Right of Way Agent Associate-Right of Way Agent Senior

American Electric Power•Wooster, OH

About The Position

The Right of Way Agent is responsible for acquiring land rights, licenses, leases, permits, and other documents needed to construct, operate, and maintain electric transmission and distribution facilities. The role involves work across many miles of facilities and extensive land holdings. During major acquisition efforts, the agent may direct contractor right-of-way personnel. The posting covers multiple grade levels, from Associate to Senior, with higher levels requiring increased education, skills, or experience. The agent negotiates with landowners, resolves property damage claims, researches property ownership and interests, and supports the establishment of fair market value ranges. The role also drafts or oversees preparation of right-of-way documents, provides functional support to other business units, assists with condemnation and court actions, and maintains property files, maps, drawings, exhibits, and progress reports. Travel is required within the assigned territory.

Requirements

For Right of Way Agent Associate: Associate degree in business, real estate, engineering, paralegal studies, or a related field, or a high school diploma and one year of experience in right-of-way procurement, surveying, title research, or a related field.
For the Right of Way Agent level: Associate degree in business, real estate, engineering, paralegal studies, or a related field, or a high school diploma and two years of experience in real estate acquisition, right-of-way, or a related field.
For Right of Way Agent Senior: Associate degree in business, engineering, paralegal studies, real estate, or a related field, or a high school diploma and two years of experience in right-of-way procurement, surveying, title research, or related fields.
Right of Way Agent: Four years of experience in real estate acquisition, right-of-way procurement, surveying, title research, or related work, in addition to any experience listed with the education requirement.
Right of Way Agent Senior: Six years of experience in real estate acquisition, right-of-way procurement, surveying, title research, or related work, in addition to any experience listed with the education requirement.
Driver license and Notary Commission.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Capable of walking long distances or climbing steep terrain.
Capable of using distribution electronic mapping and easement imaging systems.
Strong computer skills.

Responsibilities

Negotiate with landowners or their designees to acquire rights for construction, reconstruction, enlargement, or maintenance of electric transmission and distribution facilities; supervise contract agents as required.
Settle property damage claims related to construction, reconstruction, enlargement, maintenance, or removal of electric facilities; supervise contract agents as required.
Search courthouse and other available records to determine current property ownership and the extent of ownership interests.
Maintain knowledge of real estate values and accepted appraisal practices, and advise and assist the Right of Way Supervisor in establishing fair market value ranges for land and land rights.
Draft or supervise preparation of rights of entry, damage claims, contracts, easements, licenses, leases, permits, purchase options, and other documents needed to acquire rights for electric facilities.
Assist the Right of Way Supervisor in providing functional support to other AEP business units on land and land-rights acquisition questions and procedures.
Act as a witness and assist in selecting witnesses and commissioners for condemnation or other court actions involving electric facilities.
Maintain property-owner files, maps, drawings, exhibits, and detailed progress reports.
Direct contractor right-of-way personnel during major acquisition efforts.
Travel within the assigned territory.