Transmission Right of Way Agent - Senior

American Electric Power•New Albany, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Transmission Right of Way (TROW) Agent is responsible for the acquisition of land rights necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities. This role involves handling complicated negotiations with landowners (or their designees) for the acquisition of land rights, settling damage claims with property owners, and searching courthouses and other records to determine property ownership. The agent reviews and interprets legal documents, property surveys, legal descriptions, surveying drawings, appraisals, and reports. They prepare approved legal documents for land rights acquisition and provide functional support to other AEP Business Units regarding land rights. The position requires maintaining property owner files, maps, drawings, exhibits, and detailed progress reports within the Right-of-Way Stakeholder Information system (ROWSi). Agents must be knowledgeable in real estate values and accepted real estate appraisal practices, and follow TROW estimate guidelines for land rights acquisition. They complete ROW estimates and scopes for TROW Projects, and manage, develop, review, and coordinate project scope, schedule, and budget for multiple right-of-way projects or programs. The role also involves following TROW Outsourcing Technical Guidelines, acting as a liaison or project manager with vendor companies, and overseeing vendor companies on ROW Projects to ensure adherence to schedules and budget, as well as project reporting. Agents review periodic status and cost of managed projects, track project quality, milestones, and performance, and monitor the closeout process to establish lessons learned and recommend process improvements. They approve vouchers for payments incurred in land rights acquisition, act as a witness and assist in witness selection for condemnation and other court actions, and represent Transmission right-of-way in internal process improvement teams and external industry forums. Finally, the agent supports and holds employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Zero Harm.

Requirements

Associates degree in business, engineering, paralegal, real estate or related field OR High school diploma and 2 years' experience in right of way procurement, surveying, title research or related fields.
6 years experience in the acquisition of real estate or right of way procurement, surveying, title research or related type of work.
Driver license
Notary Commission
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Demonstrate skills in conflict management and organizational problem-solving
Ability to convey vision, strategy or other complex information effectively with the ability to influence and drive results
Ability to provide the organization of project activities, delegate project task assignments, confidently set staff requirements and expectations to manage deliverables and hold staff accountable
Willingness to provide constructive feedback to staff
Develop skills in and provide effective communication that is clear, direct, concise, and professional, including effective listening, with all stakeholders including team members, sponsors, management and senior management
Possess excellent written communication, presentation and organizational skills
Strong proficiency working with Microsoft Office products (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
Proficiency with right-of-way/land management databases (i.e., geoAMPS or other land management databases) or other equivalent databases
Ability to travel within the AEP Transmission service territory
Ability to work outside normal business hours to accommodate project schedules
Valid driver’s license issued by the appropriate State

Responsibilities

Handle complicated negotiations with landowners (or their designees) for the acquisition of land rights relative to the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Settle damage claims with property owners (or their designees) relative to property damage caused or created by AEP, or its contractors, during the construction, reconstruction, maintenance or removal of transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Search courthouses and other records as may be available to determine present property ownership(s) and the extent of interests therein.
Review and interpret legal documents, property surveys, legal descriptions, surveying drawings, appraisals, and reports.
Prepare approved legal documents for the acquisition of land rights related to the construction, reconstruction or maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Provide functional support to other AEP Business Units in regard to questions and procedures in the acquisition of land rights.
Maintain property owner files, maps, drawings, exhibits and detailed progress reports within Right-of-Way Stakeholder Information system (ROWSi).
Follow TROW estimate guidelines and practices for the acquisition of land rights for the acquisition of land rights relative to the construction, reconstruction, enlargement or maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Complete ROW estimate & scope for TROW Projects, and manage, develop, review and coordinate right-of-way project scope, schedule, budget related to multiple right-of-way projects or program of projects.
Follow TROW Outsourcing Technical Guidelines for the outsourcing of acquisition of land rights related to the construction, reconstruction or maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Act as a liaison or project manager with vendor companies performing services related to the acquisition of land rights for the construction, reconstruction or maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Responsible for project oversight in reviewing and supervising vendor companies on ROW Projects to ensure adherence to project schedules and budget, as well as project reporting.
Review periodic status and cost of managed right-of-way projects.
Track the project quality, milestones and performance against annual work plans.
Monitor the closeout process and establish any lessons learned on TROW projects and recommend process improvements as appropriate.
Approve vouchers for payments incurred in the acquisition of land rights involving the construction, reconstruction or maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Act as a witness and assist in the selection of witnesses and commissioners in connection with condemnation and/or other court actions involving the acquisition of land rights or other court actions which may result from the construction, reconstruction or maintenance for electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
Represent Transmission right-of-way in internal process improvement teams and initiatives as well as external industry forums, where required.
Support and hold employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Zero Harm.