Right of Way Agent

Harris County•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Real Property Division manages right-of-way acquisitions for Harris County and is hiring Right-of-Way Agents to handle property acquisitions and assist with relocations. The agent coordinates activities for an assigned project phase, negotiates land acquisitions, and acquires private property for public use. Acquisitions may support infrastructure construction or buy-out programs intended to improve resilience to future flooding. The agent serves as a liaison among project departments and the public, including homeowners, legal representatives, and industry stakeholders. The position supports project delivery while meeting applicable schedules and local, state, and federal requirements. Assignments are generally performed in an office, meeting, or operations command center environment, with some field work. The position is subject to emergency response and deployment protocols under Harris County's Continuity of Operations Plan, including possible temporary assignment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergency events. Extended hours may be required during disaster recovery operations.

Requirements

High school diploma and four years of documented work experience as a right-of-way agent, utility coordinator, appraiser, relocation agent, or in a related role; alternatively, a bachelor's degree emphasizing real estate or a related field and two years of documented experience in one of those roles.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proper grammar and spelling.
Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, the public, industry representatives, and other government agencies.
Attention to detail and practical problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage a project with minimal supervision.
Strong organizational, time-management, and customer-service skills.
Ability to collaborate with internal and external teams and adapt to changing conditions and priorities.
Valid driver's license, with a Texas driver's license required upon hire, and a good driving record.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access, and ability to produce reports using databases, spreadsheets, presentations, and other software.
High level of confidentiality, judgment, personal responsibility, and dependability.
Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on the job application; resume attachments may support but do not replace information on the application.
Position is subject to a criminal history check; only relevant convictions will be considered and may not automatically disqualify a candidate.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Nice To Haves

Membership in a professional association, such as the International Right of Way Association.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, legal documents relating to real estate, and right-of-way transactions.

Responsibilities

Prioritize activities and tasks to deliver Harris County projects on time.
Manage assignments to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal rules and regulations.
Collaborate with all sections of the Real Property Division to support efficient project delivery.
Provide project support activities for the Engineering Department.
Conduct field investigations to review routes and sites for acquisition.
Determine property ownership by investigating records, conducting field inspections, or using other available means.
Produce and maintain correspondence, records, agreements, and project files.
Review legal documents, maps, and plans with a basic understanding of their content.
Participate in meetings with stakeholders, the public, and clients as needed.
Obtain necessary right-of-way within the allotted time to meet engineering and construction schedules.
Update tasks in the work management system accurately and promptly.
Work with the County Attorney's Office to prepare legal instruments for property rights and land usage.
Submit project documents to the Commissioners Court for approval in a timely manner.
Support and participate in department initiatives and process improvements.
Participate in departmental staff classification based on Mission Essential Function responsibilities.
Be available for temporary deployment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergency events.
Confirm work assignments with a supervisor before reporting to a worksite during emergency events.
Remain flexible in taking on alternative duties as directed to support continuity of County operations.
Perform other duties as assigned.