Rights-Of-Way Manager

Manages operations and staff involved in the acquisition and disposition of property rights of way for use in road construction projects for the County.

Responsibilities

• Manages, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
• Organizes, prioritizes, and schedules work activities to meet objectives; oversees employee schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; ensures subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work.
• Manages technical and administrative tasks to coordinate County-wide real estate acquisition program for transportation projects: develops procedures, policies, and standards; monitors negotiations and reviews counter offers and offers of settlement; oversees maintenance of acquisition records; reviews, signs, and approves related documents (e.g., appraisals, titles, legal documents, environmental reports, condemnation pleadings); ensures timely acquisition of all right of way areas to meet County schedules and objectives.
• Interprets rights of way: researches and examines recorded documents such as plats, easements, deeds, and titles; verifies land lots, street names, length of parcels, and property ownership; maintains related documentation.
• Researches and processes rights of way abandonments, exchanges of land, disposal of surplus property, and landscape licenses: researches establishment of roads before abandoning; consults with other County departments to ensure they do not need the right of way; prepares agenda items, local advertisements, quit claim deeds, sales contracts, and transmittal forms; reviews surveys, titles, scaled drawings, and legal descriptions; conducts site visits; prepares and submits packets for review by other County personnel; records and submits related fees and documentation.
• Manages purchase and disposal of rights of way: schedules real estate closings; pays taxes due; relocates tenants as needed; monitors communications between County attorney, property owners, and buyers; supervises preparation of closing documents for acquisitions and disposals; ensures compliance with applicable local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and guidelines; makes recommendations to resolve conflicts and solve problems.
• Manages condemnation filings: receives, reviews, and signs pleadings; meets with department managers regarding condemnation agenda items; attends case evaluations; coordinates activities with attorneys.
• Meets with property owners and attends public hearings and meetings: answers questions; provides interpretation and explanation regarding the acquisition process and applicable laws, policies, and procedures; responds to complex questions/complaints; researches problems and initiates problem resolution.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Law, Real Estate, or related field required.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in rights of way acquisition and engineering plan review, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Skills

• Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, including lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds).
• Ability to work extended periods at a keyboard or workstation.
• Ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals.
• Ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.