Title Examiner & Reviewer (PAS5)

State of Washington•King County - Seattle – Other, WA

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Property and Acquisition Specialist 5 to join the Northwest Region Real Estate Services Office (NWR RES) as a Title Examiner & Reviewer. In this critical role, you will help advance WSDOT’s mission by ensuring property rights acquired for highway construction projects are completed in compliance with federal regulations, state laws, and agency policies and procedures. As the region’s subject matter expert in title examination and file review, you will play a key role in supporting transportation projects that enhance the safety, mobility, quality, and capacity of Washington’s transportation system. This position is responsible for reviewing and preparing complex real estate documents, drafting legal descriptions, conducting detailed property research, and providing technical guidance and recommendations to Real Estate Services and engineering staff. The successful candidate will ensure acquisition files meet all compliance requirements while balancing project timelines and operational priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. This is an exciting opportunity for a technical real estate professional who enjoys analytical work, problem-solving, and contributing to projects that positively impact communities across the state.

Requirements

Demonstrates advanced ability to analyze complex title reports, historical property records, ownership interests, liens, encumbrances, and other real estate documentation to develop legally sufficient recommendations and supporting documentation for right-of-way acquisitions, donations, and condemnation actions in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and agency standards.
Demonstrates skill in preparing, reviewing, plotting, validating, and interpreting legal descriptions and real estate documents, including deeds, easements, agreements, and exhibits, ensuring accuracy, consistency with survey data and right-of-way plans, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Demonstrates the ability to review and manage complex real estate transaction files for compliance with federal regulations, state laws, and agency policies and procedures; identify deficiencies or risks; implement corrective actions; and ensure files are complete, accurate, and audit-ready in support of project delivery schedules.
Demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to evaluate risk, interpret complex, incomplete, or conflicting information, exercise sound judgment, seek guidance when appropriate, and develop practical and compliant solutions to support transportation project delivery.
Demonstrates the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams, build collaborative working relationships, and provide technical guidance, training, and recommendations related to title examination, right-of-way acquisition processes, and real estate procedures to staff and stakeholders.
Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex technical and legal information to diverse audiences, facilitate coordination among stakeholders, share information effectively, seek and incorporate feedback, and contribute to informed decision-making and problem-solving efforts.
Demonstrates the ability to effectively plan, prioritize, organize, and complete work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, including conducting quality assurance reviews, maintaining accurate records, managing competing priorities and deadlines, and delivering responsive customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrates proficiency in using computers and business software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, SharePoint, MS Teams, web-based applications, and other technology tools to support research, documentation, communication, file management, and project coordination activities.
Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrates knowledge of and experience working within a state, local, or other government agency environment, including navigating public-sector processes, regulations, policies, and stakeholder coordination requirements.
Demonstrates experience working in the right-of-way field, including supporting or managing real property acquisition activities, title review, condemnation processes, easement acquisition, and related transportation or public works projects.
Demonstrates knowledge of and experience applying the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act, Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), title examination guidelines and procedures, and the WSDOT Right of Way Manual in support of compliant acquisition and condemnation activities.
Demonstrates experience using WSDOT applications and technology systems, including IRIS, ECM, and other agency or local government websites and databases, to support document management, research, tracking, communication, and project coordination activities.
Demonstrates experience using Bluebeam and related software applications to review, edit, mark up, and manage technical documents, plans, exhibits, and project files with accuracy and efficiency.
Demonstrates the ability to interpret right-of-way plans, survey information, engineering drawings, and related technical documents to support property acquisition, title review, legal descriptions, and project coordination activities.
Demonstrates the ability to provide training, guidance, direction, and technical support to acquisition staff, engineers, and other stakeholders regarding right-of-way processes, title examination practices, regulatory requirements, and agency procedures.

Responsibilities

Complete comprehensive title review and preparation of documents for property acquisitions and property donation files.
Perform detailed review of title reports and underlying documents, decipher complex legal descriptions and historical documents, and plot easement legal descriptions to identify impacts.
Review, close and transmit acquisition files.
Provide technical expertise and guidance to NWR RES staff and project partners on clearing encumbrances and preparing real estate documents.
Review and finalize notice of Final Action to property owner and newspaper publication notices prepared by acquisition agent and schedule final action and arrange for publication of notices.
Support engineering staff in development of Right-of-Way (ROW) Plans and Exhibit Maps.