Real Property Coordinator Senior

Snohomish County; Everett (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits (PERS)

Flexible hybrid work options

Professional development and training

Paid time off and holidays

Health and dental benefits

Pension enrollment

Job summary

Snohomish County Public Works is seeking a Real Property Coordinator, Senior to lead and perform complex right-of-way acquisitions for multiple public projects in Washington. The role involves negotiating with property owners, training staff, reviewing title data, and preparing legal documents for FHWA certifications.

Ideal candidates will have five years of experience, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to work across federal, state and county guidelines.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years experience in the right-of-way field or equivalent education/experience.
• Experience negotiating property acquisitions and preparing legal descriptions.
• Ability to manage complex projects and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
• Must pass job related tests and be able to work in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Negotiates with property owners for acquisitions and prepares relocation plans.
• Leads and trains team members within the right-of-way group.
• Reviews title reports and ownership data to determine vesting and clears encumbrances.
• Prepares funding estimates and complex appraisals for large projects.
• Coordinates with departments, agencies and the public; presents information at meetings.

Skills

Communicator

Empathetic Negotiator

Reliable

Problem solver

Team oriented

Relationship Builder

Balanced

Detailed

Job description

Snohomish County Public Works is hiring a Real Property Coordinator, Seniorfor the Right-of-Way team within our Engineering Services division. Join our team of professionals who acquire temporary and permanent property rights for federal, state and locally funded projects!

As the Real Property Coordinator, Senior you will negotiate with property owners to acquire a wide range of property rights for public projects including corridor, intersection, sidewalk, flood, trail, and bridge projects. You will have opportunities to work on a variety of projects in a team environment.

This is a senior level position. The ideal candidate will have team lead experience and the proven ability to acquire property rights for a local public agency and be eligible to acquire rights on capital improvement projects with Federal Highway Administration funding. We will provide you with training, mentoring and support. You will be meeting with property owners, working in the office, and may have opportunities at times for remote work. Here are the kinds of projects you would be working on: Roads Central | Snohomish County, WA - Official Website (snohomishcountywa.gov).

Job duties include:

• Negotiating with property owners and or their representatives for purchases of intermediate acquisitions; prepare relocation plans and complete relocations.
• Leading and training team members.
• Reviewing title reports and other ownership data to determine the appropriate vesting of the title and clearing of encumbrances.
• Proper preparation of files for Federal Highway Administration certification of rights-of-way; preparing legal descriptions and documents for acquisition purposes. Preparing funding estimates for large projects.
• The ability to understand intermediate appraisals and prepare estimates of value.

Helpful Skills:

• Communicator:A clear communicator to technical and non-technical individuals and who is proficient verbally and in writing.
• Empathetic Negotiator:You have negotiation skills but also are aware of how to be empathetic to property owners. Your skills allow you to de-escalate difficult situations and lean into hard conversations.
• Reliable:You meet deadlines and understand the importance of managing a dynamic and changing workload.
• Problem solver:You work to develop creative solutions within the constraints of our right of way process and federal, state and county laws.
• Team oriented:You enjoy working as part of team and value collaboration.
• Relationship Builder:An outgoing professional who values partnerships and forms relationships to get things done.
• Balanced:Able to work on a multitude of tasks and understand/react to various situations in a fast-paced environment.
• Detailed: An organizer and planner who can keep detailed records.

Join Snohomish County Public Works and enjoy these perks:

• Make a contribution in shaping one of Washington’s fastest growing counties
• Enjoy being part of a team that is improving the transportation infrastructure in your community
• Join an award-winning organization well known for excellence and commitment to high-quality public service
• Advancement opportunities
• Employee development and training opportunities
• Excellent medical, dental, and other benefits
• Earn a Pension! Start vesting for a Washington Department of Retirement System (DRS) PERS pension.
• Security, stability, and a lifelong career!

About Engineering Services

Our Engineering Services division in Public Works delivers full design and construction programs and encourages a team environment for employees to develop career pathways with growth potential and personal satisfaction knowing their role contributes to well-constructed projects for the residents of Snohomish County.

About Snohomish County Public Works Department

Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for more than 1,650 miles of county roads, 210 bridges and 202 traffic control signals, as well as processing nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 550 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.

Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.

When joining Public Works, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement is highly encouraged and supported. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career at Snohomish County.

Benefits

Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We offer competitive wages; job flexibility and stability; pension opportunities; and employer paid ORCA cards. Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and offers the following benefits to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Flexible work schedules for some positions.
• Career development training
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes 11 paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
• Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including, medical, and dental, vision, life insurance, LTD, deferred compensation and more.
• Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): Effective January 1, 2027, all six (6) step salary tables shall have a seventh (7th) step added to the top of each pay grade. Employees who have been at step 6 for a full year shall be placed at step 7 effective January 1, 2027.

Teleworking Options

The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. For employees who prefer to work in the office full-time, that option is also available. This position will work full-time in the office for up to one (1) year. Once the necessary skills and knowledge have been developed, we anticipate the position will work three (3) days in the office and two (2) days remote. Telework options are subject to change depending upon staff and management needs.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

About Snohomish County

Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose- video

BASIC FUNCTION

Responsible for intermediate and complex right-of-way acquisition and relocation for public projects in compliance with federal, state and county guidelines and policies. Provide real property expertise to other departments and staff. Participate in the development of policies, guidelines and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and county regulations.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1. Negotiates with property owners and or their representatives, for purchases of intermediate and complex acquisitions; prepares relocation plans and completes complex relocations.
2. Reviews and interprets complex title reports and other ownership data to determine legal status of the title for certification of complex rights-of-way; prepares complex legal descriptions and documents for acquisition purposes.
3. Prepares funding estimates for large and complex projects.
4. Prepares intermediate and complex appraisals and estimates of value.
5. Participates in the selection, coordination and administration of contract consultants; reviews performance by consultants for compliance with contract terms and conformance to federal, state and county laws and guidelines.
6. Coordinates and evaluates information obtained from county departments, outside agencies, community groups and the general public; reviews the information and assists in development of related policies and procedures to be implemented by the public works department in the areas of appraisal, acquisition, title and relocation.
7. Reviews complex land use documents, engineering plans, reports, and inspects properties to be acquired; participates in the direction and monitoring of work performed by the Real Property Specialists I and II.
8. Coordinates the preparation for public meetings and makes presentations at public meetings; provides general information to the public and to other agencies as requested.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

1. Performs related duties as required.

Five (5) years experience in the right-of-way field; preparing legal descriptions, negotiating property acquisitions, real property appraisal, title searching, reading and interpreting engineering drawings; OR, have the equivalent level of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work. A SR/WA designation through the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) is preferred, but not required. Must pass job related tests.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid Washington Driver's License or the ability to acquire a valid license with thirty (30) days of employment. Valid Washington State Notary Public appointment or the ability to acquire a valid notary within sixty (60) days.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• methods and principles of negotiating, appraising and determining ownership of property rights
• state and federal laws and guidelines pertaining to acquisition of land right-of-way
• appraisal principals and practices
• factors affecting property evaluation
• contracts and contract terms for outside consultants
• legal instruments used in real property transaction

Ability to:

• complete complex negotiations for acquisition of rights-of-way for full and partial takes in accordance with the Federal Uniform Code and other applicable state andcounty laws and procedures
• appraise commercial and other damaged property
• prepare complex relocation plans and to complete complex relocations for owners and tenants in compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act and other state and county laws and guidelines
• write complex legal descriptions for full and partial takes and prepare complex legal documents
• read and interpret engineering plans and reports; prepare funding estimates for projects involving commercial properties, damaged properties, etc. and requiring compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act
• prepare information for and make presentations to groups of people at staff meetings and at public meetings
• work independently with minimum of supervision and to coordinate the efforts of other junior members of the right-of-way staff
• establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, personnel from other departments, personnel from other agencies, property owners and the public

SUPERVISION

Employees report to and receive direction from an administrative superior as assigned. Work is performed with minimal supervision. Progress is monitored through status reports and meetings.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in the office and in the field involving site visits, negotiations in private homes and businesses, meetings with staff and public meetings. Physical hazards from traffic and driving in varying weather conditions may be present. Meetings on project requirements involve working evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.
Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
EEO policy and ADA notice