Senior Real Estate Services Professional

Job Title

Public Contact Work Conducting Negotiations

Job Description

Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions and job-related requirements, including physical and cognitive demands, are described below. This job description outlines the general scope of duties and responsibilities and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks that may be assigned.

Major Function

Public contact work conducting negotiations with property owners and/or their legal representatives to secure property interests needed for County projects that may be complex in nature. Maintain County's land inventory, review and process street lighting districts, and prepare vacations of rights-of-way and/or easements.

Illustrative Duties

• Acquisition of property through negotiations with property or business owners and/or their representatives to acquire those real property interests needed for county projects, which are significantly complex in size or nature. Coordinates with consultants (acquisition, real estate appraisers, title companies, etc.) to initiate and secure property information necessary to obtain said property.
• Prepares, reviews, and recommends settlement justifications to achieve approval of negotiated schedules. In preparation for acquiring real property, independently verify legal descriptions, appraisal information, and clears title encumbrances by preparing, executing, and recording releases.
• Prepares and reviews the necessary legal instruments; (i.e.: deeds, leases, titles, mortgagee releases, options, agreements, maps, etc.) required to acquire property and easements over private or public lands. Reviews property tax information, obtains tax prorations, conducts and/or assists in closings on real property.
• Prepares and reviews legal documents, maintaining section, and project files. Reviews engineering design construction plans and right-of-way maps for proposed County projects. Interprets right-of-way maps and project plans for property owners and the public. Prepares, assembles, and reviews condemnation suit information packages to ensure processing of eminent domain lawsuits in a timely manner. Inputs and monitors data onto project status reports or systems for all acquisition activities.
• Assists with consultants monitoring to ensure compliance with County, State and Federal Regulations and Procedures regarding acquisition functions. Interacts with other County departments, municipalities, state and federal agencies.
• Prepares agendas for Board of County Commissioner's consideration.
• Coordinates functions related to the County's land inventory including the sale of suitable surplus properties.
• Coordinates demolition activities associated with County projects and/or County-owned lands.
• Coordinates and processes requests for the vacation of public easements and rights-of-way.
• Drafts, processes and manage County related real property leases.
• Trains, mentors, and coaches less experienced than expected team members as needed.
• May be required to attend public meetings outside normal business hours to respond to citizens Inquiries related to County projects.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

• Highly knowledgeable in the acquisition of real property as it relates to right-of-way and easements acquisition; purchase of real property through various methods, to include condemnation and voluntary acquisitions; disposition of surplus County property; and working with other County departments to define and vacate County easements and petitions for the street lighting district.
• Highly knowledgeable in the practices and procedures required to appraise and value property.
• Highly knowledgeable of real estate title research and conveyance processes.
• Highly knowledgeable in the preparation, execution and management of leases as both the lessor and lessee.
• Highly knowledgeable in the practices and procedures associated with property and asset management, Including asset tracking of real property and project costs.
• Extensive knowledge of maps and construction plans.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing as well as work independently and adhere to prescribed routines and practices.
• Ability to prepare or draft routine documents and compose business letters, memoranda, and other related office documents.
• Ability to prepare and review property legal descriptions and conveyance documents.
• Highly skilled in document management practices and the use of databases and other software.
• Highly skilled in interacting with internal and external customers to work effectively with a wide variety of team members including the County Attorney's Office, County Administration, public citizens, officials, and other employees.
• Highly skilled in problem solving and decision making, with a strong working knowledge of real estate law and property management techniques.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree in a related field and four (4) years of experience in right-of-way/land acquisition or a graduate of an accredited high school or possess an acceptable equivalency diploma and have a minimum of six (6) years of experience in right-of-way/land acquisition.
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel and occasionally climb a ladder. Duties are primarily conducted in an office environment; however, outdoor work is also required.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver's license at the time of employment.
• Must be a Florida Notary Public or be able to qualify for a Florida Notary Public Commission within 30 days of employment.
• A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications except for a Florida driver's license and qualifying for a Notary Public Commission.

Special Requirements

• This full-time position is based in Polk County, Florida. Flexibility may be required to support emergencies outside of regular business hours.

All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.

Polk County Board of County Commissioners