Right of Way Specialist

New Braunfels Utilities•New Braunfels, TX

15h

About The Position

The Right of Way Specialist is responsible for assisting the department with real estate research, negotiations, and acquisition of land rights needed for the installation, use, and maintenance of the public utilities’ infrastructure and other real estate interests and assets. This position includes obtaining and analyzing property ownership information, land title documents, appraisal data, and preparing easement documentation to support utility capital improvement projects. The Right of Way Specialist will assist in the acquisition activities through a defined process, including assisting with securing NBU easements, accomplishing easement encroachment and abandonment requests, answering easement questions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely completion of assigned tasks.

Requirements

Degree/Diploma Obtained: Bachelor’s Preferred
Work Experience Time Frame: 1-5 Years or More Field of Study: Geography, General Business, Computer Technology, or Land Surveying is required.
Other: Years of experience in excess of the minimum requirements may replace educational requirements.
Must have or be able to obtain a Notary Public License
A Valid Driver's License is required to operate a company vehicle when needed
1–5 years of experience in the Right of Way field, including experience supporting acquisitions and real estate negotiations involving easements and land rights.
Title examination/title research
Easement document preparation and supporting acquisition paperwork
Landowner communication and negotiation exposure
Working knowledge of Microsoft suite tools is required
Strong working knowledge of real estate documentation and the acquisition process, including working cross-functionally with legal, engineering, and external vendors.
Strong organizational skills with close attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate documentation and records.
Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with landowners, internal stakeholders, and external partners.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of ArcMap or Arc FM is preferred.
Experience with general surveying practices is preferred.
Public records research experience is preferred

Responsibilities

Supporting in-house and contracted property and easement acquisition activities for large-scale utility capital improvement and relocation projects.
Brokering electric, water, and sewer easement agreements with landowners to facilitate utility extension projects for all forms of local development.
Analyzing and facilitating review of Easement Encroachment and Easement Abandonment applications and formulating associated legal instruments to ensure compliance with local development codes and ordinances.
Ordering and analyzing reports from real estate appraisers.
Engaging Registered Professional Land Surveyors to provide required surveying work for utility real estate matters.
Reviewing civil engineering plans to analyze easement needs and identify potential conflicts for all forms of public and private projects involving utilities.
Serving as real estate liaison for intergovernmental matters, and as a subject matter expert for proposal review and process improvement initiatives.
Work with customers to determine easement needs based on electrical engineering and water systems engineering graphics
Coordinate with hired contractors to accomplish easement meets and bounds (if needed); coordinate with operations and engineering to understand and meet deadlines
Facilitate review, correction, and execution of subdivision plats in cooperation with local and county authorities.
Accomplish easement meets and bounds through ArcMap or Arc FM
Coordinate with survey personnel to ensure proper quadrants are displayed for easement parcel information
Negotiate easement agreement information (size of easement, cost, timeframe) and relay information to supervisor
Meet with customers onsite to answer and inform them of easement concerns and placement on property
Draft easement agreements for customer signature and recordation at the Comal County Courthouse
Process check requests for easement payment to the customer and deliver a check if needed
Perform title research on historical easement information that may conflict with the proposed easement
Update all documents in various databases for proper record retention to occur
Schedule and attend appropriate meetings to ensure successful project management
Research historical data associated with easements
Coordinate internal review of document change requests
Engage customers to determine if encroachment or abandonment is necessary, inform them of NBU's process, and provide documents when needed
Coordinate customer questions with engineering departments regarding encroachment or abandonments
Log in customer information and create encroachment spreadsheets for NBU to track requests
Inform customers of status updates of encroachment requests
Guide request internally, through engineering, to the executive level for review
Inform customers of the request decision, if denied, facilitate further avenues of easement design possibilities
Investigate easement/Right-of-Way information needed by engineering departments or external customers utilizing the GIS archive
Resolve disputes with NBU customers regarding easement questions and established easement agreement terms and guidelines
Perform research on archived easement data to ensure the information given to the customer is correct and precise
Answer electric and water engineering questions regarding easement placement, directions, locations, and ownership
Consult with engineers to identify the correct placement of easements and ensure correct NBU easement practices are followed
Attend monthly city plat meetings and answer questions from contractors regarding NBU infrastructure and easement location
Attend weekly City of New Braunfels Pre-Development meetings and answer questions from contractors regarding NBU infrastructure and easement location.
Research and communication with various state agencies on easement locations and historical ownerships
Schedule meetings and interviewing appropriate people to ensure communication and information flow
Performs Notary Public responsibilities as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Maintain regular attendance; leave schedules should be managed to support deadlines, special projects, and assignments.
Adhere to NBU safety guidelines and practices at all times and in all situations.
Attend mandatory training coordinated by the NBU Safety Learning and Development departments and the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA).
Maintain a clean and safe work area, office, field site, and vehicle as applicable.
Maintain strict confidentiality of business, employee, and customer information in written and oral communications and safeguard sensitive documents.
Develop and maintain effective customer service skills for communications with coworkers, customers, and the public.
Adhere to NBU policies and procedures.
Exemplify NBU Core Values of Integrity, Stewardship, Team, and Safety.
Participate in and support initiatives to meet annual NBU Performance Measures.