Project: A major natural gas pipeline project in the Permian Basin, Texas
Reports to: Project Manager or ROW Supervisor
Classification: Full-time
Location: Permian Basin, Texas - on-site; travel across the project area as assigned
Purpose
The Title Supervisor leads title research and land-records work supporting the acquisition, development, operation and maintenance of natural gas pipeline infrastructure. This role supervises title agents and coordinates with right-of-way agents, attorneys, surveyors, project managers and government agencies to identify ownership, determine property interests, resolve title issues and maintain accurate land records - holding the team to Gray Hawk's Title Standard: accuracy, detail and pace are co-equal.
Core Responsibilities
- Supervise, assign and review the work of title agents and other assigned staff.
- Plan and monitor title work to meet project schedules, quality standards and budget.
- Oversee examination of deeds, easements, leases, probate records, liens, judgments, tax records, plats and other public documents.
- Ensure ownership and property interests are accurately identified and documented - legal descriptions, exceptions, encumbrances and gaps in the chain of title.
- Review title commitments, title reports, ownership reports and supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
- Identify and coordinate resolution of title defects and complex ownership issues, escalating legal matters to counsel as appropriate.
- Coordinate with right-of-way agents on acquisition packages, landowner information, easement documentation and closing requirements.
- Maintain title files, databases, maps and document-management systems to company standards and applicable retention requirements.
- Develop and improve procedures, templates, quality-control practices and reporting for title operations.
- Track workload, status, deliverables and costs; provide regular updates to the Project Manager and project teams.
- Build productive working relationships with landowners, title companies, courthouse personnel, agencies and vendors.
- Lead the team's field safety: walk each new team member through the Field Safety Manual and Safety Training and complete the sign-off with them; hold the daily safety briefing and keep the Daily Safety Log.
- Train and mentor title agents; give performance feedback and support their development.
Success Metrics
- Title agents working under clear assignments, with their work reviewed before it leaves the team.
- Title deliverables accurate and on pace - neither perfectionism nor pace pressure compromising the work.
- Title defects and complex ownership issues identified and escalated early, before they delay acquisition.
- No unresolved title escalations aging beyond 3 days without documented status.
- Title files and databases current and audit-ready.
- No team member working alone in the field before their Field Safety acknowledgment and Safety Training sign-off are complete.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum ten (10) years of right-of-way title experience.
- Minimum five (5) years supervising title agents.
- 5+ years of Texas title experience.
- Leadership experience on FERC-regulated natural gas pipeline projects.
- Proven ability to lead and develop a team of title agents - assigning, reviewing and holding the work to a standard.
- Strong working knowledge of deeds, easements, leases, probate records, liens, judgments, tax records and plats as they affect ownership, legal descriptions and marketable title.
- Experience with land-management databases (such as Irth Land Management or comparable) and the ability to learn new client databases quickly.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
- Strong organization, written communication, research and problem-solving skills.
- Must supply their own mobile phone that can receive email, and a computer capable of doing the job effectively.
- Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent right-of-way experience or IRWA certification (SR/WA or RW/AC) accepted in its place.
- Available to start within weeks of an offer and to work on-site in the Permian Basin.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience preparing Chains of Title and Limited Title Certificates.
- Specialized title expertise (e.g., government title, Indian land title, mortgages and liens).
- Experience with ESRI GIS software.
Don't meet every requirement? If you have strong FERC pipeline leadership experience but not in Texas, we still want to hear from you.