Land Rights Agent: Entry to Principal Levels
About The Position
Xcel Energy is hiring a Land Rights Agent at the Associate, Agent, Senior, or Principal level. The position leads and manages land-rights and siting activities for major energy facilities, including transmission lines and thermal, wind, solar, biomass, and hydro generation plants. It works with multidisciplinary internal teams and represents Siting & Land Rights interests in project planning and execution. The role negotiates and secures land rights, permits, and approvals; manages sensitive negotiations and settlements; and represents the company before government agencies, regulatory bodies, planning commissions, and courts. It applies expert knowledge of land-rights principles and regulations, exercises sound judgment to balance competing objectives, and provides analyses supporting compensation decisions. The position also manages project schedules and budgets, consultants, contractors, and condemnation proceedings, and serves as a technical resource to other staff and departments. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, but expectations vary by role, team, and business needs. The anticipated starting base pay is $64,100 to $138,600 per year, depending on level. The position is eligible for the benefits listed in the posting.
Requirements
- Associate Land Rights Agent: Bachelor's degree in real estate, land-use planning, management, or business; a combination of relevant education and experience totaling four years may substitute for the degree.
- Land Rights Agent: Bachelor's degree in real estate, land-use planning, management, or business; a combination of relevant education and experience totaling four years may substitute for the degree.
- Land Rights Agent: Two years of increasingly complex siting, acquisition, and/or land-rights management experience.
- Senior Land Rights Agent: Bachelor's degree in real estate, land-use planning, management, or business; a combination of relevant education and experience totaling four years may substitute for the degree.
- Senior Land Rights Agent: At least five years of increasingly complex siting, acquisition, and/or land-rights management experience.
- Senior Land Rights Agent: Demonstrated project management skills.
- Principal Land Rights Agent: Bachelor's degree in real estate, land-use planning, management, or business, or equivalent knowledge from a combination of relevant education and experience.
- Principal Land Rights Agent: At least eight years of increasingly complex siting, acquisition, and/or land-rights management experience.
- Principal Land Rights Agent: Experience with state and federal permitting and/or acquisition activities.
- Principal Land Rights Agent: Demonstrated technical writing, verbal communication, negotiation, and project management skills.
- Principal Land Rights Agent: Valid driver's license.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required for the Associate and Land Rights Agent levels.
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience in high-pressure or medium-pressure gas or transmission utility work.
- SR/WA designation or an advanced degree.
- Previous project management experience.
Responsibilities
- Lead planning, route alternatives analysis, site selection, and management of sites and corridors for major energy facilities, including transmission lines and generation plants.
- Represent Siting & Land Rights interests on multidisciplinary internal project teams involving engineering, legal, regulatory, and project management staff.
- Negotiate with landowners and their legal representatives to acquire and manage land rights for major energy facilities, including through condemnation when necessary.
- Prepare and administer easements, leases, deeds, and licenses; perform abstracting and courthouse searches to facilitate property-rights acquisition and disposition.
- Prepare permit applications and negotiate for and obtain applicable federal, state, and local approvals, including land-use and environmental permits.
- Represent the company before federal, state, and local regulatory and land-management agencies, boards, planning commissions, and councils.
- Prepare project descriptions and summaries, respond to data requests, and present at public hearings to obtain project approvals.
- Act as the primary spokesperson for project-related land-rights activities and as an expert witness, preparing and presenting written and oral testimony in certification and other regulatory proceedings.
- Maintain technical knowledge of applicable land-rights laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations; implement effective negotiating strategies to secure rights at a fair and equitable cost.
- Serve as a technical resource and advisor to other Siting & Land Rights staff.
- Consult with agents and team members on complex project, land-rights, and siting issues; assist with developing and implementing company strategic goals and objectives.
- Contribute to process teams concerning budgets and regulatory compliance.
- Assist internal departments and subsidiaries with land-rights management and acquisition, valuation, scheduling, and cost estimates for siting and land-rights activities.
- Prepare requests for proposals, contract agreements, and project estimates; lead consultant and contractor selection and manage consultants on major projects.
- Lead teams for condemnation proceedings and provide testimony in related court cases.
Benefits
- Annual Incentive Program
- Medical/Pharmacy Plan
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account (if enrolled in an eligible health plan)
- Limited-Purpose Flexible Spending Account (if enrolled in an eligible health plan and HSA)
- Transportation Reimbursement Account
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in an eligible health plan)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Transit programs
- Employee recognition program
- Pension
- 401(k) plan
- Paid time off
- Holidays
- Volunteer Paid Time Off
- Parental Leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
