Job Summary

Clark County Public Works is currently seeking a Right of Way Assistant who loves working in a team environment to join our Real Property Services team. We are looking for a professional with strong communication and interpersonal skill who can maintain a high level of intra departmental teamwork and customer relations. We have cultivated a positive, support work environment and expect a high level of professionalism. The successful candidate will be highly organized, self-motivated, with excellent time management skills, have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, is quality focused, and thrives in a fast-paced working environment with shifting priorities and competing deadlines.

As a Right of way Assistant, you would be providing technical support and be a key member of the Real Property Services Team. This position requires basic technical knowledge and judgment to resolve complex problems in regard to reading legal descriptions, land acquisitions, disposals. The successful applicant will have excellent verbal and written communication skills and will be a contributing member of a collaborative and high-performing team.

What you would do:
• Among the varied range of responsibilities held within the role, the right of way assistant will perform the following:
• Performs research for various right of way projects; gathers and compiles information for capital road projects, specialized projects, and requests; summarize responses to questions from property owners, attorneys, right of way agents and other departments such as Operations, Parks Department, and other Divisions with the County.
• Research county assessor and public records to identify ownership of properties affected by existing or proposed facilities, read, and understand right of way and construction plans. Review standard and specialized title reports for accuracy of the vesting deed and legal description of property and identifies any conflicting issues such as existing easements, judgments, covenants, conditions and restrictions, liens and encumbrances that might impact right of way.
• Research, read and interpret legal descriptions to accurately establish property ownership and comparing them to the project plans; prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive legal documents and resolve inconsistencies with the project team.
• Prepare real estate documents, draft offer packages and legal documents for acceptance and recording; prepares payment vouchers documents and issues payments.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains historic and current right of way files and other records.

Responsibilities:
As the Real Property Assistant, you will:
• Assist the Right of Way Team in the delivery of various types of projects.
• Determine and implement necessary steps to clear titles, liens, and encumbrances of purchased properties.
• Prepare the legal instruments and correspondence documenting right-of-way acquisitions.
• Research, interpret, and decipher challenging and complicated documents on right-of-way history and property information.
• Respond to inquiries by using tact, discretion and diplomacy in dealing with concerned property owners.
• Prepare and maintain files and records to properly manage county properties.
• Assist in the preparation of staff reports, resolutions, ordinance, easements, leases, and other documents relating to management of county properties.
• Process technical data and legal documents regarding right of way issues, understand and apply federal, state, and local laws and regulations applicable to right of way processes.
• Process various payment requests related to real estate property transactions.
• Perform data entry into various computer systems.

Appraiser positions are represented by PROTEC17, Professional and Technical Employees.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Applicants must possess, at the minimum, two (2) years of full-time title examination experience or experience associated with right-of-way property negotiation and acquisition; relevant post-secondary training or coursework may substitute for up to one year of required experience.

Successful Real Property Assistant will have:

• Ability to work cooperatively and develop effective working relationships with diverse work groups and the general public, including the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Strong organization skills and detail oriented
• Skill in answering questions, providing information, and performing customer services for the public with courtesy and tactfulness.
• Skill in interpreting, communicating, and applying a variety of policies, procedures, guidelines, and methods.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and stay current on clerical tasks.
• Utilize complex and records systems.
• Read and interpret instruments of ownership, legal property descriptions and a variety of cadastral information
• Formulate memoranda, letters and other correspondence as necessitated by work assignments

Knowledge of:  Title search and clearance practices and procedures; the procedures and requirements pertaining to the legal documentation and recording involved in the property acquisition process; the principles and practices of relocation assistance and of the rules and regulations involved.

Ability to: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees, public and private officials and the general public as necessitated by work assignments; deal courteously and tactfully with the public; express ideas effectively, orally and in writing; read and interpret instruments of ownership, legal property descriptions and a variety of cadastral information; formulate memoranda, letters and other correspondence as necessitated by work assignments; prepare and maintain a variety of files, records and reports; utilize complex and record systems; operate a variety of office equipment, including  computer terminals.

Selection Process:

Resume and other documents must be attached together in the 'Resume Upload' section of the application.  Multiple files are allowed, but all applicant attachments must be uploaded simultaneously, as there is no way to edit or append uploaded materials after submitting the application.

Application Review (Pass/ Fail) - An online application is required.  Attaching a resume does not substitute for a completed application; incomplete applications will not pass the application review.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Practical Exam (Pass/Fail) - This recruitment may require a practical exam which will be job related and may include, but not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Oral Interview - The interview will be job related and may include, not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Top candidate(s) will continue in the process.

Employment references will be conducted for the final candidates and may include verification of education.

It is general policy of the County that new employees should be hired at the lower steps of the applicable range and advance through the range at the normal progression.

First review of candidates will be March 1st. This recruitment may close at any time on or after the first review date.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Determines and implements the steps necessary to clear titles of properties to be purchased.

Prepares or drafts the required legal instruments and correspondence necessary to document right-of-way acquisition agreement details.

Researches right-of-way history and other property cadastral data in response to work assignments or public inquiry.

Prepares and maintains all necessary files and records and provides assistance with Public Services permit inquiries as required.

Maintains file systems, cross references, and other systems necessary to properly manage county property.

Assists in the preparation of staff reports, resolutions, ordinance, easements, leases, and other documents relating to management of county property.

Salary Grade

Local 17 Engineers.5

Salary Range

$21.76 - $28.28- per hour

For complete job announcement, application requirements, and to apply on-line (applications on external sites are not monitored), please visit our website at:

https://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/explore-careers-clark-county