Right of Way Agent 2
State of IowaJob Description
Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.
Make a difference across Iowa’s highways - one sign at a time. Are you someone who enjoys working outdoors, solving puzzles, and making sure things are done right?
As a Right-of-Way Agent 2, you’ll play a key role in keeping Iowa’s roadways safe and compliant by reviewing billboard applications, identifying illegal signage, and working directly with the owners of the signs.
Location: Fairfield or Ames, Iowa
Shift Requirements:
- Full-time, 40 hours per week (Monday–Friday)
- Compressed workweek option available
- In-state travel required, primarily within central and southeastern Iowa
- Overnight travel is optional
- Telework may be permitted after successfully completing a billboard application field review independently and without error
What You’ll Do:
- Get out in the field: Conduct site reviews for billboard applications using a state vehicle and electronic measuring tools. You’ll walk varied terrain - yes, that includes tall weeds, snow, and the occasional bug!
- Use tech in the field: Capture data using an iPad and a specialized collector app.
- Dig into the details: Research right-of-way boundaries using survey plats, highway plans, and historical maps.
- Make informed decisions: Compile your findings and recommend whether to approve or deny permit applications.
- Keep our highways clean: Patrol for illegal signs and work with property owners to resolve violations.
- Communicate clearly: Use templates (or customize them) to send notices and instructions to sign owners and DOT staff.
No Experience? No Problem!
We don’t expect you to know it all on day one. If you’re curious, detail-oriented, and open to learning, we’ll provide the training and support you need to succeed. We’re looking for someone who’s eager to grow, welcomes feedback, and takes pride in doing quality work.
Special Requirements:
- Possess and maintain a valid Iowa Driver's License
What we offer YOU:
- Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
- Insurance benefits start first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2025 health and dental insurance premiums can be found here
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year
- Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
- Optional 401A plan with employer contributions
- Employee Discount Programs from variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial)
We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!
You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply today!
The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us
Reasonable accommodation such as: interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment / devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree and two years of Right of Way Agent experience in real estate appraisal, property acquisition, real estate sales or management, relocation assistance, right of way engineering, or other real estate or development support activity of comparable level;
ORan equivalent combination of experience and education substituting of one year of the required full-time experience in real estate appraisal, property acquisition, real estate sales or management, relocation assistance, right of way engineering, or other real estate or development support activity for one year (30 semester hours) of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years;ORan equivalent combination of experience and education substituting one year of the required full-time experience in field-commissioned sales work, engineering survey, highway construction inspection, or as the manager of a business for one year (30 semester hours) of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years;ORan equivalent combination of experience and education substituting satisfactory completion of any American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers Course, Society of Real Estate Appraisers Course, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Course, or American Right of Way Association Course, or its equivalent for one year (30 semester hours) of the required college education with a maximum substitution of four years;OREmployees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Right-of-Way Agent 1.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.Additional Qualification Requirements
All positions in this classification travel extensively throughout the State of Iowa. All applicants for this classification must be able to obtain a valid driver's license.