LUT- Contract for Land Admin

McDermott; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

McDermott in Houston, TX is seeking a Contract for Land Admin to serve as primary liaison between client and landowners across renewable project portfolios. You will explain rent and royalty calculations, handle ownership changes, and keep meticulous records in land systems while collaborating with Legal and Asset Operations.

The role requires a strong customer service mindset, ability to explain complex terms plainly, and accuracy in payments and tax reporting.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, Real Estate, Energy Management, Paralegal Studies, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 2+ years in land administration/lease administration, title, right of way, minerals, or real estate operations
• Ability to read and interpret leases/easements and related agreements; knowledge of real estate law concepts
• Understanding rent/royalty calculations, owner decimal interests/division orders, and basic accounting concepts
• Proficiency with land management databases and document control; strong Excel (lookups, pivot tables) and Word; accurate data entry
• Strong customer service, active listening, and de-escalation skills; ability to explain complex terms plainly
• Excellent organization and ability to manage high-volume workload with confidentiality

Responsibilities

• Provide frontline support to landowners via phone, email, and mail; explain rent/royalty statements and payment schedules clearly
• Administer landowner portal to address inquiries and provide forms/guidance
• Resolve payment issues and coordinate corrections with Settlements and Accounting
• Manage change of ownership requests and update payee records accurately
• Read leases and related agreements to assist with inquiries and ensure compliance
• Maintain organized records in the land management system and ensure data integrity
• Draft and issue professional correspondence in partnership with Legal
• Collaborate with Legal, Development, Asset Operations, and Finance to cure title defects and address discrepancies
• Monitor case metrics and suggest process improvements; support audits and regulatory inquiries
• Participate in landowner meetings and site visits to support project operations
• Maintain high standard of customer service and de-escalate as needed
• Ensure compliance with real estate laws and tax reporting considerations (1099s)

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Analytical skills

Time management

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Associate or bachelor’s degree in business/Real Estate/Energy Management/Paralegal Studies

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Land management databases

Job description

Job Overview:

The Contract for Land Admin wil serve as the primary liaison between client and landowners across our renewable project operating portfolios. You will explain rent and royalty payment calculations and timing, handle change of ownership requests end-to-end, and resolve inquiries with empathy, accuracy, and professionalism. You’ll read and interpret leases and related land agreements, and when needed, support the team in keeping meticulous records in our land systems, and collaborate with Legal and Asset Operations to ensure payments and obligations are met. This role requires a strong customer service mindset and the poise to deescalate difficult conversations while maintaining precision in your work.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide clear, courteous front‑line support to landowners via phone, email, and mail; explain rent/royalty statements, payment schedules, and calculations in plain language.
• Administering the landowner web portal to ensure landowner inquiries are addressed in a timely and accurate manner. Use the landowner portal to provide forms and guidance to landowners when needed.
• Research and resolve payment issues (e.g., calculation variances, missing or stale dated checks, address or banking changes, tax withholding); coordinate corrections and reissues with Settlements and Accounting.
• Manage change of ownership requests from intake (e.g., deeds, assignments, probate/estate documentation, affidavits of heirship, trust/LLC updates, W9/ACH forms); validate documentation and update payee records and ownership interests accurately.
• Read and interpret leases, easements, surface use and option agreements to help resolve inquiries and ensure compliance;
• Maintain complete, organized records in the land management system; scan/index documents, track owner communications, and ensure data integrity and version control.
• In partnership with Legal, draft and issue professional correspondence, including payment explanations, change of ownership packets, consent/estoppel letters, and notices within defined contractual obligations.
• Partner with Legal, Development, Asset Operations, and Finance to cure title defects, resolve boundary/acreage discrepancies, and address damage claims. Provide company teams the land information necessary to resolve internal questions.
• Monitor and report case metrics (volume, cycle time, aging, root causes); recommend and help implement process improvements, SOP updates, and knowledge‑base articles.
  Support internal/external audits and regulatory inquiries by compiling documentation and responding promptly.
• Participate in landowner meetings, open houses, and occasional site visits to support community relations and project operations.
• Model a high standard of customer service; de‑escalate confrontational conversations with empathy, set clear expectations, and elevate appropriately when needed.
• Ensure compliance with applicable real estate laws, privacy/PII requirements, tax reporting considerations (e.g., 1099s), and company policies.
• Additional duties as required

Essential Qualifications and Education:

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, Real Estate, Energy Management, Paralegal Studies, or related field; or equivalent experience
• Experience: Must have 2+ years in land administration/lease administration, title, right of way, minerals, or real estate operations; experience supporting landowner relations and payment processing
• Lease & Legal Knowledge: Proven ability to read and interpret leases/easements and related agreements; working knowledge of real estate law concepts (title chains, deeds, legal descriptions, probate/estate matters, trusts/LLCs, POA, recording/notary requirements)
• Payments Expertise: Understanding of rent/royalty calculations, owner decimal interests/division orders (where applicable), and basic accounting concepts; awareness of unclaimed property and tax reporting implications
• Systems: Proficiency with land management databases and document control; familiarity with ticketing and financial systems, strong Microsoft Excel (lookups, pivot tables) and Word skills; accurate data entry
• Communication & Service: Exceptional customer service, active listening, and de‑escalation skills; ability to translate complex terms into plain language and produce clear, professional correspondence
• Organization: Strong prioritization and time management skills to handle a high-volume queue and meet contractual requirements with attention to detail and confidentiality

Behavioral Requirements:

• Strong written and verbal communication along with presentation skills
• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail
• Project management and stakeholder management skills
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills including use of software to perform analyses and advanced modeling
• Demonstrate ability to work in cross‑functional, multi‑departmental teams
• Self‑motivated and able to work effectively with minimal direction in both structured and unstructured work environments
• Ability to maintain and enhance customer relationships
• Ability to lead and support complex negotiations
• Ability to multi‑task and prioritize effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to foster and help create a collaborative working environment

Physical demands and working conditions:

• Sitting/Standing/Flexibility: Ability to stand and sit for 8 or more hours when in an office environment
• Walking: Ability to walk .5 to 2 miles per day, including across unpaved and rough surfaces when on project sites
• Speech/Reading: Ability to speak, read, and write English proficiently and deliver a variety of instructions furnished in written verbal, diagram, or scheduled form
• Lifting: Ability to lift items weighing up to 10 pounds
• Vision/Hearing: Ability to understand a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form