Sr. Right-Of-Way Agent

Do you want to make a difference? Fairfax County can't move forward with projects benefiting its residents, businesses, and visitors without first having the land rights necessary to build and maintain the project. Are you the one who can help guide the process and acquisition?

As a senior right-of-way agent and under the general supervision of a branch chief, you will coordinate and execute acquisitions of real property necessary to construct various stormwater, transportation, wastewater, public buildings, and capital improvement projects.

• Provides leadership or supervise 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, acquisitions involving commercial and/or residential relocations, 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.
• Reviews and interprets plans, plats, and drawings.
• Conducts title record research and analyze title reports and complex reports and documentation to determine property ownership.
• Reviews real property appraisal reports, waiver valuations, 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.
• Promotes safety in accordance with DPWES and Capital Facilities Branch safety policy(ies)
• Candidates are expected to have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• 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;
• Testifies in court regarding condemnation matters;
• 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;
• Coordinates the automated project management/project tracking systems;
• Writes and updates Land Acquisition Division procedures for the various types of projects;

• 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (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 driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years of supervision experience of diverse staff or team leadership, to include conducting staff performance evaluations.
• Experience reviewing and/or evaluating plans and plats.
• Experience reviewing and/or evaluating real property title reports.
• Experience reviewing and/or evaluating real property appraisal reports.
• Progressively responsible experience in the acquisition of land rights for complex projects.
• Experience performing the following duties: Physical inspection of real estate to identify and/or evaluate property features; Planning and Zoning-related research, including proffers; Mapping, including use of tax and zoning maps, and coordinating the creation of exhibits using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other methods.
• Project management experience and 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.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.