Senior Land Professional
About The Position
Water & Environmental Technologies (WET), a 100% employee-owned environmental and civil engineering consulting firm, is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Senior Land Professional for its Land Services team. Based in Sheridan, Wyoming, with remote potential, this role supports the Manager of Land Services in planning, developing, coordinating, and managing land-related projects from inception through completion. The Senior Land Professional serves as a liaison among clients, project teams, consultants, and internal staff, helping ensure projects meet schedules, budgets, contractual requirements, and industry standards. The position manages multiple projects, conducts title research and analysis, oversees project documentation, maintains client relationships, and contributes to the Land Services team. The role requires extensive land-work experience and advanced expertise in mining law and claim mechanics, split estates, title abstracting, BLM and county records, encumbrance and royalty tracking, GIS and land descriptions, and due diligence. The employee is expected to identify and communicate title risks to legal counsel while deferring legal interpretations and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law. The role includes opportunities for professional growth, including eligibility to attend Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law institutes and to pursue Registered Professional Landman (RPL) or Certified Professional Landman (CPL) certification. WET offers competitive pay based on experience, education, and qualifications, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Political Science, Land or Energy Management, History, Engineering, Geology, or a related discipline.
- At least 15 years of professional land work experience, including collaboration with in-house professionals, contractors, third-party consultants, field personnel, and legal counsel.
- Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
- Registered Professional Landman (RPL) or Certified Professional Landman (CPL) certification through the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL).
- Comprehensive understanding of the General Mining Law of 1872, unpatented lode, placer, and mill site claims, and multi-state discovery and maintenance requirements.
- Mastery of split-estate matters and historical federal land patents, including Stock-Raising, Homestead Act, railroad grants, and Taylor Grazing Act records.
- Proven ability to construct mineral or royalty title chains from initial location and original federal patent through current ownership, identifying wild deeds, gaps, and unrecorded instruments.
- Expert command of BLM record systems, including MLRS, MTPs, HIs, patent files, and GLO, and advanced proficiency in abstracting historical county-level digital and physical tract books.
- Skill in deconstructing and mapping complex title burdens, including overriding royalties, sliding-scale Net Smelter Returns, Net Profits, streaming burdens, and historical deed reservations.
- Proficiency in GIS, Public Land Survey Systems (PLSS), and metes-and-bounds descriptions for conflict maps, fractional interest splits, and junior/senior claim priorities.
- Experience producing organized abstracts of title, ownership flowsheets, and encumbrance schedules for examining attorneys.
- Proven ability to serve as the primary researcher for high-stakes commercial real estate, mining asset acquisitions, or corporate financing due diligence.
- Ability to communicate title risks, unpatented claim vulnerabilities, and structural severances to legal counsel while deferring legal interpretations and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law.
- Meticulous attention to detail, including dates, recording numbers, and punctuation.
Nice To Haves
- Eligibility and interest in attending Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL) institutes.
- Interest in pursuing Registered Professional Landman (RPL) or Certified Professional Landman (CPL) certification.
Responsibilities
- Assist the Land Services team with project planning, acquisition, development, implementation, and closeout.
- Coordinate activities among project team members to support successful project execution.
- Manage assigned projects to meet contract requirements, schedules, budgets, and quality standards.
- Conduct title research, document examination, ownership analysis, and related due diligence.
- Maintain project documentation, mapping, reports, and records in accordance with company standards.
- Monitor project budgets, job costing, and billable hours.
- Track and enter project time accurately each day.
- Investigate and resolve project issues while communicating effectively with clients and stakeholders.
- Prepare accurate, professional reports, maps, analyses, and presentations.
- Develop proficiency in drafting and mapping technologies.
- Support invoicing and project financial reporting by providing accurate project information.
- Maintain productive working relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and coworkers.
- Assist with training and mentoring junior Land Services staff.
- Comply with company, client, industry, and site-specific safety requirements, including MSHA training when required.
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding client information, project data, reports, and proprietary materials.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager of Land Services.
- Manage assigned tasks independently while maintaining accuracy, organization, and efficiency.
- Support proposal preparation and project planning as needed.
Benefits
- Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
- 401(k) with company match
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off, holidays, parental and other leave types
- Company-paid and voluntary life and disability insurance
- Professional development and educational assistance
- Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Dependent Care Accounts
- Performance-based bonus opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
