Right of Way Program Manager

The Right of Way Program Manager leads, monitors, performs, and supervises complex real estate work in support of acquisitions for County capital construction and improvement projects. Coordinates site selection and inspection processes and presents available options to senior and executive management. Research property records; obtains appraisals; negotiates acquisitions with property owners and their attorneys or representatives; and prepares, reviews, and processes easement and right-of-way documentation submissions. Ensures compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, and contracts for all projects.

Essential Job Functions

• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work performed by Right-of-Way personnel.
• Develops and manages major property acquisitions which includes coordinating the site selection and inspection processes. 
• Determines nature of property or infrastructure and analyzes project, right-of-way, or easement needs through consultations with appropriate parties such as engineers, project or program managers, and developers. Discusses options, provides comments, and offers recommendations for project needs or to resolve issues. 
• Conducts meetings with divisional and intra-departmental staff to discuss project status and suggest resolutions when issues arise or delays occur. 
• Presents available options to senior or executive management, develops preliminary cost estimates, explains strengths and weaknesses of options, and offers alternative solutions when possible.    
• Interviews, recommends for hire, trains, and supervises subordinate staff in accordance with County policies and procedures. 
• Reviews and researches land and assessment records regarding ownership of property, transfer of property, easements, liens, and other encumbrances. Uses mapping software when needed to determine property boundaries.
• Reviews construction plans and right-of-way acquisition plats for conformity with County right-of-way document requirements. 
• Conducts field reviews of properties, considering factors such as market value, location, and building or replacement costs to determine or verify appraisal value. Collects and analyzes relevant data to identify real estate trends.
• Develops and reviews estimates of property values, taking into consideration such factors as depreciation, replacement costs, value comparisons of similar properties, and income potential.
• Generates or reviews written appraisal reports that estimate property values, outline estimation methods, and conform with appraisal standards. Obtains title abstracts.
• Reviews and recommends approval of appraisals. Prepares requests for approval of appraised values from appropriate authorities. Explains assessed values to property owners. Directs and conducts negotiations with property owners and their attorneys or representatives to acquire fees and easements for the benefit of the County.
• Prepares and reviews presentations related to property acquisitions for public hearings. 
• Provides technical assistance to other departments regarding public information meetings, requirements for acquisition of easements, and acquisition fees.
• Initiates actions to acquire property from developers and property owners; develops and reviews land acquisition related documents such as option contracts, offer letters, Right of Entry Agreements, deeds, and easement documents for execution and recording. Coordinates with County Attorney’s Office, other attorneys, and engineers as needed to obtain addition information or revise documents.
• Prepares Condemnation Resolutions, as required, for intra-departmental review and eventual signature by the Board of County Commissioners. Provides documentation and assists with filing the condemnations cases, schedules and notifies appropriate parties of pretrial condemnation meetings, and attends court mandated sessions with counsel on behalf of the County. 
• Requests and coordinates settlement of acquisitions with the County Attorney’s Office or settlement company. Reviews and verifies draft settlement documents to ensure information about transfers of property is accurate by checking basic information on buyers, sellers, and sale prices. Initiates or makes corrections as necessary.
• Reviews and recommends approval of right-of-way plats for recordation and invoices for payment of title abstracts, appraisals, settlements, and related fees or services. Performs project close out procedures.
• Prepares and maintains data on each parcel assessed, including maps of boundaries, inventories of land and structures, property characteristics, and any applicable exemptions. 
• Updates appropriate records, inventories, acquisition logs, and the property asset management system as needed.
• Manages acquisitions for well sites, pump stations, easements, preservation, and additional infrastructure, properties, or projects on behalf of other County departments and agencies as requested. Responsibilities may include contacting property owners, coordinating contracts for abstract documents, preparing or reviewing appraisals, evaluating environmental studies and surveys, or other assignments as needed.  
•  Researches or verifies information about County property as requested by other County departments, agencies, and offices; engineers; and the public. 
• Submits applicable documentation and signs off on Department of Planning and Growth Management’s Codes, Permits, and Inspection Services (CPIS) Review Complete Letters related to permit issuance for right-of-way conditions on applicable projects. 
• Prepares and provides right-of-way project acquisition budget estimates to the Chief of Capital Services.
• Reviews tax sale properties the County has the right to acquire. Assesses benefits and impacts to the County or capital projects. Makes suggestions based on assessments.
• Reviews and comments on the preparation of unique documents and agreements as requested. Reviews and assists in the preparation of leases when needed.
• Interacts and communicates with contractors, regulatory or oversight agencies, citizens, and other agencies or parties in response to requests for information, to explain work requirements, or to provide technical assistance.
• Leads or participates in meetings with citizens, contractors, and coworkers or on committees as needed or requested. Prepares and participates in property acquisition presentations before the County Commissioners and others, as deemed appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

   

  Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

   

  Education and Experience:

  Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, or related field.  Four (4) years of progressively responsible real estate, paralegal, or title experience with one (1) year of experience with acquiring property for public use; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training. Experience with Cartegraph is preferred.

  Licenses or Certifications:

  Must possess a valid driver's license.

  Notary Public issued by the Maryland Office of the Secretary of the State is required.

  Special Requirements/Qualifications:

  Maintain confidential information.

  Subject to work beyond the normal scheduled hours of work.

  Work is subject to frequent interruptions and inflexible deadlines.

   

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of complex real estate laws, regulations, principles, and practices and legal procedures, requirements, and documentation applicable to leasing, sale, purchase, reuse, disposition and condemnation of real estate and rights-of-way.