Right Of Way Document Specialist

Audubon Companies • Houston, TX

72d • Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for handling all ROW project related documents. This role involves preparing, maintaining custody of, reviewing, and ensuring the accuracy of all Right of Way (ROW) documents. The specialist will conduct and participate in title reviews, drawing coordination, file preparation, title curative, and document processing, recording, and filing. A key aspect of the role is applying knowledge of legal descriptions and title documents to assess land ownership and ensure all affected landowners are properly identified. The position requires maintaining accurate, current, and organized ROW files, and coordinating with other ROW staff on database administration, including report setup and preparation as directed by ROW project management. The specialist will process various ROW documents such as title reports, ROW agreements, leases, and damage releases, and will update and maintain all related forms, claims, documents, correspondence, files, records, databases, project tasks, and reports. Additionally, the role involves preparing acquisition documents, conducting title searches, researching public records to identify affected landowners and property rights, and ordering/reviewing title reports for accuracy and potential issues like vesting of ownership, easements, judgments, covenants, conditions, restrictions, liens, and encumbrances. The specialist will also draft and/or review legal instruments for conveyance of rights of way, including deeds, mortgages, and purchase contracts, and review legal descriptions and easement documents for property acquisition. Responsibilities may extend to the organization, safe keeping, and retrieval of records describing existing property, easements, and facilities. The role requires reading and interpreting maps and property descriptions, and potentially preparing legal documents for condemnation packages and conferring with legal counsel. Maintaining or updating ROW project databases and coordinating the development of GIS site and alignment maps may also be part of the duties. The position requires strict compliance with all company and client health, safety, security, and environmental (HSSE) standards and regulations, and active participation in hazard identification and observation programs, with immediate reporting of any unsafe acts, conditions, or incidents.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Proficient with personal computers, printers, scanners and related hardware.
• Ability to maintain orderly documentation and ROW acquisition records.
• Proficient in Windows based software and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access) to complete document preparation, project reporting, presentations and general information retrieval.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum of 1 year of experience with ROW documents preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, maintain custody of, review and ensure accuracy of all ROW documents.
• Conduct and participate in title reviews, drawing coordination, file preparation, title curative, and document processing, recording and filing.
• Apply knowledge of legal descriptions and title documents to assess ownership of land and assure that all affected land owners are properly identified.
• Ensure that all ROW files are accurate, current and organized.
• Coordinate with other ROW staff to ensure database administration activities including report setup and preparation are completed according to direction provided from ROW project management.
• Process all ROW documents, including title reports, ROW agreements, leases and damage releases.
• Update and maintain all ROW related forms, claims, documents, correspondence, files, records, databases, project tasks, status reports and other reports as requested by the company.
• Prepare acquisition documents.
• Conduct or acquire title searches and research public records to identify land owners affected by project and determine property rights and descriptions.
• Order and review title reports and review title searches for accuracy and any conflicting issues such as vesting of ownership, existing easements, judgments, covenants, conditions and restrictions, liens and encumbrances that may impact the project.
• Draft and/or review legal instruments for conveyance of rights of way including deeds, mortgages, and purchase contracts.
• Review legal descriptions, easement documents, deeds and other documents for acquisition of property and easements.
• May be responsible for the organization, safe keeping and retrieval of records describing existing property and easements and facilities occupying such property and easements.
• Read and interpret maps and property descriptions.
• May prepare legal documents for inclusion in condemnation packages submitted to court and confer with legal counsel on such matters to ensure that documents conform to legal requirements.
• May maintain or update ROW project databases, and coordinate development of GIS site and alignment maps.
• Comply with all company and client health, safety, security and environmental (HSSE) standards as well as federal and local HSSE regulations.
• Actively participate in company and client hazard identification and observation programs, and immediately report any unsafe acts, conditions or incidents to your supervisor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED