Right of Way Agent

Title: Right of Way Agent

State Role Title: Lnd Acq & Prop Mgmt Agent II

Hiring Range: $64,196 - $104,319

Pay Band: 4

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: Richmond District Office

Agency Website: www.virginiadot.org/jobs

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

What drives you? Whether it's knowing the work you do makes a difference, having a great work/life balance, working on exciting and challenging projects, leading innovation and championing change or simply working with a great group of people who are committed to professionalism. At the Virginia Department of Transportation, we have something for you.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking to fill two (2) vacancies in support of our Right of Way Division as a Right of Way Agent in the Richmond District located in Colonial Heights, VA. One (1) ROW Agent will be responsible for negotiations and the other will be charged with Legal . The Right of Way Division is responsible for acquiring all right of way needed for construction or maintenance projects, for managing the relocation or installation of utilities on those projects and for managing all of the property acquired but not actually used for the project including selling all residue and surplus properties.

The selected candidate will perform the following duties, including but not limited to:

• Preparing negotiation packages including the marking of plans, preparation of correspondence, legal documents and descriptions.
  
• Performing simple to complex negotiations.
  
• Providing technical direction and assistance to staff and consultants.
  
• Resolving conflict and accomplishing settlement.
  
• Monitoring progress to meet Right of Way End Dates and Advertisement schedules.
  
• Providing relocation services to displaced individuals, businesses, farms, and non-profit organizations, conducting interviews prior to initiation of negotiations.
  
• Ensuring consistent equitable, and high quality relocation services in compliance with State/Federal regulations and the Uniform Relocation & Assistance Act of 1970, as amended.
  
• Conduct Title Examinations, current owner to 60-year examinations for submission to Staff Attorney for review and approvals, as required.
  
• Conduct real estate closings after preparing and submitting written release documents for Deeds of Trust or other liens, as required.
  
• Coordinate efforts with attorneys, lien holders and property owners to ensure all liens have been partially or fully released, as required.
  
• Prepare Petitions and Orders for Agreement After Certificate (AAC) packages, draw down requests, and Certificates.
  
• Calculating and processing replacement housing payments, moving cost payments, and other cost reimbursements for individuals, businesses, farms, and non-profit organizations being displaced by highway projects.
  
• Researching local real estate markets to determine comparable replacement housing consistent with decent, safe and sanitary housing.
  
• Preparing Basic Administrative Reports (BARs) for negotiation by preparing or analyzing available market data and assessments.
  
• Attending Public Hearings and other Preliminary Engineering Meetings.
  
• Documenting landowners project related comments and concerns in RUMS.
  
• Ensuring RUMS entries are entered into the system according to written standards for the preparation of RW-24 Reports and standards outlined in the Right of Way Manual.

Minimum Qualifications

• General knowledge of various appraisal methods.
  
• Skill in understanding and making accurate estimates of right of way costs.
  
• Considerable knowledge of State laws pertaining to real estate conveyances, easements, contracts, and eminent domain, and techniques and methods of relocating conflicting utilities.
  
• Skill in understanding highway plans and construction methods, and ability to explain them orally and in writing to property owners.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.
  
• Considerable knowledge of Federal and State highway policies and procedures pertaining to right of way acquisition, removal of conflicts, and Federal participation in right of way costs.

Additional Considerations

• A combination of training, experience, or education in Business, Real Estate or a related field desired.
  
• Experience with negotiations with property owners making sound decisions and utilizing conflict resolution skills when performing assignment, while maintaining quality and accuracy in all tasks performed.
  
• Working knowledge of real estate practices and principles as well as understanding of real estate acquisition law as required by the FHWA (including Virginia Code, Titles 25.1 and 33.2).
  
Considerable knowledge and experience with right of way acquisitions.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Once onboarded, this position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application.

VDOT utilizes a market-based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

Additional positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days.

This position requires a fingerprint based Criminal History Background Check, DMV Record Check and Work History Verification with references.

VDOT is an emergency operation agency. As such, this job is essential to emergency response operations and expected to work in these situations, to include weekends, holidays, and after normal business hours; assignments may vary based on business needs to include working in severe weather.

Contact Information

Name: Audrey Phillips

Phone: 804-837-4748

Email: audrey.phillips@vdot.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.