Job Details

Job Title

Right-of-Way Unit Specialist

Description of Job

The Right-of-Way Unit exists to define, acquire, and manage real property for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the State transportation system in Region 3, and provide guidance, support, and oversight of local agency transportation projects.

About the Position

Under the guidance and supervision of supervisor/senior staff, this position provides support for Region 3 transportation projects in the specialized areas of real estate acquisition and relocation advisory services and oversees/assists with oversight of consultants engaged to perform acquisition and relocation services. The position adheres to CDOT's policy and procedural directives, the Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (Uniform Act); Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 49 Part 24; CFR Title 23 Parts 710-713 FHWA ROW Regulations; CFR Title 43 Highways; applicable Colorado case law: FHWA Project Development Guide; applicable Colorado state statutes; CDOT ROW Manual; Office of Colorado Attorney General Opinions; and all other applicable rules, regulations, and standards.

Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Drive to and participate in public meetings and other public involvement activities to advise potentially affected persons/owners/tenants of the acquisition and relocation processes and procedures;
• Participate in project meetings with both internal and external stakeholders to stay apprised of project status and informed about potential right-of-way issues, and offers assistance and right-of-way updates to project, traffic, and utility engineers, right of way team, and environmental personnel regarding acquisition and relocation matters;
• Participate in project development/engineering design meetings, right of way plans preparation and appraisal meetings to assist with advising project engineers, environmental staff, utilities staff, and other right of way personnel on appraisal, acquisition and relocation matters;
• Participate in project kickoff meetings with consultants and Region personnel who will perform activities and conduct/assist with oversight to provide clarification of priorities, share information gathered specific to each project and parcels, confirm schedules and expectations.
• Serve as a central point of contact between design consultants and Region personnel to assist in determining resources needed for right of way services, budget and schedule.
• Review and evaluate right of way and engineering design plans to proactively identify issues associated with the property interests to be acquired.
• Discuss any issues with engineering, right of way plans personnel, and the appraisal supervisor for correctness, thoroughness, and to understand and explain to landowners the impact of the project on the property and persons occupying such property.
• Assist in various aspects of retaining title companies through the contracting process for title and closing services.
• Order and obtain updated title commitments, tax certificates, and title insurance policies and facilitate closing and escrow services.
• Check commitments and closing document content and process payment through a standard purchase order or statistical purchase order.
• Estimate the value of a non-complex property using a waiver valuation analysis.
• Coordinate with CDOT Appraiser to determine whether a waiver valuation is appropriate depending on the initial estimate of value and its complexity and completing waiver valuations when determined by the Right of Way Manager.
• Describe the appraisal components to acquisition land owners. Although the agent does not prepare these appraisals, they must be familiar enough with the process and methodology to be able to describe each appraisal component to acquisition land owners.
• Serve as a Staff Real Estate Specialist responsible for acquisition of mid-level complexity real estate transactions on Region 3 construction projects.
• Compile and organize information from right of way plans, engineering, environmental, utilities, and appraisal reports in order to prepare written notice and offer packages, all in accordance with state and federal law.
• Prepare value findings, negotiate with property owners, tenants, or their representatives to acquire real estate interests needed, and to assist in resolving potential construction problems.
• Drive to project locations to perform site inspections of the property and attend meetings with landowners in person to review the proposed impacts, deliver critical correspondence and review agreements.
• Prepare negotiation logs of all contacts with affected parties, settlement documents, closing documents, and coordinate with title companies and attorneys, when required.
• Analyze counter offers made by property owners and prepare written recommendations for administrative settlements.
• Determine when negotiations become futile and prepare condemnation packages for the Attorney General's Office.
• Presents the Department's request for Permission to Enter Property notices and offer of Fair Market Value, acts as a liaison between the owner and department to address questions and concerns.
• Attend approved classes, seminars or conferences promoting relevant educational, policy or law topics, including but not limited to Right of Way Acquisition/Relocation classes/topics.
• Perform other duties and complete other assignments as assigned by or approved by the ROW Supervisor and/or the Region Right of Way Manager.

Work Environment

• Your schedule will primarily be 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday, with opportunity for a flexible schedule
• You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work.
• Daytime travel during working hours is required to visit properties, building sites, meet with landowners and other meetings.
• Occasional overnight travel is required to meet with landowners or attend training
• Required to drive CDOT vehicles.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of professional work experience primarily focused on real estate abstracting/title work, right of way plan development, property management for a public entity, property appraisal/valuation, right of way negotiations, land acquisition, relocation or land-surveying.

OR

• A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least 5 years.

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or an official foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school, completed credit hours, and (if applicable) that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. The credential evaluation report must be an official report. Failure to provide a transcript or official foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Conditions of Employment (delete those that do not apply)

• Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.
• A current valid driver's license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position;
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments;
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner;
• Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments;
• Effective interpersonal and relationship-building skills;
• Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability;
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving ability;
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral;
• Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy;
• Passion for safety;
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Gmail and Google Applications, SAP, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.