Right of Way Agent

Southern Arkansas University; Colonial Heights (VA); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking a Land Acquisition specialist in Colonial Heights, VA to support Right of Way programmatic activities. You will conduct title examinations, manage documents, and attend hearings to capture landowner input.

The role covers negotiations, closings, and relocation services, with emphasis on accurate cost estimates and adherence to state laws. A strong knowledge of easements, contracts, and appraisal methods is required.

Qualifications

• Ability to calculate right of way estimates.
• Ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of highway policies and right of way costs.
• Knowledge of state real estate conveyances, easements, contracts.
• Awareness of various appraisal methods.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Title Examinations: current owner to 60-year examinations for staff attorney review.
• Document management: update or record documents and maintain RUMS relations.
• Attend Public Hearings and Preliminary Engineering meetings; document comments in RUMS.
• Coordinate liens with attorneys, lien holders and owners to release liens.
• Research local real estate market to determine replacement housing payments.
• Prepare Basic Administrative Report (BAR) for negotiation using market data.
• Prepare Petitions and Orders for AAC packages and certificates; process draw-downs.
• Prepare negotiation packages with plans, correspondence, and legal documents.
• Conduct real estate closings after releasing deeds or lien documents.
• Compute relocation assistance and present offers to displaced individuals.
• Learn Right of Way disciplines and related knowledge areas (appraisal, relocation, legal obligations).
• Maintain time charges in Cardinal.

Skills

Title Examinations

Document management

Public hearings

Lien coordination

Market research

BAR preparation

Petitions & Orders

Real estate closings

Relocation support

Time processing

Tools

Cardinal

Job description

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Job Category: Land Acquisition and Property Management

Location: Colonial Heights, VA

Apply Before: 02/26/2026, 11:59 PM

Job Schedule: Full time

Minimum Salary: $64,196.00

Maximum Salary: $104,319.00

Contact Name: Audrey Phillips

Contact Email: [e-mail]

Job Description

To support Right of Way programmatic and operational activities through a variety of Right of Way disciplines.

How you will contribute:

• Conduct Title Examinations: Current owner to 60-year examinations for submission to Staff Attorney for review and approvals


• Document management: Update or record documents as needed. Maintain and update RUMS as related to assignment.


• Hearings and Meetings: Attend Public Hearings and other Preliminary Engineering meetings. Document landowners project related comments and concerns in RUMS.


• Lien Coordination: Coordinate efforts with attorneys, lien holders and property owners to insure all liens have been partially or fully released.


• Market Research: Research local real estate market to determine comparable replacement housing consistent with decent, safe and sanitary housing and compute replacement housing payment.


• Prepare Basic Administrative Report: Prepare Basic Administrative Report (BAR) for negotiation by preparing or analyzing available market data.


• Prepare Petitions and Orders: Prepare Petitions and Orders for AAC packages, draw down request, and Certificate Invalidation.


• Prepare negotiation packages: Prepare negotiation packages including the marking of plans, preparation of correspondence, legal documents and descriptions.


• Real estate closings: Conduct real estate closings after preparing and submitting written release documents for Deeds of Trust or other liens.


• Relocation : Compute relocation assistance payments and present offers to displaces.


• Relocation services: Provide relocation services to displaced individuals, conducting interviews prior to initiation of negotiations.


• Right of Way Knowledge: Learn the Right of Way disciplines and associated body of knowledge (laws, policies and procedures). Acquire knowledge in property appraisal, negotiation, relocation, and legal obligations.


• Time Processing: Maintain and record time charges to appropriate projects and leave types in Cardinal.

What will make you successful:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.


• Considerable knowledge of Federal and State highway policies and procedures pertaining to right of way acquisition, removal of conflicts, and Federal participation in right of way costs.


• Considerable knowledge of State laws pertaining to real estate conveyances, easements, contracts, and eminent domain, and techniques and methods of relocating conflicting utilities.


• Considerable knowledge of various appraisal methods.


• General knowledge of various appraisal methods.


• Skill in understanding and making accurate estimates of right of way costs.


• Skill in understanding highway plans and construction methods, and ability to explain them orally and in writing to property owners.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to calculate right of way estimates.


• Ability to communicate complex information a wide variety of individuals both orally and in writing.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals both inside and outside the agency, including the general public.


• Knowledge of highway construction.


• Knowledge of state laws pertaining to real estate conveyances, easements, and contracts


• Knowledge of various appraisal methods.

Additional Considerations:

• Experience in Right of Way or appraisal work.


• Knowledge of Federal participation in right of way costs.


• Knowledge of eminent domain policies and procedures.