Principal Right of Way Officer

Job Description:

Principal Right of Way Officer

Description

Marketing Statement

Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you both: 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits, and employment stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for connecting riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and the CalPERS retirement program.

Job Summary

PAY RATE
$140,813.64 - $183,057.59 (AFSCME Pay Band H)
Negotiable initial salary offer will be between $ 140,813.64 /annually - $ 161,935.62 /annually (commensurate with experience and education).

REPORTS TO
This position reports to the Department Manager, Real Estate and Property Development or his/her designee.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT

The initial application review will begin on July 29, 2024.

• Work with project managers leading major BART capital projects to provide right-of-way services including but not limited to: acquisition, relocation, r/w certification, title review, utility owner’s property rights and property management for proposed projects such as the Optional Irvington Station, Hayward Maintenance Complex, RR Bond Infrastructure Projects and Link21.
• Complete property transfers required for completed BART extensions including but not limited to eBART, SFO Extension, Warm Springs Extension, Oakland Airport Connector, Colma Extension, and Dublin Pleasanton Extension.
• Represent BART’s real estate interests in negotiations with other public agencies
• Negotiate leases, acquisitions, and dispositions as needed to support BART operations
• Lead property record organization and digitization to support more efficient district-wide access to information with respect to BART real property

SELECTION PROCESS
This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Applications will be screened to assure that minimum qualifications are met. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will then be referred to the hiring department for the completion of further selection processes.

The selection process for this position may include a skills/performance demonstration, a written examination, and/or an individual or panel interview.

The successful candidate must have an employment history demonstrating reliability and dependability; provide copies of certificates, diplomas or other documents as required by law, including those establishing his/her right to work in the U. S.; pass a pre-employment medical examination which includes a drug and alcohol screen, and which is specific to the essential job functions and requirements. Pre-employment processing will also include a background check. (Does not apply to current full-time District employees unless specific job requires additional evaluations)

The selection process for this position will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

APPLICATION PROCESS
External applicants may only apply online, at www.bart.gov/jobs. Applicants needing assistance with the online application process may receive additional information by calling (510) 464-6112.

Current employees are strongly encouraged to apply online, either at www.bart.gov/jobs, or on WebBART. Current employees may also apply using a BART paper application by delivering the completed form to the Human Resources Department, or by mailing it to P. O. Box 12688, Oakland, CA 94604-2688.

All applicants are asked to complete the application in full, indicating dates of employment, all positions held, hours worked, and a full description of duties. On line applicants are invited to electronically attach a resume to the application form to provide supplemental information, but should not consider the resume a substitute for the application form itself.

Applications must be complete by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement.

Examples of Duties

Assists in the management of the acquisition and relocation services for primarily the ESP and other extension work as needed.

Responsible for understanding and interpreting Federal and State regulations of Uniform Act.

Performs a variety of duties in negotiating and managing the district lease and rental accounts; researches and analyzes property issues; negotiates and settles all property issues; protects District interests in negotiations.

Assists in the development of policy and procedures for handling district assets; administers programs; monitors legislative changes; makes changes as needed to policies and procedures.

Prepares contracts and agreements for requests for qualifications and/or proposals; evaluates RFP responses; makes recommendations and prepares information and memos for Management to submit to Board to accept/reject proposals.

Identifies Division needs in lease and rental tracking and real property disposition activity; conducts research on tracking needs; coordinates market studies to determine rental and/or disposition values and cost analyses of property BART leases from others and of BART-owned property; communicates progress during planning and construction.

Coordinates legal aspects of projects with District internal legal department and outside legal counsel, as appropriate; serves as expert witness in district litigation.

Assists in the management and coordination of the work of professional staff; consultants and interns. Prepares work directives for on-call professional services, monitor consultant work, and approve invoices.

Assists in the management of the District’s Acquisition Relocation activities for primarily the ESP program; gathers information from other transit districts regarding similar programs; prepares reports to management including the General Manager and the Board.

Represents the District in front of design review boards, planning commissions, and city councils in support of extension activities.

May participate in the selection of assigned staff; coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; assists in the completion of performance appraisals; implements counseling and discipline procedures.



Minimum Qualifications

Education :
A Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. Completed courses sponsored by the International Right of Way Association or other, similar public sector real estate education (e.g., Appraisal Institute, Land Survey, Cal Trans) and designation as Senior Right of Way Agent (SW/WA) is desirable within the Right of Way Services Division.

Experience :
Four (4) years of (full-time equivalent) verifiable professional experience in the area of acquisition, appraisal, disposal, or management of real property. Other Requirements: Must possess a valid California driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Substitution :
Additional professional experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of :

• Operations, services and activities of a property acquisition program.
• Methods and techniques of property management, and appraisal.
• Principles and practices of land use planning.
• Rules and regulations regarding condemnation procedures and processes.
• Basic principles and practices of construction engineering.
• Related mandated standards for eviction and relocation.
• Basic principles and practices of budget preparation.
• Current office procedures, methods and equipment including computers.
• Methods and techniques of legal documentation of real estate and real estate transactions.
• Related Federal, State, and local codes, laws, and regulations.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.

Skill in :

• Independently performing property disposition, acquisition and relocation duties.
• Interpreting, explaining and enforcing right of way services division policies and procedures.
• Performing relocation analyses and preparing recommendations.
• Developing and preparing relocation budget recommendations.
• Appraising real property values.
• Negotiating real property dispositions with private sector.
• Negotiating real property dispositions with local land use jurisdictions.
• Drafting real estate related documentation.
• Reading basic engineering plans, maps and related materials.
• Evaluating community services and transportation needs.
• Operating office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Working independently in the absence of supervision.
• Understanding and following oral and written instructions.
• Communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including land owners, agency managers, property managers, developers, and consultants.
• Selecting, supervising, training and evaluating staff.

Equal Employment Opportunity GroupBox1

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and above), religion, national origin (including language use restrictions), disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), ancestry, marital status, military status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer/genetic characteristics and information), or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

The BART Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities or for religious reasons. Please advise the Human Resources Department of any special needs in advance of the examination by emailing at least 5 days before your examination date at employment@bart.gov .

Qualified veterans may be eligible to obtain additional veteran's credit in the selection process for this recruitment (effective Jan. 1, 2013). To obtain the credit, veterans must attach to the application a DD214 discharge document or proof of disability and complete/submit the Veteran's Preference Application no later than the closing date of the posting. For more information about this credit please go to the Veteran's Preference Policy and Application link at www.bart.gov/jobs .

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) prides itself in offering best in class benefits packages to employees of the District. Currently, the following benefits may be available to employees in this job classification.

Highlights

• Medical Coverage (or $350/month if opted out)
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Insurance (Basic and Enhanced Plans Available)
• Retirement Plan through the CA Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • 2% @ 55 (Classic Members)
  • 2% @ 62 (PEPRA Members)
  • Reciprocity available for existing members of many other public retirement systems (see BART website and/or CalPERS website for details)

Money Purchase Pension Plan (in-lieu of participating in Social Security tax)

• 6.65% employer contribution up to annual maximum of $1,868.65

Deferred Compensation & Roth 457 Sick Leave Accruals (12 days per year) Vacation Accruals (3-6 weeks based on time worked w/ the District) Holidays: 9 observed holidays and 4 floating holidays Life Insurance w/ ability to obtain additional coverage Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Survivor Benefits through BART Short-Term Disability Insurance Long-Term Disability Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts: Health and Dependent Care Commuter Benefits Free BART Passes for BART employees and eligible family members.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$140,813.64 - $183,057.59 Annually