Property Rights Specialist

Portland General Electric; Lebanon (NH); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Portland General Electric is hiring a Property Rights Specialist to secure land rights, permits, and interests for safe construction, operation, and maintenance of critical infrastructure across transmission, distribution, and generation assets.

The role emphasizes real estate acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional collaboration to manage contracts, surveys, and title work while engaging with customers and landowners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, business, finance, law or related field.
• Typically five or more years in commercial real estate or a related field.
• Experience with right-of-way acquisition, real estate transactions, land use and permitting, property management, project management, contract negotiation, and utility and infrastructure is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Acquire property rights (easements, rights-of-way, permits, licenses, and other property interests) for company operations.
• Evaluate land use, valuation, and permitting requirements.
• Negotiate contracts balancing operational needs and stakeholder interests.
• Manage property acquisitions, dispositions, and reporting.
• Communicate project impacts, timelines, and status to stakeholders.
• Obtain and manage local, state, federal, and agency permits; identify permitting risks and requirements.
• Research and respond to customer and landowner inquiries; resolve encroachments and property claims.
• Coordinate surveys, appraisals, title work, and mapping activities; review ownership and property information.
• Support route selection and site evaluation; prepare legal descriptions and property documentation.
• Serve as liaison with customers, landowners, agencies, and jurisdictions.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder communication

Project management

GIS analysis

Land use knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in real estate, business, finance, law or related field

Tools

GIS software

Job description

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

PGE is hiring a Property Rights Specialist. The Property Rights Specialist plays a critical role in supporting PGE's transmission, distribution, generation, and corporate initiatives by securing the land rights, permits, and property interests necessary to safely build, operate, and maintain critical infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Real Property Acquisition and Disposition

• Acquires property rights (easements, rights-of-way, permits, licenses, and miscellaneous property interests) required for company operations
• Evaluates real property opportunities, constraints, valuation, land use, and permitting requirements
• Negotiates agreements that balance operational needs and stakeholder interests
• Manages property acquisitions, dispositions, and transaction reporting
• Communicates project impacts, timelines, and status to stakeholders

Permitting and Regulatory Compliance

• Obtain and manage local, state, federal, and agency permits
• Identify permitting risks, schedules, and requirements
• Support permit applications, agreements, and regulatory approvals
• Provide guidance on permitting strategies and compliance obligations

Property Rights Concerns and Disputes

• Research and respond to customer and landowner inquiries
• Investigate and resolve encroachments, trespass issues, and property-related claims
• Support resolution of complex land rights concerns

Contract Negotiation, Coordination and Review

• Negotiate contracts and agreements
• Coordinate surveys, appraisals, title work, and mapping activities
• Review ownership, survey, and property information for accuracy
• Support cross-functional project teams

Research and Analysis

• Conduct title, zoning, land use, GIS, and valuation research
• Identify land rights constraints and project risks
• Support route selection and site evaluation efforts
• Prepare legal descriptions, exhibits, and property documentation
• GIS and Property Records
  • Maintain and utilize GIS and geospatial data related to company property interests
  • Support map creation, data analysis, and property record management
  • Maintain accurate and accessible property rights information

External and Internal Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as a liaison with customers, landowners, agencies, and jurisdictions
• Participate in public meetings and hearings as needed
• Represent PGE's property interests while building positive stakeholder relationships

Education/Experience/Certifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in real estate, business, finance, law or other related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience – Typically five or more years in commercial real estate or related field. Experience with right-of-way acquisition, real estate transactions, land use and permitting, property management, project management, contract negotiation, and utility and infrastructure preferred.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

• Intermediate knowledge of real estate laws, regulations, rules, principles, practices and markets
• Intermediate knowledge of contracting rules, regulations and procedures
• Intermediate skills in reading/interpreting property legal descriptions, plat maps, title reports and appraisal reports
• Intermediate skill in estimating the value of property
• Intermediate skills in using department systems (e.g., GIS, document management)
• Intermediate knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, procedures and processes
• Intermediate knowledge of the electrical utility industry
• Intermediate analytical thinking skills
• Intermediate conflict management skills
• Intermediate decision-making skills
• Intermediate influence skills
• Intermediate interpersonal skills
• Intermediate negotiation skills
• Intermediate organization and prioritization skills
• Intermediate project management skills
• Intermediate written and oral communication skills

Physical and Cognitive Demands

Cognitive Level

• Substantial: Consistent use of logic or scientific thinking to define problems, collect information, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Cognitive Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines and time-sensitive tasks
• Ability to follow accuracy standards
• Ability to follow through on decision-making tasks
• Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress
• Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change
• Ability to accept and demonstrate self-awareness when provided constructive feedback
• Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement
• Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks
• Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers and others within the organization
• Demonstrates sound memory
• Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks

Physical Capabilities

• Job requires a valid driver’s license.
• Driving/travel/commute: Minimum 3x a week within service territory.
• The World Trade Center is the home location and will travel weekly to designated Operations Centers.
• Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)
• Unstable surfaces requiring balance to include walking distances and surfaces (long distances and over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces).
• Environment – Indoor/Outdoor Office Plant Field

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity. PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well‑being and professional development, both now and into the future.

Assisting with storms or other Company emergencies is a part of all positions at Portland General Electric.

PGE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered to thrive. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation, or would like to request one, please notify the Recruiter associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting [e-mail] or by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process.

Posting closes at midnight (Pacific Time) on the closing date below. If no date is listed, job is open until filled. September 28, 2026.

At Portland General Electric, we’re innovators, builders, and achievers. We’re committed to powering our customers’ potential and making a difference for our community and the planet. Today, that commitment includes developing an intelligent and resilient electric grid, electrifying transportation and de‑carbonizing the energy sector. We’re proud to deliver an exceptional experience to help our customers thrive. Our mission is to make clean, reliable and affordable energy services available to all. We obsess over serving customers and are committed to growing employee career paths with purpose. Equity and inclusion are core business values; we celebrate our differences and are committed to developing teams that reflect the communities we serve.