Specialist, Right of Way

Southern Company • Savannah, GA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Right-of-Way Specialist represents Georgia Power Company and the Integrated Transmission System (ITS) participants in the management and protection of transmission rights-of-way across multiple counties in their support area. The specialist works closely with external and internal stakeholders to address all manners of right-of-way encroachment issues and works closely with the local Transmission Maintenance Centers and other internal partners to resolve access, drainage, and erosion control issues on rights-of way. The Specialist serves as the local contact for Georgia Power and the ITS participants with respect to management of transmission rights-of-way in an assigned geographical area. The Specialist is responsible for the review, approval and permitting of permissible encroachments, and the detection, removal, and prevention of unauthorized encroachments, all in accordance with Georgia Power’s policies and procedures with respect to right-of-way use and encroachments. The Specialist works closely with the Transmission Maintenance Centers and other internal organizations to ensure that the Company’s property rights are preserved and maintained in such a way to allow for the safe and reliable construction, operation and maintenance of transmission facilities across the assigned area, and is expected to educate the public on appropriate uses of transmission rights-of-way by proactively building relationships and attending meetings with government entities, developers, community groups and others with interests in real property.

Requirements

• Suitable experience in reading and interpreting easements, deeds and other real property records is required.
• Suitable experience in reviewing and interpreting surveys, plan sheets, profiles and construction drawings are required.
• Suitable experience in reviewing and drafting construction drawings is required.
• General understanding of right-of-way and real estate principles, practices, and laws, both in general and as applicable to the State of Georgia, as well as negotiating principles, theories and concepts.
• Ability to read and comprehend contracts and legal agreements.
• The ability to read, understand, and interpret and correlate maps and legal documents, including interpretation of deeds, easements, maps, plats, survey notes, legal descriptions, plans, profiles, centerline surveys, tax maps, transmission line grid maps, and metes-and-bounds descriptions is critical.
• Ability to read and comprehend real property title documentation.
• Ability to develop and implement plans to mitigate encroachments within the rights-of-way, and to address erosion, drainage and access issues within the rights-of-way.
• Ability to review and interpret engineering plans/permits, civil drawings, design standards, construction plans and specifications and as-built maps and drawings, and ensure work corresponds with approved standards and plans.
• Understanding and application of GIS (Geographic Information Systems).
• Proficiency with a computer, including the ability to use Microsoft Office products, Adobe Acrobat Pro, various Transmission application systems, Land Information Systems, and Google Earth Pro.
• Knowledge of systems for records research such as LIMS, county clerk databases, GSCCCA, business entity searches, tax assessor sites and mapping systems.
• General understanding of the Southern Company electric system, its operating companies and affiliates, including business units, transmission maintenance and the ITS.
• Must possess excellent communication skills, and the ability to plan, manage, coordinate, and lead multiple complex projects.
• Must be very detail oriented and possess excellent reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Must possess strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills as well as experience recognizing, analyzing, and resolving difficult negotiating situations.
• Must possess excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously with a high degree of efficiency.
• Ability to build strong relationships at all levels, including with peers and both internal and external customers.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to complete tasks in a self-directed manner, within project timelines and budgets.
• Ability to work in outdoor conditions as necessary and to traverse uneven terrain.
• Ability to travel extensively throughout assigned geographical areas, as well as occasionally throughout the State, with overnight stays.
• Ability to work extended hours, holidays, and/or weekends as needed to support storm restoration efforts.
• Valid driver’s license. The successful candidate will be expected to operate the standard company vehicle provided for this position.
• Must exhibit the four principles of Our Values: Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance.
• Must have a strong belief in and commitment to safety and perform job duties safely.
• Must be customer focused with strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Must take initiative, and must demonstrate personal responsibility, decisiveness, and flexibility.
• Must be able to handle heavy workloads, time pressures, multiple tasks, conflicting demands, and must be able to work well both independently and as a team member.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Business, Real Estate, Law, Engineering or other related disciplines preferred.
• Prior experience with a utility company is preferred.
• Specific experience dealing with utility land rights is preferred.
• Knowledge of electric transmission line construction and maintenance practices is preferred.
• Experience in right-of-way / property acquisition, escrow or title work, surveying, real property law, reading, writing and drafting legal descriptions and other related technical real property work experience is a plus.
• Experience in Civil site work construction, construction inspection, civil engineering, construction management, Stormwater management and/or other similar related experiences are a plus.
• Familiarity with erosion and sedimentation control best management practices (BMPs) is a plus.
• Certification by the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) is a plus.
• The ability to read and understand AutoCAD files and drawings is a plus.
• Experience with ESRI's ArcGIS technology and software tools and spatial analysis techniques a plus.
• Knowledge of electrical safety procedures and regulations related to work in proximity to overhead electric lines is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prioritize, negotiate and resolve encroachment, trespass and land use conflicts.
• Review aerial patrol reports and perform inspections in the field to identify and address unpermitted usage of the rights- of-way.
• Meet with internal and external customers about right- of-way use, review and process use requests, and coordinate review and approval from internal organizations as needed.
• Review and analyze property deeds, easements, maps and other property records and drawings to determine Company’s rights and identify any terms and/or conditions that must be considered in addressing an encroachment or an access or erosion issue.
• Coordinate with the team to ensure consistency in treatment of right-of-way use requests and unauthorized encroachments.
• Prepare encroachment agreements and other policy documents, as well as exhibits, including project and site- specific special provisions needed to ensure compatibility of requested use with Company rights and requirements.
• Work with the legal department and outside counsel as needed to investigate and interpret property rights and develop and implement strategies to resolve rights and/or land use conflicts.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public regarding property boundary issues, property rights and land use.
• Visit locations with erosion and/or drainage issues to identify causes and determine solutions; coordinate with Environmental Affairs as needed to remediate erosion and drainage issues and engage and monitor contractors to perform necessary remediation.
• Negotiate with external customers and agencies (property owners, government agencies, and legal entities).
• Serve as a subject matter expert for right-of-way encroachment permitting and remediation.
• Prepare customer correspondence, encroachment agreements and other documentation as needed, and ensure that final designs for acceptable encroachments are in accordance with Company guidelines.
• Serve as the operations point of contact for land sales and use requests and assist Land Sales with operational review and documentation for land sales and use requests.
• Develop both O&M and Capital project plans, and manage all aspects of right-of-way projects, including the identification, use and direction of internal resources and external contractors.
• Prioritize and track projects using a departmental database and prepare a record documenting approved encroachment and completed projects.
• Administer contracts and agreements to ensure requirements are met, inspect work performed at project sites, and review and process contractor invoices.
• Assist with storm response in assigned areas and assist with restoration efforts in other areas of the State and off-system as needed.
• Ensure compliance with GPC’s environmental and health and safety guidelines, as well as SOX requirements.

Benefits

• competitive base salary
• annual incentive awards for eligible employees
• health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being
• incentive program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level