Lead Land and Right of Way Manager

Jacobs; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Stock purchase

Hybrid work policy

Paid time off

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Lead Land and Right of Way Manager to lead land rights acquisition for critical infrastructure projects across the United States. You will guide complex negotiations, coordinate with project teams, and ensure compliant, timely delivery of land rights while maintaining strong client service and documentation practices.

The role requires extensive experience in land services for utility and infrastructure projects, deep knowledge of title review and regulatory requirements, and

Qualifications

• Ten years of progressive experience managing right-of-way, land acquisition, or related land services for utility/transportation projects.
• Experience acquiring property rights for infrastructure development, including easements and rights-of-way.
• Strong understanding of URA/Uniform Act and federal/state/local requirements.
• Experience collaborating with engineering, environmental, legal, construction, and project management teams.
• Proven ability to lead complex land acquisition efforts with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support acquisition of easements, rights-of-way, and land rights for infrastructure projects.
• Negotiate complex land rights agreements with landowners or their representatives.
• Conduct and review title research, title commitments, and related records.
• Prepare and facilitate execution of approved legal documents for land acquisition.
• Coordinate recording of easements with local authorities.
• Represent Land Services at project meetings and communicate status and needs.
• Maintain project records, maps, drawings, and reports; lead planning activities.
• Support project closeout and lessons learned.
• Willingness to travel throughout the United States.

Skills

Right-of-way

Land acquisition

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Title research

Regulatory compliance

Project coordination

Microsoft Office

Driver's license

Client liaison

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Jacobs, we\'re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world\'s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we\'re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by delivering innovative solutions that support critical infrastructure and the communities that depend on it. As a Lead Land and Right of Way Manager, you\'ll play a key role in helping utility and infrastructure clients secure the land rights needed to safely develop, maintain, and operate essential facilities across the United States.

In this hybrid role, you\'ll lead land and right-of-way activities throughout the project lifecycle, partnering with clients, landowners, project teams, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver successful project outcomes. You\'ll provide strategic guidance, manage complex land acquisition efforts, support project planning and execution, and help ensure projects are completed efficiently, compliantly, and with a strong focus on client service.

What You\'ll Do

• Lead and support the acquisition of easements, rights-of-way, and other land rights required for infrastructure projects
• Negotiate complex land rights agreements with landowners or their representatives
• Resolve property damage claims associated with project construction, maintenance, or facility operations
• Conduct and review title research, title commitments, title reports, chain-of-title documentation, legal descriptions, surveys, and related records
• Prepare and facilitate execution of approved legal documents required for land acquisition activities
• Coordinate recording of easements and other legal documents with local recording authorities, as required
• Represent Land Services at project meetings and communicate project status, priorities, and resource needs
• Provide land services subject matter expertise to project teams and business partners
• Maintain accurate project records, property owner files, maps, exhibits, drawings, reports, and related documentation
• Lead project planning activities, including scope development, cost estimates, schedules, and resource planning
• Support project change management processes and compliance with client requirements
• Collaborate with clients, contractors, subcontractors, and multidisciplinary project teams
• Monitor project quality, milestones, and performance against project execution requirements
• Develop and maintain project execution documentation for Land Services projects
• Support project closeout activities, including documentation of lessons learned
• Serve as a witness or support witness selection for condemnation proceedings and other legal actions related to land acquisition activities
• Contribute to internal process improvement initiatives and continuous improvement efforts
• Perform additional project-related responsibilities as needed

What Will Help You Succeed

• Ability to build trust and maintain productive relationships with landowners, clients, agencies, and project stakeholders
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to navigate sensitive conversations professionally
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time management skills
• Proactive approach to problem solving and delivering high-quality results
• Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams
• Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic project environment
• Commitment to client service, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Flexibility to support project needs that may occasionally extend beyond standard business hours

This role is best suited for professionals with experience supporting utility, transportation, energy, telecommunications, or other infrastructure projects where acquiring and managing land rights is critical to project delivery.

Here\'s what you\'ll need

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience managing right-of-way, land acquisition, easement acquisition, or related land services for utility, transportation, energy, telecommunications, public infrastructure, or similar capital improvement projects.
• Demonstrated experience acquiring property rights required for infrastructure development, construction, operations, or maintenance, including easements, rights-of-way, fee acquisitions, temporary construction easements, and related land interests.
• Strong understanding of right-of-way acquisition principles, title review, land rights documentation, condemnation support, and applicable regulatory requirements, including the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act (URA/Uniform Act) and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Experience working with engineering, environmental, legal, construction, and project management teams to support infrastructure project delivery.
• Proven ability to lead complex land acquisition efforts involving multiple stakeholders, competing interests, and challenging schedules.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience leading project teams and serving as a primary client contact for land services or right-of-way projects.
• Valid driver\'s license.

Ideally, you\'ll also have

• Active real estate license, where required by state or client requirements
• Membership with the International Right of Way Association (IRWA), or the ability to obtain membership within 60 days of hire
• Active notary commission, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
• Willingness to travel throughout the United States

Your resume should clearly demonstrate experience securing land rights and property interests for utility, transportation, energy, telecommunications, public works, or other infrastructure projects. Experience focused primarily on residential or commercial property sales, leasing, or brokerage activities does not align closely with the core responsibilities of this role.

This hybrid position can be based from any Jacobs office in the United States and will require periodic travel to support projects across the country. While qualified candidates from any U.S. Jacobs office location will be considered, preference may be given to candidates located near existing Land Services team hubs in Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, Atlanta, Columbus, Indianapolis, or Denver.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

#epjobs #naepjobs #hybrid

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $119,400.00 to $174,200.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on September 18, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we\'re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.