Land Agent, Principal

Pacific Gas And Electric Company•West Sacramento, CA

7d•$139,848 - $174,384•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal Land Agent, working under the direction of the unit Supervisor, will function in a lead role, directing, reviewing, and approving the work of lower classifications. This role provides guidance for stalled negotiations and for all projects requiring the highest level of experience and expertise in land rights matters. The Principal Land Agent is regarded as a technical expert for essential job functions, providing structured guidance and training to lower classifications. They review the title of both fee land and land rights for company projects, ensuring legal sufficiency and conformance with Company policy. This role provides oversight, advice, guidance, technical direction, and training to lower classifications, and advises PG&E management and other business partners on all matters relating to land rights, title issues, rearrangement of PG&E facilities, and third-party uses of company lands and easements. The Principal Land Agent is responsible for preparing contracts for title review and overseeing contract agents. They may discuss title and land rights matters requiring higher levels of experience and expertise with private, public, or governmental bodies and agencies, and may provide expert witness testimony in courts regarding land-related matters. This role may also act as a land rights liaison to the Law Department. This position is hybrid, requiring work from a remote office and the assigned work location based on business need.

Requirements

Four years of college in a technical or liberal arts curriculum or the equivalent in education and/or experience
A minimum of five years as a Senior Land Agent, or equivalent experience
Must have demonstrated the ability to perform such work as evidenced by the quality and quantity of the work product.

Responsibilities

Provides oversight, guidance, technical direction and training to Land Services staff on complex land rights issues, uses of company lands and easements by others including adherence to CPUC Code Section 851, and high-level technical and legal support to Land Services staff, supervisors and other Land Services groups and business partners.
Ensures adequacy of land rights and conformance to CPUC tariffs regarding acquisition of land rights for New Customer Connections (NCC’s).
Ensures adherence to company policy regarding relocations.
Collaborates in developing and implementing strategies for dealing with complex relocation projects.
Oversees and ensures adherence to various master agreements with transportation agencies including the Caltrans Freeway Master Contract as well as the Streets and Highway Code, governing the rearrangement of company facilities for highway and freeway construction.
Plans and oversees the work of contract agents related to title reviews, including training and guidance.
Researches and responds to title questions, and is familiar with relevant California legal codes, CPUC rules, and company policies pertaining to real property, easement law, notary law, recording law, and taxation.
Consults with Law Department when appropriate.
May provide investigative support to the Company’s Law Department in defense of civil claims and actions against the Company, customer-generated CPUC complaints, or in support of Company actions against others.
Completes difficult and complex reviews of line, title, timber, water, and mineral rights.
Determines the condition of title to PG&E’s fee property and facilities.
Advises Business Partners which rights must be protected or terminated in connection with a proposed project.
Prepares line reviews for PG&E’s electric and gas transmission facilities using the Land Rights Unit’s standard line review formats, including a summary of PG&E’s land rights and identification of special conditions or restrictions and any gaps in the rights of way.
Reviews preliminary title reports prepared by outside title companies for parcels to be acquired, determines if the title is acceptable, and initiates appropriate action.
Makes recommendations of action to be taken, if any, to clear title to the property as a condition to closing the transaction.
Prepares title reviews for property sales transactions, including a review of the chain of title, identification of grants out made by PG&E affecting the property, and review of the buyer’s preliminary title report prepared by a title company.
Provides direction to the document writer on how title is to be conveyed.
Reviews the historical use of the property while owned by PG&E, as well as information which must be disclosed to the prospective buyer, including identification of special conditions which may affect the sale transaction.
Reviews changes to Law Department approved standard documents.
Provides direction and guidance to lower classifications, and assists Land Services supervisors and other business partners to assure the integrity, adequacy, and legal sufficiency of documents relating to land rights in conformance with Company policy.
Reviews real estate related documents prior to management execution.
Discusses title and land matters requiring higher levels of experience and expertise with private, public, or governmental bodies and agencies beyond the scope or authority of lower classifications.