaboration within a matrix organization is essential.

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 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 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.
• Additional responsibilities for TDOT Technical Specialist II and III:
  • Conduct good faith negotiations for rights of way essential to completion of transportation construction projects on: (1) tracts with greater complexity such as more severe takings, difficult title issues, commercial operations, uneconomic remainders, and loss of access; and (2) tracts classified as special acquisitions including local agency, utilities, and stream mitigation.
  • Prepare for and conduct real estate closings on parcels by verifying ROW plans, 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 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 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.
  • 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.
  • Calculate or otherwise determine relocation benefit payment amounts for non-complex non-residential occupants for moving costs and incidental expenses; provide a complete and thorough explanation of benefits to displaced parties; and assist with processing claims and appeals.
  • Perform field research, data collection, analysis, and the writing of Conceptual State Relocation Plans (CSRP) and Acquisition Stage Relocation Plans (ASRP).

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• 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.

Necessary Special Qualifications (for all levels)

• Professional licenses and/or certifications as required by the specific position.
• Possess and maintain a Class D driver's license valid for use in operating vehicles in the State of Tennessee.

Any necessary special qualifications will be denoted in the position description.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies (KSACs)

• Required for TDOT Technical Specialist I, II, and III:
  • Knowledge of transportation engineering principles
  • Knowledge of transportation finance principles
  • Knowledge of contract development principles and applications