ROW Agent

Austin Community College; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 59,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Transportation in Lynchburg, VA is seeking a Right of Way professional to support programmatic and operational activities across the Right of Way disciplines.

You will conduct title examinations, manage document records, attend hearings, coordinate liens, and prepare reports and petitions for AAC packages. This role requires strong communication, negotiation, and knowledge of real estate law.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of highway laws pertaining to real estate conveyances, easements, contracts.
• Ability to calculate right of way estimates.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to a wide audience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Title Examinations: current owner to 60-year examinations for staff attorney review.
• Document management: update or record documents and maintain RUMS.
• Attend public hearings and preliminary engineering meetings; record landowner comments in RUMS.
• Coordinate liens with attorneys, lien holders, and property owners to ensure releases.
• Research local real estate market to determine replacement housing payments.
• Prepare Administrative Reports (BAR) for negotiation using market data.
• Prepare Petitions, Orders, and negotiation packages with plans and legal documents.
• Conduct real estate closings after submitting release documents for deeds or liens.
• Compute relocation assistance payments and present offers to displaced individuals.
• Provide relocation services and conduct interviews prior to negotiations.
• Learn Right of Way disciplines and build knowledge of appraisal, relocation, and legal obligations.

Skills

Right of way knowledge

Real estate knowledge

Negotiation

Communication

Time management

Budgeting/Cost estimation

Tools

Cardinal

Job description

Job Category: Land Acquisition and Property Management

Location: Lynchburg, VA

Apply Before: 04/15/2026, 11:59 PM

Job Schedule: Full time

Minimum Salary: $59,203.00

Maximum Salary: $96,205.00

Job-Specific Insights

The Right of Way & Utilities Division represents a collection of dedicated public servants from across 9 districts and the Central Office who keep travelers moving safely through the Commonwealth of Virginia. What makes working here fulfilling is VDOT is one of the largest transportation agencies in the US, a diversity of city and country living, and a rich history from the mountains to the beach. The Right of Way & Utilities Division employs over 180 individuals who all contribute to the acquisition of right of way, relocation of utilities, working with railroad companies, and managing property needed for right of way certification prior to the highway construction project.

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 ensure 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.