Surface Land Negotiator
About the role
Reporting to the Vice President of Land and Business Development, the Surface Land Negotiator supports surface land activities relating to FourPoint Resources' development and operations. This position secures and administers surface rights, access, easements, rights-of-way, road-use agreements, water rights and other approvals required for drilling, production, construction, and infrastructure projects. The role further serves as a liaison with landowners, governmental and regulatory agencies, contractors, and internal teams; independently manages complex negotiations and surface issues; and ensures commitments are documented, communicated, and fulfilled. Success requires advanced negotiation skills, sound judgment, strong knowledge of real property and oil and gas operations, and the ability to build productive long-term stakeholder relationships. This position is located in Myton, UT.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Negotiate and secure surface use agreements, surface damage agreements, easements, rights-of-way, road-use agreements, water-use and water-transfer agreements, access agreements, temporary workspace agreements, and other surface-related contracts required for company operations.
- Serve as a contact for surface owners, occupants, local communities, governmental agencies, contractors, and other third parties; foster constructive relationships and resolve concerns promptly and professionally.
- Coordinate with Land, Legal, Regulatory, Operations, Drilling, Completions, Construction, Water, Environmental, Accounting, and other teams to deliver timely, drill-ready and construction-ready projects.
- Research and analyze deeds, title materials, surveys, maps, permits, and existing agreements to verify ownership, access rights, obligations, restrictions, and potential surface conflicts.
- Identify, evaluate, and resolve complex surface, access, title, boundary, damage, and stakeholder issues; recommend practical strategies that protect company interests and support project schedules.
- Draft, review, negotiate, and coordinate execution and recording of surface agreements, memoranda, amendments, releases, assignments, notices, and related documentation in collaboration with Legal and Land leadership.
- Manage surface acquisition activities from initial contact through payment, execution, recording, obligation tracking, and handoff to land administration and operations.
- Coordinate field inspections, site visits, route reviews, surveys, staking activities, damage assessments, reclamation discussions, and landowner communications before, during, and after operations.
- Monitor compliance with contractual commitments, permit conditions, payment obligations, restoration requirements, and applicable federal, state, tribal, and local laws and regulations.
- Support regulatory filings, applications, hearings, and stakeholder meetings; prepare supporting documentation and factual information as needed.
- Direct and oversee field brokers, title vendors, surveyors, appraisers, and other consultants, including establishing scope, priorities, quality expectations, schedules, and cost controls.
- Maintain accurate land records, negotiation logs, contact notes, maps, status reports, payment documentation, and agreement summaries in company systems.
- Support acquisition and divestiture due diligence, surface risk assessments closing activities, and post-closing integration.
- Prepare and present clear recommendations, negotiation strategies, project updates, risk summaries, budgets, and decision materials to management.
- Conduct business with the highest ethical standards and exercise sound judgment to protect people, property, the environment, company assets, and FourPoint's reputation.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
- Other duties as required
Education, Skills and Experience Required
- Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Land Management, Energy Management, Business, Real Estate, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- 3+ years of oil and gas land experience, with responsibility for surface negotiations and field land activities.
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate, document, and administer complex surface agreements, easements, rights-of-way, access arrangements, and damage settlements.
- Strong working knowledge of real property principles, title, surveys, contracts, land records, and federal, state, tribal, and local requirements affecting oil and gas surface operations.
- Experience supporting drilling, completions, construction, production, water, pipeline, road, electrical, and reclamation projects preferred.
- Negotiation, conflict-resolution, analytical, and problem-solving skills with sound business judgment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build credibility with landowners, community stakeholders, agencies, contractors, and internal teams.
- Collaborative team player who works effectively across departments, shares information proactively, and supports cross-functional priorities and company objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, agreements, and stakeholders with minimal supervision.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to complete, accurate, and timely records.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with land management systems, GIS/mapping tools, county records, and document-management platforms preferred.
- Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record required.
- Ability to travel regularly to field locations and attend landowner, agency, and project meetings, including occasional extended hours as operational needs require.
Physical Requirements
- Sitting, standing, walking over uneven terrain, bending, visual and mental acuity, manual dexterity, hearing, and speaking.
- Ability to work at a computer for prolonged periods and drive for extended periods between office, field, landowner, and agency locations.
- Ability to enter active field locations and comply with required personal protective equipment and site-safety procedures.
- Must be able to work outdoors in varying terrain and weather conditions and adapt to changing field and operational schedules.
- Must have the ability and willingness to work occasional extended hours or weekends and respond to time-sensitive landowner or operational matters.