Right of Way Specialist

PPL Corporation; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

PPL Electric Utilities seeks a rights-of-way/land services professional to support the transmission organization. You will acquire easements and licenses, negotiate land use rights, and manage related contracts and maps to support ongoing capital projects.

Responsibilities include coordinating programs, reviewing third-party requests, and maintaining land records. Expect opportunities to work with diverse stakeholders and possible after-hours work as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of right-of-way or real estate experience.
• Solid understanding of right-of-way, real estate principles, laws.
• Ability to read/interpret real estate maps, transmission maps, and tax maps.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience negotiating land use rights is a plus; GIS experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Acquire easements, licenses, leases, permits, and approvals for transmission facilities.
• Coordinate and manage program and maintenance work and small regional projects.
• Review 3rd party requests to occupy PPL land and manage encroachment/lease properties.
• Arrange contracts with appraisers, abstractors, and environmental firms for title searches and reviews.
• Respond to internal and external requests relating to right-of-way agreements.
• Maintain real estate records, databases and mapping programs; prepare reports.
• Provide support to transmission operations and corporate projects as needed.
• Note: positions may require night/weekend work and on-site or remote work as assigned.

Skills

Real estate principles

Contracts & legal agreements

Map interpretation

Oral & written communication

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree + 2 years right-of-way/real estate experience

Tools

GIS

ESRI Suite

Job description

Company Summary Statement

PPL Electric Utilities delivers safe, reliable and affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses throughout its 29-county service territory in eastern and central Pennsylvania. Through smart investments and innovation, it has built one of the most advanced electric grids in the United States. And, with over a century of expertise, PPL Electric remains focused on continuing to build the utility of the future, today. Regularly ranking among the country’s best utility companies for reliability and customer satisfaction, PPL Electric has won numerous awards, including 30 J.D. Power Awards for providing top-quality service to residential and business customers. PPL Electric is a major employer and an active supporter of the communities it serves. Empowering employees, community members and initiatives across its service territory through volunteerism and investments in organizations that support education, sustainability, and wellbeing.

Overview

This position is accountable for participating in the vision and strategy for the transmission Land Services Team which encompasses right-of-way, real estate, permitting and environmental compliance organization, including assisting with processes, workflow, risk assessment and mitigation on small projects. Represents the right-ofway organization in identifying, purchasing, and managing the acquisition of rights-of-way, land acquisition, and substation sites. Works with transmission right-of-way and fee owned encroachments and addresses violations. Facilitates the acquisition of license/lease agreements with other companies/landowners, and state and federal agencies. Accomplish work in support of the overall capital plan and maintain corporate reputation in the community. Requires interpersonal and negotiation skills necessary to interact with individual property owners and governmental officials.

Responsibilities

• Acquire necessary easements, licenses, leases, permits, and approvals to provide for the location and installation of Transmission facilities needed by PPL for business purposes.
• Coordinate and manage program and maintenance work and small regional projects.
• Review and approve 3rd party requests to occupy PPL land, encroachment requests, land sales and lease properties from others needed for corporate purposes such as access roads, lay down yards and required workspace.
• Arrange and manage contracts with appraisers, abstractors, and environmental firms to conduct title searches, appraisals, and environmental reviews for right of way and land acquisitions.
• Respond to internal and external customer requests relating to specific right-of-way agreements.
• Maintain PPL real estate records, databases and mapping programs for the sale and lease of property, process quarterly and year-end tracking reports.
• Provide immediate assistance as requested from any member of transmission operations. This includes performing tasks that may be outside a normal area of expertise or responsibility.
• Assist Manager and other department personnel with corporate projects and initiatives and at the same time, keep up with the position's day to day responsibilities.
• Job activities may require nights and/or weekend support.
• All positions in which driving is an essential function of the job, regardless if the job code is marked safety sensitive or not, will also be included as safety sensitive.
• May be assigned an Electric Utilities emergency and storm role. This is a special assignment that comes into play during storms and other emergencies when the company needs to restore power or respond to other issues affecting customer service. This role may necessitate the need to work after-hours, outside of your normal schedule.
• The company reserves the right to determine if this position will be assigned to work on-site, remotely, or a combination of both. Assigned work location may change. In the case of remote work, physical presence in the office/on-site may be required to engage in face-to-face interaction and coordination of work among direct reports and co-workers.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards

Qualifications

• 1. Bachelor's Degree plus 2 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education or experience of right-of-way, real estate or related experience with a high school degree and a general understanding of real estate fundamentals.
• 2. General understanding of right-of-way and real estate principles, practices, and laws.
• 3. Position also requires a working knowledge of contracts and legal agreements
• 4. The ability to read and interpret real estate maps, transmission maps, and tax maps is inherent to the duties of the position.
• 5. Ability to communicate with others, both orally and in writing
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with negotiating for land use rights.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the ESRI suite.
• A thorough understanding of the company's corporate structure, geography and land holdings.
• Familiarity with leasing, selling and buying real estate, and easement acquisition process.
• Continuing education in real estate through courses offered by a college or other reputable institution.
• Notary Public