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Senior Right-of-Way Agent

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Senior Right-of-Way Agent

Salary

$77,640.16 - $129,399.50 Annually

Location

FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

24-02096

Department

DPWES Capital Facilities

Opening Date

08/31/2024

Closing Date

9/20/2024 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S27

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Job Announcement

Coordinates and executes acquisitions of real property necessary to construct various stormwater, transportation, wastewater, public buildings, and capital improvement projects. Provides leadership or supervises a diverse group of right-of-way agents and engineering technician staff in the performance of land acquisition work. Personally, performs difficult and complex acquisition/negotiation work involving state or federal guidelines, severely impacted properties, high profile and/or controversial issues, and critical path time constraints. May be assigned less complex projects as workload requires. Negotiates the settlement of acquisitions under the threat of litigation or use of eminent domain. Guides continuous improvement initiatives. Interprets engineering plans and construction drawings. Analyzes title reports and complex reports and documentation to determine property ownership. Reviews real property appraisal reports and performs appraisals or cost estimates as appropriate. Prepares and reviews agenda items for the Board of Supervisors; plans and coordinates condemnation proceedings with staff from other agencies, attorneys, and elected officials; makes presentations and testifies before the Board of Supervisors and/or in court regarding condemnation matters as appropriate. Promotes communication, teamwork, and collaboration within the project team, stakeholders and with other divisions in Capital Facilities. Candidates are expected to have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and execute acquisitions of real property for various public infrastructure projects.

• Lead and supervise a diverse team of right-of-way agents and engineering technicians.

• Perform complex acquisition and negotiation work involving state or federal guidelines, high-impact properties, and high-profile issues.

• Manage less complex projects as needed.

• Negotiate property settlements under the threat of litigation or eminent domain.

• Guide continuous improvement initiatives within the acquisition process.

• Interpret engineering plans, construction drawings, and analyze complex reports to determine property ownership.

• Review and perform property appraisals or cost estimates.

• Prepare and review agenda items for the Board of Supervisors and coordinate condemnation proceedings.

• Make presentations and testify before the Board of Supervisors and in court as necessary.

• Foster communication, teamwork, and collaboration within the project team and with other divisions.

Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in right-of-way acquisition and property negotiation.

• Strong leadership skills with experience managing a diverse team.

• Proficiency in interpreting engineering plans and analyzing complex reports.

• Knowledge of state and federal guidelines related to property acquisition.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage high-profile, controversial, and time-sensitive projects.

DPWES is a diverse, nationally-accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:

• Benefits (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hr/fairfax-county-benefits-summary)

• Retirement

The Land Acquisition Division is responsible for the acquisition of land or right-of-way and other land rights, including permanent and temporary easements and letters of permission, necessary to support the Capital Improvement Program.

Illustrative Duties

• Handles the more difficult and/or sensitive purchases of real property for the County;

• Serves as team leader, coordinates project assignments, and provides technical expertise to Right-of-Way Agents and Engineering Technicians;

• Coordinates training for the Division and provides training to professional and technical staff;

• Researches legal records to determine real estate ownership;

• Interprets and determines the applicability of various federal, state, and County statutes, codes, and ordinances such as the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act and the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance;

• Coordinates relocation activities with the Department of Housing and Community Development;

• Interprets real estate valuation principles, engineering plans and construction drawings;

• Coordinates the gathering of data in preparation for public hearing and condemnation

• proceedings;

• Coordinates legal issues with the County Attorney’s Office;

• Conducts special investigations and issues reports;

• Meets with the professional and technical staff, compiles project updates and disseminates data at twice-monthly project status meetings.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of real property acquisition for public purposes;

• Knowledge of the law governing condemnation or disposal proceedings;

• Knowledge of the legal instruments involved in real estate transactions;

• Skill in negotiating the purchase of real property;

• Ability to interpret real estate valuation principles;

• Ability to lead and instruct other employees in the land acquisition process;

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with property owners, the public and other County officials;

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally;

• Ability to prepare correspondence and write reports.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hr/equivalencies-education-and-experience) (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)

A bachelor’s degree in real estate or a related field from an accredited four year college or university; plus four years of experience in real property negotiation, disposition and/or evaluation.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

Valid driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a driver's license check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years of supervision of diverse staff or team leadership.

• Project management skills.

• Education and experience in one or more of the following: real estate, implementing real estate transactions as allowed by Virginia law, eminent domain, real property appraisals, or property title research.

• Possession of the Senior Right-of-Way Agent (SR/WA) designation awarded through the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) or the ability to complete those requirements within three years.

• Proficiency in basic Microsoft Office Suite applications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to travel to and traverse project locations throughout the county to perform field review and visually inspect acquisition sites which may include hiking through stream valleys and properties for varying terrain. Ability to visually inspect project locations against engineering plans. Ability to visually access engineering plans and plats, valuations, and title work. Ability to produce handwritten and typed documents. Ability to communicate with others to exchange information during virtual and in-person meetings. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home ( Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demographics/fairfax-county-general-overview) ) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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