Right-of-Way Negotiations & Relocations Chief

• Direct and supervise the Negotiation and Relocation Assistance Section, ensuring effective administration of right-of-way acquisition negotiations and relocation assistance activities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and Department policies.
• Train, develop, and motivate staff and Right-of-Way Agents assigned to negotiation and relocation assistance functions to build technical expertise, promote professional development, and maintain consistent application of program requirements.
• Develop, revise, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and guidelines to promote consistent, efficient, and compliant program administration.
• Evaluate employees and section performance against established standards, production goals, and program objectives; identify opportunities for improvement and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Establish and monitor quality-control practices to ensure negotiation and relocation activities meet applicable requirements, follow established procedures, and maintain consistent standards of quality and compliance.
• Develop, negotiate, and administer consultant agreements, contracts, and specifications related to negotiation and relocation assistance services.
• Monitor and evaluate consultant performance and work products for quality, accuracy, and compliance with contractual requirements; approve invoices for payment.
• Plan, organize, assign, and coordinate section activities; establish priorities, manage workloads, and ensure established goals, performance expectations, and deadlines are met.
• