Right of Way Agent Senior

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

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Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

The Opportunity:

*only apply for this position once. We will close the application period on the closing date listed or when 150 applications have been received.*

Overview:

The Multnomah County Department of Community Services (DCS) is looking for a full-time (1.0 FTE) Right of Way Agent Senior to join our Transportation team!

As a Right of Way (ROW) Agent Senior you will act as the subject matter expert to our Road Engineering teams, Transportation Planners and the Administrative staff. You will manage, oversee, and conduct all types of research, outreach and negotiations for easement and fee acquisitions for asset management, capital project construction, road maintenance, and development review for the Multnomah County Transportation Division. The ROW Agent Senior performs and oversees all aspects of complex professional property acquisition work requiring a substantial level of professional training and experience.

In this position, your focus will be on the right of way needs of Multnomah County’s transportation network including over 290 miles of roads and the county operated Willamette River Bridges. 

Duties include:

• Coordinate, lead, and manage right of way tasks for projects with federal, state, and local agencies, engineering firms, right of way services providers and the county attorney’s office to ensure acquisitions comply with laws, rules, and regulations while meeting overall project schedule and budget goals
• Manage and perform property title research, negotiate with property owners, and advise on development review requirements and right of way vacations
• Develop right-of-way acquisition strategies which support transportation project goals
• Manage project deliverables of consultants for legal descriptions, appraisals, and acquisition documentation
• Review construction plans to determine property rights required to complete transportation projects
• Present information and explain procedures to the public and private property owners pertaining to past, present and future right-of-way acquisitions and capital project details
• Research, manage, and present information regarding right of way purchases and dedications
• Plan, design, and present county position at public hearings on proposed and planned right-of-way acquisition projects  
• Develop and maintain meticulous and clear records on right of way needs for capital projects 
• Ensure strict compliance with grant requirements, federal documentation, program goals, and public expectations
• Effectively communicate with the public, impacted property owners, contractors, consultants, and County staff on all stages of capital project right of way phases from project concept to completed construction

Who Are We?
The Multnomah County Transportation Division manages and preserves the County road infrastructure and provides a safe and efficient transportation system that supports economic and community vitality. With 297 miles of roads, 6 Willamette River bridges, over 20 smaller bridges, and over 1,750 culverts to manage, our staff is committed to maintaining the community’s livability. Our primary goals are to help people safely get to where they need to go, to protect the public investment by preserving our transportation infrastructure, to support social equity and economic well being, and to help plan for the future transportation needs of Multnomah County.

As part of the Department of Community Services, it is our department's mission is to preserve harmony between natural and built environments, keep people and pets safe, and ensure every voice is heard through a diverse group of programs including Land Use Planning, Transportation, Animal Services, Elections, and Business Services. This department is an incredibly diverse department and your role will be too.

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

Multnomah County is located in Northwestern Oregon where the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet. The County covers 465 square miles and encompasses the Portland metropolitan area including the cities of Portland, Gresham, Lake Oswego, and five other cities. With over 800,000 residents, Multnomah County is Oregon's most populous county. More than 5,600 Multnomah County employees provide citizens with a wide range of health and human services, public safety services and other government programs.

What We Can Offer You:

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our website.

This recruitment will be used to fill any current and future full-time, part-time, on-call, temporary and limited duration positions while the eligible for hire list is active.

To Qualify:
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. This is a senior level position and you are expected to have direct experience in this field. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. 

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Communications, or related field (we will consider equivalent work related experience in lieu of a degree)
• Three (3) years of experience in right-of-way related work which includes any combination of real estate appraisal, property law, acquisition/negotiation, property management, title examination, condemnation, or other closely related experience.
• Must possess a driver's license valid in the State of Oregon and have an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply federal, state and local laws and policies and plans as they relate to right of way acquisition by public agencies, including just compensation and eminent domain
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, via presentations, to audiences ranging from the County board of commissioners and state legislators to regional partners, peers, staff, the public, and property owners
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other department staff, other County employees, vendors, contractors, community partners, elected officials, the public, and property owners
• Ability to lead through collaboration, team building, mentoring, and coaching, and model this leadership style for others
• Experience implementing street vacations and/or surplusing property
• Experience with the concepts, methods and techniques for appraising real property and establishing market value
• Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of property and contract law, including appropriate procedures and documents to convey acquired property rights.
• Experience reading and interpreting maps, engineering drawings and sketches, as well as researching and establishing property ownership.
• Technological proficiency in computer applications such as Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace (including spreadsheets) and communication platforms.

Screening and Evaluation:

The Application Packet:
Please be sure to provide all the materials below in your application submission:

• Online application: Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.
• Attach a resume: Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications. Attach the PDF document to the on-line application. Be sure to explain in detail, including dates, all related work experience, paid or unpaid.
• Attach a cover letter: This should expand on your resume, address why you are interested in this position and demonstrate how your experience and skill set align with the minimum and preferred qualifications listed.

Note: The application, resume, and cover letter should clearly demonstrate your work experience/skills and how they relate to the descriptions provided in the ‘Overview’ and ‘To Qualify’ sections of this job posting.  Please be thorough, as these materials will be used to determine your eligibility for an interview.

Internal candidates: After you have applied, you will receive the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox. Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you fill out and submit the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• Evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates, which may include phone interviews, panel interviews, and/or additional testing
• Professional reference checks

Note: Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Additional Details:

• Type of Position: This union represented position is eligible for overtime.
• Schedule:  Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM
• Hybrid Telework: This position is designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you will be working both remotely (from home) and in person at an onsite location. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations. The onsite work location for this position is the John B. Yeon building (1600 SE 190th Ave., Portland, OR 97233).

Essential Employee
The county provides a wide array of services, including many emergency-related functions and other services essential to the public health and safety. Essential employees are required to report for duty regardless of decisions to close or curtail other county operations.

Equal Pay Law
Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters
Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

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Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

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