RIght of Way Project Manager

Audubon Companies•Houston, TX

About The Position

Audubon is currently seeking a Right-of-Way Project Manager to join our team. The Right of Way Project Manager will assist the Director of ROW in organizing and executing staffing, material management, and logistics to complete all types of pipeline projects. Manages direct project costs, project staffing requirements and provides on-site technical support to the client. The position will be required to interface with and develop working relationships with multiple departments that include Pipeline Engineering, GIS, Survey, and Construction Management.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Exemplary communication and leadership skills.
Organizes and develops highly functional and effective project teams.
Coordinates and works with other departments (Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Finance and Accounting) to ensure the timely delivery of quality goods and services which meet or exceed our customer’s expectations.
5+ years of experience in the ROW field required.
Knowledge to examine public records to determine surface ownership rights required.
Ability to negotiate with landowners, tenants, attorneys and permit agencies to meet project objectives required.
Ability to maintain orderly documentation and ROW acquisition records required.
Proficient in Windows based software and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access) to complete document preparation, project reporting, presentations, and general research required.
Proficient in the acquisition of pipeline, power line, communication and surface easements and fee land purchases.
Strong written and oral communication skills required.
Knowledge to understand the legal agreements associated with any given project and legal documents of any nature pertaining to ROW.

Responsibilities

Provides direct project management (overseeing employees, third-party staffing, and resources) to execute multiple Right-of-Way Projects.
Assists in providing requisitions and bids for required materials and third-party services to execute pipeline projects, meeting customer completion dates per contract. Manages direct job costs to ensure margins are met in accordance with the project proposal.
Coordinates with clients and other departments to ensure the execution of pipeline projects.
Responsible for coaching, training, development and performance management of staff.
Auditing the health of all projects that are being managed by their staff. This includes regular (bi-weekly minimum) project status reviews
May interact with clients and assist with the support activities to further develop Audubon.
May function as Project Manager on certain projects.
Provide project management oversight for the execution of pipeline projects.
Effectively applies Audubon methodology and enforces project standards.
Conduct or acquire title searches and research public records to identify land owners affected by project and determine property rights and descriptions as needed.
Contact the owners of interests in lands regarding the acquisition of real property rights, amendment of rights, defense of rights, notifications of entry, settlement of claims, and such other related matters as determined by the Company.
Obtain right-of-way authorization from property owners and secure necessary access to the property. Acquire temporary rights of entry for field studies and temporary easements by rental or lease to provide construction staging areas. Negotiate the extension or relinquishment of temporary construction easements and draft relinquishment documents.
Discuss with property owners the process, timeline, access and equipment requirements of the project. Serve as point of contact and address any questions, issues or property damage concerns expressed by the land owner. Keep land owners abreast of project status and timeline changes.
Negotiate with property owners, tenants, attorneys, and permit agencies for the purchase, lease, donation or acquisition of easements of real property and/or property rights. Conduct all negotiations in a professional manner and in good faith.
Provide proper notifications to property owners and inform owners of their rights, applicable laws and regulations.
Address complaints by land owners and respond by investigating all complaints and taking remedial action upon consulting with company management. Negotiate claim settlements with owners and research market values to determine if settlements are appropriate.
Prepare necessary affidavits such as descent and distribution, identity, use and adverse possession as required. 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.
Read and interpret maps and property descriptions.
Provide assistance in resolving right of way and easement related disputes. May appear as a witness in litigation.
Inspect affected property and identify implications of the project on the property and/or structures.
Estimate areas of possible or potential damage in advance of construction, and accumulate information as to any damages occurring during construction, gathering data necessary to determine value of damages such as current market values.
Develop relocation plans and negotiate with land owners, tenants and attorneys when displacement occurs due to project scope. Provide land owners and tenants displaced by projects advice on approved relocation assistance available in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Maintain relocation assistance records as required.
Note and inform supervisor of violations of easement terms by construction personnel.
Identify and provide detail of all required construction permits and permit requirements, and acquire permits as directed.
Prepare adequate reports of daily activity and provide additional reporting as necessary to document difficult negotiations for easements, damage settlements and/or permit acquisition.
Recommend and initiate condemnation processes where necessary; prepare legal documents for inclusion in condemnation packages submitted to court; confer with legal counsel on such matters to ensure that documents conform to legal requirements may appear as witness during court hearings.
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.