The Right of Way Agent is responsible for complex real estate research, negotiations, and acquisition of land rights needed for the installation, use, and maintenance of the public utilities’ infrastructure and other real estate interests and assets. This position includes obtaining and analyzing property ownership information, land title documents, appraisal data, and preparing easement documentation to support utility capital improvement projects.

The Right of Way Agent will manage acquisition activities through a defined process, including title examination, easement document preparation, and landowner negotiations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely completion of acquisition milestones for capital projects.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages and supports the easement acquisition process for utility capital improvement projects, including coordination of multi-step acquisition activities from ownership research through execution.
• Prepares documents including letters, memos, agreements, easements, and other instruments needed to acquire land rights for utility infrastructure projects.
• Conducts or supports title examination research, including reviewing legal documents, ownership records, and other real property documentation to confirm property rights and ownership details.
• Coordinates directly with surveyors, appraisers, and title examiners to support acquisition needs for land rights and easements.
• Negotiates with landowners to acquire necessary land rights, including working through legal processes and escalation steps as needed (including condemnation procedures when required).
• Assembles acquisition documentation and file data for attorney review and preparation of legal documents and/or litigation support when required.
• Schedules and attends meetings with engineers, attorneys, consultants/agents, property owners, and other personnel to support and complete acquisition activities.
• Analyzes real estate market trends, property values, and developments relevant to the right-of-way field, laws, terminology, and procedures.
• Assists in the management of real property including rent collections, rent payments, tenant issues, and related coordination as assigned.
• Develops and supports performance measures to monitor and analyze departmental efficiency, production, and overall workflow effectiveness.
• Prepares documentation for Board meetings and executive management reporting as requested.
• Serves as a real estate liaison for intergovernmental matters and supports proposal review and process improvement initiatives.
• Updates all documents in applicable systems and databases to ensure proper record retention and compliance with internal standards.
• Performs Notary Public responsibilities as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Acquisition Process:

This role supports the full Right of Way acquisition lifecycle. Key skill areas include:

1. Title examination / ownership research
2. Preparation of easement documents and supporting acquisition paperwork
3. Landowner communication and negotiation support

These steps are considered critical to successfully performing the role.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain regular attendance; leave schedules should be managed to support deadlines, special projects, and assignments.
• Adhere to NBU safety guidelines and practices at all times and in all situations.
• Maintain a clean and safe work area, office, field site, and vehicle as applicable.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of business, employee, and customer information in written and oral communications and safeguard sensitive documents.
• Develop and maintain effective customer service skills for communications with coworkers, customers, and the public.
• Adhere to NBU policies and procedures.
• Exemplify NBU Core Values of Integrity, Stewardship, Team, and Safety.
• Participate in and support initiatives to meet annual NBU Performance Measures.

Formal Education and Work Experience Requirements

Degree/Diploma Obtained: Bachelor’s Preferred

Work Experience Time Frame: 4-5 Years or More Field of Study: General Studies

Other: Years of experience in excess of the minimum requirements may replace educational requirements.

Certification and Licensures Requirements

- Must have or be able to obtain a Notary Public License

- A Valid Driver's License is required to operate a company vehicle when needed

Other Minimum Qualifications

- 4–5 years of experience in the Right of Way (ROW) field, including experience supporting acquisitions and real estate negotiations involving easements and land rights.

Demonstrated experience in the following critical skill areas:

· Title examination / title research

· Easement document preparation and supporting acquisition paperwork

· Landowner communication and negotiation exposure

- Strong working knowledge of real estate documentation and the acquisition process, including working cross-functionally with legal, engineering, and external vendors.

- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate documentation and records.

- Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with landowners, internal stakeholders, and external partners.

Important clarification:

General real estate experience does not qualify as Right of Way experience unless it includes direct ROW acquisition work, title examination, easement preparation, and negotiation involvement.