Real Estate Specialist

Salary : $70,190.54 - $101,778.67 Annually Location : Human Resources, 401 E Virginia St. McKinney, TX 75069, TX Job Type: Full Time Job Number: 252600157 Department: Engineering OpeningDate: 02/26/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Summary WORKING FOR THE CITY OF MCKINNEY Working for the City of McKinney is more than a job. It is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. It is also an opportunity to have a hand in the development of one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. Proudly recognized on the Top Workplaces USA list by USA TODAY, our team is dedicated to making McKinney one of the best places to work, live, and raise a family. That's why we exist. Join us and start making a difference today. OUR CORE VALUES City of McKinney employees work hard and at a very fast pace. However, we also look after and support one another. All of us are guided by four employee-inspired values - Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (RISE). We are also supported by servant-based leaders who foster and support a healthy, family-oriented culture. All new employees are expected to embrace and live by our core values and commit to helping us sustain our exceptional work environment as a high performance organization. SUMMARY OF POSITION Under the direction of the Real Estate Acquisition Administrator, assists with the negotiation and acquisition of land rights needed for the installation, use and maintenance of public infrastructure and other City real estate interests and assets. Also assists with coordinating sales of city-owned properties. Real Estate Specialist is a project lead for various types of real estate transactions and coordinates activities of third-party contracts. Essential Functions/Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities GENERAL EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES In order for us to continue to achieve our primary function of making McKinney a better place to live, work, and raise a family, we hold these expectations for all employees. Learn and demonstrate an understanding of how team, department, and City goals are interconnected. Contribute to a positive work culture. Maintain regular and reliable attendance. Ability to assess his/her work performance or the work performance of the team. Contribute to the development of others and/or the working unit or overall organization. Ability and willingness to work as part of a team, to demonstrate team skills, and to perform a fair share of team responsibilities. Ability to continuously learn and develop through a mix of internal and external training opportunities, and if applicable, encourage subordinates to do the same. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Assists with the planning organizing, and coordinating of the City's real estate and right-of-way acquisitions. Assist with engaging and coordinating the efforts of appraisers, surveyors, relocation assistance consultants, attorneys, governmental agencies, engineers, title insurance and escrows agents. Assists with professional services contracts for appraisal, acquisition, and relocation services for compliance with project deadlines and applicable laws, procedures, and codes. Assists with negotiating and resolving significant and/or controversial issues. Works with City staff and other governmental agencies to promote cooperation and mutual goals. Assist with property owners negotiations on right-of-way acquisitions. Assists with soliciting, coordinating, and reviewing City Attorney work products, including multiple party agreements, litigation documents, deeds, easements, and leases. Assist with maintaining or directing the maintenance of accurate real property records, files, and databases. Assists with agenda item and resolutions preparation, drafts correspondences and legal instruments for the transfer of real property including deeds, easements, and rights of entries. Assists with cost estimates for engineering staff with respect to property acquisitions. Assist with requests for information from developers, engineers, appraisers, architects, planners, city staff and others; provides technical and professional advice. Responds to public inquiries regarding the City's property acquisition process in an efficient and timely manner. Develops and maintains written/computerized records regarding the status of proposed and ongoing property acquisitions for Capital Improvement and Development Projects. Prepares written documentation such as staff reports, letters of agreement, real estate purchase contracts, deeds, easement forms, payment authorizations, and all documents necessary to facilitate the purchase of real property and / or land rights for public projects and initiatives. Supports and guides entry level Real Estate Division staff, interns, and consultants. Recommends changes in policies, procedures, and standards related to the Real Estate Division operations to the Assistant Director. Crafts public presentation materials and may be tasked to make effective presentations to City staff, citizen groups and applicable governing bodies Assists and represents the Real Estate Division in community forums, and other public meetings as necessary. Researches, analyzes, and compiles information on current and pending projects for internal and external uses. Performs in depth analyses regarding real property / land rights acquisitions and makes recommendations to various City department's Capital Improvement Programs, with respect to feasibility studies and route selections. Complies with all written City policies and procedures. Adhere to assigned work schedule as outlined in City and department attendance policies and procedures. OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS: Perform other duties as assigned or directed. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND BEHAVIORS Ability to embrace and embody the City's core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (R.I.S.E.). Ability to communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, subordinates, and people to whom service is provided. Ability to produce desired work outcomes, including quality, quantity, and timeliness. Ability to plan and organize work, time, and resources, and if applicable, that of subordinates. Possess a high level of technical knowledge of right-of-way acquisition. Positions at this level typically are the top technical authority. Requires the ability to utilize a variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information such as appraisal reports, state and federal regulations, requests for proposals, contracts, City Ordinances, studies, tract maps, engineering plans, grant deeds, title reports, invoices, City attorney correspondence, agreements and other non-routine correspondence. Requires the ability to perform complex, difficult, confidential, and sensitive real property work. Requires the ability to communicate orally and in writing to City personnel, elected and appointed officials, private and public agencies, attorneys, consultants, contractors, and the general public. Requires the ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures, and standards of specific situations. Requires strong interpersonal, communications, and project management skills. Requires knowledge of office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties that are often characterized by frequent change. Possess the analytical / speaking skills necessary to effectively make presentations. Requires the ability operate a vehicle. Ability to work in a team environment; contribute as a team member and treat co-workers, subordinates, and customers with respect. Build professional relationships with internal staff and customers. Offer flexibility and adaptability, especially during times of change. Required Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Any work related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the below Minimum Qualifications may be an acceptable substitute. Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university with major course work in Business, Public Administration, Real Estate, Management or a related field with at least one (1) year of increasingly responsible project management experience particularly as it relates to a real estate behavior or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities. A valid Texas broker or real estate license is required or must be achieved within (6) six months of hiring and maintained in "Active" status under a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Must pass a drug screen and background check. Must have Class C Texas Driver's License Physical Demands/Supplemental PHYSICAL DEMANDS Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. WORK ENVIRONMENT There is limited exposure to environmental conditions. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed as of the date of preparation and approval. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and all requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. The City of McKinney is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to an alcohol / drug free workplace and to providing equal opportunities regardless of age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. The City offers a full complement of benefits: Health Insurance Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Medical and Childcare Account (FSA) Mental Health Care and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) City-paid and Voluntary Life Insurance City-paid and Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance Supplemental Insurance through Aflac Additional Benefits Legal Services through Legal Shield Tuition Reimbursement (up to $10,000 per year) Wellness Program (earn up to $600 per year) Retirement Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) Mandatory 7% employee contribution City match 2:1 5 year vesting Retire after 20 years of service, or age 60 with 5 years of service 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans Paid Time Off (PTO) Paid Vacation (80 hours per year for new hires; tiered increases after 2 yrs) Sick Leave (135 hours per year for yourself and immediate family) Paid Parental Leave (80 hours for birth, adoption, or placement of a child in foster care) Ten Paid Holidays Personal Day Optional compensatory time for hourly employees Compensatory time for salaried employees For more detailed information, please see the City of McKinney's