CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, AL
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Aug 29, 2023
Full Time
ATTENTION Merit System Employees: Do not apply through this site. If you are a current Merit System employee, please click HERE to log into the internal career site. Grade 24 Click HERE for Salary Ranges CLOSE DATE 12/31/2023 SUMMARY The City of Birmingham is looking for a qualified, motivated, and enthusiastic Senior Land Acquisition Agent to assist in obtaining land for Birmingham area development efforts, and to manage land-related projects after the land has been purchased. Employees who hold the Senior Land Acquisition Agent title coordinate with permitting specialists, lawyers, engineers, and scientists to ensure that projects are completed on time and under budget. Learn more about Birmingham, the position, and the tremendous benefits of being a part of the City of Birmingham team below. About the Position The City of Birmingham is actively seeking a Senior Land Acquisition Agent who will be responsible for performing complex technical appraisal and property negotiation and acquisition to ensure proper and legal acquisition of rights-of-way, easements and other interests in real property for the jurisdiction. The Senior Land Acquisition Agents must ensure that the work they complete complies with all local, state and federal regulations and guidelines. They are tasked with acting as a liaison to property owners to obtain property rights, resolve problems, gather information, and address concerns that arise during land acquisition projects. They communicate with various parties including property appraisers, attorneys, property owners, and surveyors to discuss various activities related to land acquisition projects. Senior Land Acquisition Agents work under the general direction of a supervisor (e.g., Chief Land Acquisition Agent, Chief Civil Engineer) who reviews work for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to policies and procedures. About Birmingham Adorning the name “The Magic City,” Birmingham, Alabama is a vibrant place of outstanding communities and unlimited potential. Consisting of a population of over 200,000 and serving as the central hub of a metropolitan area of over 1.1 million, the Birmingham is one of the largest cities and the economic center of the State of Alabama. Birmingham offers an array of advantages that make it a perfect place to start or grow your career. Today’s Birmingham serves as an economic, cultural, and societal leader for the Southeast. It is home to world-class universities and medical research facilities and professionals, a critically acclaimed culinary arts scene bursting with eclectic restaurants, a thriving arts community, a diverse range of local music venues and events, national and international sports and athletic competitions, and a progressive business climate with a strong entrepreneurial spirt and a devotion to social justice. Sitting in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham also provides an abundance of natural and scenic wonders, beautiful parks, hiking and biking trails, and mild weather to complement virtually any lifestyle or adventure. Birmingham provides these amenities, along with a robust, diverse and inclusive lifestyle, all while remaining as one of the most affordable cities to live in the nation. A Career with the City of Birmingham With the motto of Putting People First, the City of Birmingham works to ensure employees and the citizens of Birmingham are the number one priority. Employment with the City provides an opportunity to work in an environment that fosters a culture of teamwork and community, supports equity and justice, promotes employee growth and development, and encourages individualism, while also emphasizing accountability to fellow coworkers and the community. Putting People First also means that, as an employer, the City of Birmingham strives to provide and maintain a highly competitive compensation structure, excellent health and medical benefits, and a strong and secure retirement and pension plan, along with other employee wellness benefits and programs. Working with the City of Birmingham provides not only the opportunity for a productive and secure career, but also a career that provides meaning and the opportunity to truly make a difference. To be considered qualified for the position, a candidate must possess the following minimum qualifications : Coursework in real property appraisal from a member of the Appraisal Foundation, Appraisal Institute, an accredited university, or International Right of Way Association (IRWA). Experience reviewing property appraisals. Experience involving acquisition of land and real property interest. Experience reading, writing, and interpreting legal descriptions. Experience reading and interpreting engineering design plans. Experience using the guidelines and procedures from the Uniform Act for the acquisition of real property. Experience conducting transactions regarding public property in compliance with federal funding (Uniform Act) including eminent domain (e.g., sales, vacations, leases). NOTE: Senior Right of Way Professional Certification from the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) may be substituted in lieu of the above qualifications. Driver's license. