Right of Way Agent

Canacre•Houston, TX

About The Position

Canacre’s core services focus on leadership in Environment and Land services throughout the project lifecycle. At Canacre, we emphasize continuous development and growth. Our commitment to investing in industry knowledge and the expertise of our teams sets us apart. Our goals are to provide technical leadership for greater regulatory understanding and certainty and to build collaborative relationships with stakeholders, mitigating tomorrow’s environment, land and right-of-way risks today. At Canacre, we act with honesty and integrity within a culture where trust, collaboration, and teamwork flourish. We commit to diversity, inclusivity and the celebration of successes. Our vision is to foster an environment that promotes inspired and empowered team members who make an impact. The Right of Way Agent will be responsible for acquisition and enforcement of real property rights required for the operation, maintenance, and expansion of transmission, distribution, and communication systems, and other public and private infrastructure. The Right of Way Agent will provide local contact for interface with government, permitting, and customer interface related to franchise or property rights. This is a one-year contract with opportunity to extend.

Requirements

Secondary degree or accreditation in related field is considered an asset.
2-3 years of experience negotiating property rights documents including rights-of-way, easements, licenses, leases, purchase and sale agreements
Experience drafting and negotiating property rights documents including rights-of-way, easements, licenses, leases, purchase and sale agreements
Valid TREC License or ability to obtain prior to start date
Knowledge of Real Estate principles gained through education and experience
Clear, concise written and oral communications
Strong organizational skills including project files, diaries and other project data.
Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills
Computer literacy (working knowledge of Microsoft Office software, Google Earth)
Ability to plot metes and bounds descriptions of property and read a variety of maps, electronic and paper
Ability to evaluate, interpret, and analyze engineering and right-of-way drawings
Ability to interpret and research (abstract) legal documents
Skilled in property rights research methods, including courthouse searches for recorded documents and internet research of same
Ability to research, develop and determine valuation of local real estate, crops, timber, etc. for compensation and/or damage settlements.
Ability to create and manage project forecasts associated with field agent tasks and professionally convey progress to internal and external stakeholders.
Must be willing to travel regularly (up to 80%)
Must have or have the ability to obtain a Notary Public License

Responsibilities

Research, negotiate, acquire, defend, and ensure legal recording and enforcement of property rights required for electric, gas, or communication infrastructure for the client
Document all project related activities, communication and correspondence with landowners including in-person meetings, email, phone, mail, etc.
Assist in preparing and securing specific state, highway, railroad, County, Town, City, Village permits for use of lands owned by governmental agencies, the public or other utilities including tree clearing permits.
Research, negotiate, and acquire leases, licenses, and permits for client infrastructure, staging areas for storm or construction lay down areas, railroads & canals crossing permits
Coordinate and process payments to landowners for certain property rights
Review legal descriptions, maps and other resources to ensure acquisition areas are correctly defined.
Review real estate market data and/or appraisals to present to landowners or to develop basis for proposed settlements; develop comparable market analyses for presentation to client as needed.
Prepare various documents necessary to document basis for settlements, construction conditions, close negotiations, damages, etc.
Serve as legal witness as necessary for condemnation or other proceedings
Other activities related to obtaining or managing land rights to support substation relocations/rebuilds, transmission line rebuilds, and other utility scale projects
Other tasks as assigned by project stakeholders.
Maintain project related files in organized manner, adhering to company work breakdown structures and file naming protocols.
Perform other duties as required.