Land Title Recorder

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community•Scottsdale, AZ

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Manager within the Community Development Department, the Land Title Recorder performs specialized examination, research, processing, and recording of realty and legal instruments affecting Indian trust and restricted land interests. The position handles complex land title matters and ensures accurate, timely updates in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS). It researches and reviews probate orders and conveyances, identifies and resolves or escalates discrepancies, and coordinates with tribal departments and federal agencies. Work follows applicable provisions of CFR Titles 25 and 43, SRPMIC ordinances, and established federal and tribal procedures. This is an FLSA Non-Exempt position. The role examines and processes instruments, maintains ownership and transaction data, researches chains of title and historical records, and verifies fractional interests, tract information, legal descriptions, and encumbrances. It also supports record quality control, document imaging and indexing, requests for copies, stakeholder assistance, and improvements to recordation procedures. The position does not certify TSRs. The successful candidate must have an associate degree in a relevant field and four years of professional experience researching, examining, preparing, and recording real estate transactions, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The employee must be eligible to obtain and maintain required DOI background-investigation approval and federal information-system access authorization. The role may require work beyond normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and travel within the United States for training. Duties may involve prolonged computer use, detailed examination of physical and electronic records, and occasional handling of historical documents. Applicants are subject to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing and a background/fingerprint check. Preference is given to qualified Community Member Veterans, Community Members, spouses of Community Members, and qualified Native Americans, in the stated order and subject to required documentation.

Requirements

Associate degree from an accredited college or university in Realty, Land Management/Development, Urban Planning, Economics, Business Administration, or a closely related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
Four years of professional experience researching, examining, preparing, and recording real estate transactions in a land, title, and records office, title company, or comparable realty or land management environment.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain required United States Department of the Interior background-investigation approval and federal information-system access authorization.
Ability to examine and process legal instruments for recordation under established procedures; research and interpret chains of title, legal descriptions, and historical records; calculate fractional interests; and process authorized ownership changes.
Ability to identify, research, and resolve title discrepancies within authority and refer matters requiring additional review.
Ability to apply federal regulations, tribal ordinances, orders, and LTRO procedures; review surveys, plats, maps, and legal descriptions; and conduct GIS queries as needed.
Ability to maintain accurate TAAMS ownership and title records and safeguard confidential information.
Knowledge of federal Indian land title and records principles, ownership, conveyances, encumbrances, and recordation procedures; TAAMS; applicable CFR Titles 25 and 43; SRPMIC ordinances; probate matters; legal descriptions and surveys; and title examination and discrepancy resolution.
Skill in title examination and research, TAAMS recordation and ownership maintenance, numerical analysis, legal document review, research and problem solving, information management, communication, technology, and organization.
Ability to exercise technical judgment, communicate clearly with stakeholders, maintain effective working relationships, and adapt to changing systems and procedures.
Applicants must pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing and a background/fingerprint check.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Native American Tribal realty or federal trust land administration, planning, or development is preferred.
An enrolled Community Member who closely qualifies for the minimum qualifications may be considered under SRPMIC Policy 2-19, Underfill.

Responsibilities

Receive, examine, process, and record realty and legal instruments affecting Indian trust and restricted land interests, including deeds, deeds of trust, leases, rights-of-way, probate orders, and other instruments.
Review documents for accuracy, completeness, proper execution, approvals, legal descriptions, and compliance with recording requirements.
Perform authorized data entry, recordation, ownership maintenance, and transaction processing in TAAMS and applicable SRPMIC systems.
Examine chains of title, review previously issued TSRs, and research recorded instruments to verify ownership and identify discrepancies; do not certify TSRs.
Calculate, verify, and maintain fractional ownership interests and percentages, including changes from conveyances, probate orders, and other authorized transactions.
Review and process probate orders, administrative probate modifications, and related ownership instruments to ensure accurate TAAMS updates.
Research complex title matters involving life estates, remainder interests, undivided interests, legal descriptions, and historical conveyances.
Identify and research discrepancies in ownership, tract information, legal descriptions, and instruments; coordinate corrections or escalate unresolved matters.
Review surveys, plats, section maps, and legal descriptions to verify tract identification and consistency with title records.
Prepare and review chains of title, title research summaries, and supporting documentation to evaluate ownership history.
Review encumbrances, including leases, rights-of-way, mortgages, and deeds of trust, for accurate association with land records.
Perform quality control of recorded instruments and TAAMS transactions, including indexing, recording information, tract associations, and ownership data.
Coordinate with LTRO technical staff to ensure instruments are properly imaged, indexed, and maintained.
Process requests for certified and uncertified copies of recorded instruments, maps, and related records.
Coordinate with SRPMIC departments, enterprises, BIA, and other authorized agencies on recordation and ownership issues.
Provide technical assistance to Community Members, landowners, developers, departments, and authorized parties on title and recordation matters.
Maintain transaction records, recording logs, research documentation, and related reports.
Assist with procedures to improve recordation accuracy, ownership verification, and transaction processing.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the LTRO Manager or designated supervisor.