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CLOSE AT ANYTIME. Typical Senior Land Acquisition Agents Job Duties include, but are not necessarily limited to: Updates GIS mapping system software and/or computer files (e.g., documents, spreadsheets, databases) with information pertaining to land acquisition projects (e.g., property boundaries, owner’s name, estimated value, existing rights-of-way/easements, jurisdictional assets and use, etc.) to ensure property records are accurate and up to date. Manages records, documents, and paperwork generated during the acquisition of the property in order to ensure they are filed in accordance with legal and/or departmental standards. Conducts research on property parcels involved in land acquisition projects using tax assessor records, deeds, title records, and survey maps in order to verify the accuracy of construction/engineering plans, determine project scope, and identify the owner of land involved in acquisition projects. Prepares written correspondence, reports, and legal documents such as deeds, easement agreements, and contracts using templates or previous examples to facilitate the acquisition, divestment, or vacation of real property. Conducts negotiations and serves as a liaison to property owners in order to obtain property rights, resolve problems, gather information, and address concerns that arise during land acquisition projects. Guides parties through the right-of-way vacation process in order to fulfill requests to abandon land use rights in accordance with state statutes. Facilitates the divestment, lease, or licensure of jurisdictional property in order to transfer property ownership or land use rights in accordance with local, state, and/or federal laws. Answers inquiries from the public, engineers, surveyors, and other agencies regarding right-of-way acquisition. Initiates eminent domain processes in order to condemn subject property parcels. Compensation & Benefits Salary range: $52,686.40 - $81,744.00 (starting salary is commensurate with education and experience) Flexible work arrangements including remote/telework options. Such flexible work arrangements must be approved by the Department Director. A City-sponsored pension retirement plan. The City of Birmingham provides a Tier 3 a“defined benefit” plan where employee retirement payments are computed using a formula that considers several factors, such as length of employment and salary history. Excellent medical insurance with employee monthly contribution as low as $32.50/month Dental insurance Vision insurance Behavioral health plan Group Term Life & AD&D Insurance, Voluntary Term Life & AD&D, Whole Life Insurance, and Short-term Disability options Paid vacation and sick leave Generous holiday schedule Membership and admission benefits for City attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, Southern Museum of Flight, and more. To learn more about the City of Birmingham, please visit www.birminghamal.gov . COMPETENCIES: Adaptability & Flexibility. Computer & Technology Operations. Leadership & Management. Oral Communication & Comprehension. Planning & Organizing. Problem Solving & Decision Making. Professionalism & Integrity. Researching & Referencing. Reviewing, Inspecting & Auditing. Self-Management & Initiative. Teamwork & Interpersonal. Technical & Job-Specific Knowledge. Technical Skills. Written Communication & Comprehension. CRITICAL KNOWLEDGES: Knowledge of contract, real estate, and eminent domain laws. Knowledge of property appraisal codes affecting the value of property. Knowledge the methods and practices of real property appraisal. Knowledge of the legal instruments affecting the transfer, sale, and lease of real property. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is conducted mostly indoors in an office setting, with periodic field visits to external indoor or outdoor locations. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods. May involve occasional light lifting of items or objects weighing up to 25 lbs. DISCLAIMER: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required to do the job and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS Persons requiring special conditions to accommodate a disability when completing the application should contact the Personnel Board at 205-279-3500 before the announcement closing date. Qualified applicants who believe they will need reasonable accommodation in the examination process should complete and submit an Accommodation Request Form. You may obtain an Accommodation Request Form by contacting our ADA Ombudsperson at ADAO@pbjcal.org, or by accessing the "Request for Accommodation" form through the following website: http://www.pbjcal.org/ AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The Personnel Board of Jefferson County (Personnel Board) provides a public personnel system based on merit principles. The Personnel Board strives for the constant improvement of the public service by employing and developing the best qualified persons available. The Personnel Board provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or genetics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Employment decisions are made by the Merit System municipality or governmental agency in which the position exists. Each Merit System municipality, agency, or jurisdiction administers its own equal employment opportunity programs in compliance with applicable state and/or federal laws and regulations.