Right of Way Title Supervisor

Project: A major natural gas pipeline project in the Permian Basin, Texas

Reports to: Project Manager or ROW Supervisor

Classification: Full-time

Location: Permian Basin, Texas - on-site; travel across the project area as assigned

Purpose

The Title Supervisor leads title research and land-records work supporting the acquisition, development, operation and maintenance of natural gas pipeline infrastructure. This role supervises title agents and coordinates with right-of-way agents, attorneys, surveyors, project managers and government agencies to identify ownership, determine property interests, resolve title issues and maintain accurate land records - holding the team to Gray Hawk's Title Standard: accuracy, detail and pace are co-equal.

Core Responsibilities

• Supervise, assign and review the work of title agents and other assigned staff.
• Plan and monitor title work to meet project schedules, quality standards and budget.
• Oversee examination of deeds, easements, leases, probate records, liens, judgments, tax records, plats and other public documents.
• Ensure ownership and property interests are accurately identified and documented - legal descriptions, exceptions, encumbrances and gaps in the chain of title.
• Review title commitments, title reports, ownership reports and supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Identify and coordinate resolution of title defects and complex ownership issues, escalating legal matters to counsel as appropriate.
• Coordinate with right-of-way agents on acquisition packages, landowner information, easement documentation and closing requirements.
• Maintain title files, databases, maps and document-management systems to company standards and applicable retention requirements.
• Develop and improve procedures, templates, quality-control practices and reporting for title operations.
• Track workload, status, deliverables and costs; provide regular updates to the Project Manager and project teams.
• Build productive working relationships with landowners, title companies, courthouse personnel, agencies and vendors.
• Lead the team's field safety: walk each new team member through the Field Safety Manual and Safety Training and complete the sign-off with them; hold the daily safety briefing and keep the Daily Safety Log.
• Train and mentor title agents; give performance feedback and support their development.

Success Metrics

• Title agents working under clear assignments, with their work reviewed before it leaves the team.
• Title deliverables accurate and on pace - neither perfectionism nor pace pressure compromising the work.
• Title defects and complex ownership issues identified and escalated early, before they delay acquisition.
• No unresolved title escalations aging beyond 3 days without documented status.
• Title files and databases current and audit-ready.
• No team member working alone in the field before their Field Safety acknowledgment and Safety Training sign-off are complete.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum ten (10) years of right-of-way title experience.
• Minimum five (5) years supervising title agents.
• 5+ years of Texas title experience.
• Leadership experience on FERC-regulated natural gas pipeline projects.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team of title agents - assigning, reviewing and holding the work to a standard.
• Strong working knowledge of deeds, easements, leases, probate records, liens, judgments, tax records and plats as they affect ownership, legal descriptions and marketable title.
• Experience with land-management databases (such as Irth Land Management or comparable) and the ability to learn new client databases quickly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Strong organization, written communication, research and problem-solving skills.
• Must supply their own mobile phone that can receive email, and a computer capable of doing the job effectively.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent right-of-way experience or IRWA certification (SR/WA or RW/AC) accepted in its place.
• Available to start within weeks of an offer and to work on-site in the Permian Basin.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience preparing Chains of Title and Limited Title Certificates.
• Specialized title expertise (e.g., government title, Indian land title, mortgages and liens).
• Experience with ESRI GIS software.

Don't meet every requirement? If you have strong FERC pipeline leadership experience but not in Texas, we still want to hear from you.