Land Specialist Journey Level

Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

SMUD is seeking a Land Specialist Journey Level in the Real Estate Services department in Sacramento, CA. The role supports SMUD's real estate project portfolio, including acquisition of real estate rights and easements, strategy, and metrics.

Entry to journey level provides training and certification; requires 5+ years in real estate acquisition and a California driver's license; duties include negotiating leases, securing contracts, and compliance with laws.

Qualifications

• Five or more (5+) years experience in real estate acquisition including the negotiation of real property acquisition.
• Entry-level with progression to journey level within 18 to 60 months, depending on training/certification progress.

Responsibilities

• Develops and negotiates leases of property for SMUD use; ensures SMUD compliance with all legal requirements.
• Prepares and secures approval for special realty contracts and agreements.
• Acquires real property for the interests therein for SMUD.
• Performs a variety of zoning regulation and asset management activities.
• Ensures project staff is fully informed so that resulting recommendations are reliable thus minimizing project delay and redesign.
• Performs related duties as required.

Skills

Real estate acquisition

Contract negotiation

Reporting

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Land Specialist Journey Level

Department: Real Estate Services

Location: Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899

Category: Miscellaneous

Minimum Pay Rate: $110,801.60

Maximum Pay Rate: $154,211.20

Civil Service Status: Civil Service

Apply by Date:10/12/2026

Posting Type:Open

This posting intends to fill one (1) regular full-time position and establish an eligibility list which may be used to fill regular, full-time, or limited-term positions, over the next two (2) years.

SMUD is seeking a highly engaged real estate professional to provide leadership and expertise in support of SMUD's real estate project portfolio. This position will support SMUD's internal customer project requirements consisting of acquisition of real estate rights and interests, property assets, strategy, tactics and metrics.

Appraises and arranges for the acquisition of real property and easements (rights-of-way) to meet SMUD facilities needs.

This classification is comprised of two levels: Level "E" is the entry-level where incumbents are provided formal training and/or certification for progression to the journey-level of the classification. The incumbent is promoted/progressed to the journey level "J" upon successful completion of all training and/or certification requirements for the classification. Incumbents hired at the entry-level are required to successfully progress to the journey-level within 18 to 60 months, depending on the length of the training and/or certification program. If an employee is unsuccessful with progressing to the journey-level they will return to last class held or separate from SMUD.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and negotiates leases of property for SMUD use; ensures SMUD compliance with all legal requirements.
• Prepares and secures approval for special realty contracts and agreements.
• Acquires real property for the interests therein for SMUD.
• Performs a variety of zoning regulation and asset management activities.
• Ensures that the project staff is fully informed so that resulting recommendations are reliable thus minimizing project delay and redesign.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.

Required Experience Qualifications

• Five or more (5+) years experience in real estate acquisition including the negotiation of real property acquisition.

Required Licenses/Certificates

A valid California Drivers License.

Knowledge Of

Methods and techniques of real property acquisition; methods and techniques of negotiating property leases; principles and practices of contract negotiation; principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation; pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Skills To

Ensure the acquisition of real property for SMUD needs; ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; negotiate contracts; prepare clear and concise reports; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of the acquisition, management or disposition of renewable energy sites such as solar, wind, geothermal, storage and subsurface storage projects.
• Certified General Real Estate Appraiser license issued by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers - State of California.
• Senior Right of Way Agent designation issued by the International Right of Way Association.
• Knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures associated with renewable projects including title curative, wind, solar, oil and gas lease documents, mineral severance, oil and gas contracts, consents, joint ventures and power purchase agreements.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform "substantially similar work," when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49'er'ren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work

This position will be required to work onsite one or more days a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work and, at any of our SMUD locations. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD's business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.

CalPERS

SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.

Equal Opportunity Statement

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.