Senior Right of Way Agent

Role

The Right of Way Agent will plan, manage, and oversee all real estate activities including property acquisition, property appraisal, property management, property transfer and disposal for SANDAG’s Engineering and Construction Department in collaboration with project development teams and consultant contractors. 

This is a two-year Limited-Term opportunity. 

• Manages implementation and implements right of way acquisition actions, strategies, budgets, and procedures for projects in SANDAG’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in conformance with SANDAG Board Policies and federal, state and local requirements, including the Uniform Act.
• In collaboration with project and design managers, directs the administration of appraisals, acquisitions, relocations, environmental investigations, remediations, property management, and property disposition, including engineering, custodial, security, accounting, and capital projects.
• Deliver right of way elements in major capital improvement programs in a timely manner and within budget.
• Develops budget for real estate portion of major transit projects.
• Presents just compensation and disposition values for real property to SANDAG Management.
• Oversee the management of SANDAG’s real estate portfolio.
• Manage, oversee, and actively participate in the acquisition of any real property required for SANDAG’s bus, rail, or administrative projects; coordinates with all other SANDAG departments; and acquires property interest on time and within budget.
• Direct or conduct negotiations with municipalities, public and private sector agencies, land/property owners, tenants, developers, lenders, and investors.
• Make presentations to the Board of Directors and represent SANDAG before professional, business, and citizen groups, as well as public agencies, associations, and boards.
• Negotiates complex multiple-party real estate transactions.
• Develops and approves scopes of work of professional service contracts and task orders for appraisal, acquisition, relocation, and property management services based on SANDAG’s list of specialty consultants.

• Processes and reviews requests for payments and other invoices in SANDAG’s ERP.
• Confers with SANDAG departmental and executive management, and Board of Directors on major real estate joint development, and concessions activities or issues.
• Assures compliance with federal, state, and local public real estate acquisition, conveyance, and disposal laws, policies, and procedures.
• Provide safe, secure, and code compliant spaces for tenants, public, and employees that may occupy acquired real estate assets.
• Attend and conduct various meetings and hearings.
• Assist SANDAG capital project development teams with joint development and land use activities.
• Communicate SANDAG’s vision and goals; oversee implementation of agency and department rules, policies, and procedures; and promote a safe work environment.
• Actively manage existing and new right of way contracts and procurements for the Engineering and Construction team.
• Develop Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), scopes of work, project deliverables, budgets, and schedules; participate in the selection of consultants and vendors; administer contracts and ensure projects progress on schedule, within the approved budget, and at a consistently high level of quality; ensure right of way acquisitions and right of way certification elements in capital projects are completed on schedule and adherence to funding agency requirements.

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, real estate, engineering, or a related field. A combination of education and recent work experience may be considered in lieu of the bachelor’s degree. A California Department of Real Estate (DRE) Real Estate Agent or Broker License is desirable.   
• Minimum of five years of increasingly responsible experience in real estate management in corporate/public real estate related assignments, preferably with public agency real estate acquisition in conformance with federal, state, and local requirements including Uniform Act and Caltrans Right of Way Manual. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of effective communications techniques and public relations; demonstrated ability to take initiative in identifying and meeting communications needs.
• Successful project management experience includes preparing budgets and schedules; developing grant proposals, RFPs, scopes of work, and contracts; experience evaluating proposals and selecting and managing consultants.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to prepare and deliver public presentations to Boards, community groups, and other audiences. Spanish language skills desirable.
• Capacity to establish, maintain, and foster cooperative and collaborative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; ability to gain cooperation and consensus through discussion and persuasion.
• Possession of valid California Class C Driver’s License or ability to utilize alternative transportation methods to carry out job-related essential functions.