Transmission Right of Way Agent

American Electric Power•New Albany, OH

21h•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, settling damage claims, researching property ownership, and interpreting legal documents. The agent will also prepare legal documents for land rights acquisition, provide functional support to other AEP Business Units, and maintain property owner files and reports within the Right-of-Way Stakeholder Information system (ROWSi). The position requires knowledge of real estate values and appraisal practices, and involves completing ROW estimates, managing project scopes, schedules, and budgets. The agent will act as a liaison or project manager with vendor companies, oversee vendor performance, and monitor project closeout and improvements. Additionally, the role involves approving vouchers, acting as a witness in legal actions, representing Transmission Right-of-Way in process improvement teams and industry forums, and supporting the AEP System Safety Process.

Requirements

Associate's degree in real estate, business, engineering, project management or related applicable field with a minimum of three (3) years of related experience, OR, Bachelor's degree in real estate, business, engineering or related applicable field with a minimum of two years of related experience.
Business, project management, real estate, law, electric transmission and/or distribution right-of-way and/or real estate experience.
Associate's degree in real estate, business, engineering, project management or related applicable field with a minimum of six (6) years of related experience; OR, Bachelor's degree in real estate, business, engineering, project management or related applicable field with a minimum of four (4) years of related experience.
Business, project management, real estate, law, electric transmission and/or distribution right-of-way and/or real estate and/or possess a professional certificate (i.e., IR/WA, SR/WA, PMP, etc).
Associate of Science degree is required plus seven (7) years' related experience; OR, Bachelor of Science degree is preferred plus five (5) years' related experience.
Depending on education, five to seven (5-7) or more years of experience including work in these areas: Business, management, real estate, law, electric transmission and/or distribution right-of-way with a minimum of two to three (2-3) years of experience in the acquisition of right-of-way or real estate activities and/or possess a professional certificate (i.e., IR/WA, SR/WA, PMP, etc).
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 with strong proficiency working with Microsoft Office products (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and right-of-way/ land management databases (i.e., geoAMPS or other land management databases) or other equivalent databases.
Must have a valid driver’s license issued by the appropriate State.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a leadership position and/or project management a plus.
Prior experience in a leadership position and/or project management a plus.

Responsibilities

Handle complicated negotiations with land owners (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 relative 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 relative 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 relative 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.