Real Estate Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

OVERVIEW:   The Real Estate Specialist leads complex realty projects across the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s trust and fee lands, including fee-to-trust acquisitions, environmental compliance, member land services, residential leasing programs, rights-of-way management, and legal records governance. This position serves as the primary technical liaison the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and internal leadership. The Real Estate Specialist administers consultant contracts, conducts advanced legal records research, and produces analyses and reports while ensuring full compliance with Tribal policies as well as applicable federal, state, and local laws. This position is supervised by the Housing Manager, with guidance from the Tribal Attorney’s Office.

WORK LOCATION: TBD

SUPERVISED BY: Housing Manager

POSITION STATUS: Permanent, Full-time with benefits

SALARY LEVEL: $30-$45/hour

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM 

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Establish positive working relationships with BIA staff and serve as the Tribe’s primary point of contact with BIA officials on fee-to-trust applications and all other tribal realty related matters
• Manage all aspects of fee-to-trust applications, including conducting background research, compiling technical data, and drafting comprehensive application narratives consistent with 25 CFR §151
• Work with BIA office personnel to initiate and prepare fee-to-trust applications, engage consultants as needed to comply with federal requirements, monitor application progress, troubleshoot application issues, prepare reports and correspondence to BIA officials, compile and submit required technical data and documentation, ensure applications proceed in a timely manner, and verify fee-to-trust conversions are properly recorded with the BIA office and applicable county governments, as required
• Process Land Assignment applications from community members; draft accurate lot descriptions; and issue public notice of applications
• Oversee residential land services processes and quality control; process residential lease applications; ensure accurate legal descriptions for residential, business, and land leases; ensure compliance with all applicable policies and procedures
• Manage all residential lease documentation and approvals; prepare resolutions for legal/policy review and approval; file approved leases with the U.S. Department of Interior and the Land Titles and Records Office (LTRO); maintain land title records including, but not limited to, Title Status Reports (TSRs); respond to lender inquiries and leasehold mortgage requests; ensure the accuracy of land records and related documentation.
• Direct right-of-way portfolio activities for utilities and roads; secure, record, and track easements and agreements; ensure timely LTRO recordation and compliance
• Ensure environmental and cultural resource compliance for fee-to-trust processes, the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, and other realty-related matters; prepare applicable National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents; oversee consultant support as needed
• Procure, oversee, and direct environmental consultants conducting ESA Phase I/II assessments and technical studies as required
• Perform official duties of Legal Records Clerk as described in Res. No. 27-05
• Provide land records research assistance and reports for the Tribal Council, Tribal departments, and community members
• Ensure internal and external processes are done in accordance with applicable law and policy, with guidance from the Tribal Attorney’s Office.
• Store, organize, and maintain multiple formats (including automated systems of record) or data in a usable condition; assure information is readily available; disseminate information effectively and securely
• Maintain and secure the Tribal governmental archiving system for recording land records, Leasehold Mortgages, and other governmental documents as the Tribe may designate by Tribal law or resolution; ensure proper indexing and filing of land records
• Assist with departmental budgeting and financial management in coordination with the Finance Department; handle daily workflow requests, calls, emails, and public inquiries with professionalism
• Provide strategic assistance and guidance in planning, prioritizing, and acquiring real estate for economic development, housing, government infrastructure, and conservation
• Perform other tasks and duties as deemed necessary

Required Qualifications (Minimum Required for Indian Preference in Hiring):

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, legal studies, real property management, land use planning, real estate, or related field; or 
  • Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in title examination, paralegal studies, legal studies, real property management, land use planning, real estate, or related field
• Skills:
  • Proficiency in primary computer applications such as Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • Proficiency in reading, interpreting, and utilizing United States Geological, Survey (USGS) topographic quadrangle maps, Public Land Survey System (PLSS) grids, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping software to locate and verify land boundaries
  • Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate various types of legal land descriptions, boundaries, and acreage calculations to determine precisely where a property is located, acreage of tracts, etc.
  • Technical Capacity to work with standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines
  • Ability to apply Tribal, Federal, State and local laws, regulations, and guidelines
  • Ability to work independently and with a team
  • Strong organizational skills, thoroughness, accuracy, and attention to detail
  • Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative
  • Possess well-developed verbal and written communication skills and abilities
  • Ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with Tribal staff, State and Federal Agencies, and other relevant groups
  • Ability to work with people from diverse cultures, ethnic and socio- economic backgrounds, possess a basic knowledge of Native American communities, and always maintain cultural sensitivity

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with title examination
• Demonstrated work history with an Indian Tribal Government(s) and documented Indian land law experience

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to speak, see, and hear
• Standing and/or sitting for sustained periods of time
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Repetitive movement of the fingers, wrists, and hands
• Ability to lift objects from a lower to higher position and/or horizontally
• Occasionally involves field work in inclement weather
• Ability to work nights and/or weekends as needed
• Ability to occasionally travel out of town for work-related trainings, conferences, meetings, or events as needed

Other Requirements

• Possess a valid and unrestricted Washington State Driver’s License (or able to attain one within the probationary period of 90 days), be insurable under the Tribe’s existing automobile insurance, and meet Driver Qualifications set forth in the Tribe’s Motor Vehicle Operation Policy
• Pass a pre-employment background check
• Comply with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Drug Free Workplace policies, including pre-employment UA testing
• Professional in demeanor and appearance

 

* This position is subject to Indian Preference in hiring.