Transmission Right of Way Agent-Associate

American Electric Power•Abilene, TX

8d•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 progress reports. Additionally, the role requires knowledge of real estate values and appraisal practices, completion of ROW estimates and scopes for TROW Projects, and management of project scope, schedule, and budget. The agent will also follow TROW Outsourcing Technical Guidelines, act as a liaison or project manager with vendor companies, and provide project oversight. Responsibilities include reviewing periodic status and costs of managed right-of-way projects, tracking project quality, milestones, and performance, monitoring the closeout process, and approving vouchers for payments. The agent may also act as a witness in condemnation and court actions and represent Transmission Right-of-Way in internal and external process improvement teams. Supporting and holding employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process to ensure a safe working environment is also a key responsibility.

Requirements

Associates degree in business, real estate, engineering, paralegal or related field OR High school diploma
2 years experience in right of way procurement, title research, surveying or related field of work.
Driver license.
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.
Worked in one or more of the following areas: business, project management, real estate, law, electric transmission and/or distribution right-of-way and/or real estate.
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 a 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

Knowledgeable in real estate values and accepted real estate appraisal practices in the acquisition of land rights.

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 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.
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.
Act as a liaison or project manager with vendor companies performing services relative to the acquisition of land rights.
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.
Act as a witness and assist in the selection of witnesses and commissioners in connection with condemnation and/or other court actions.
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.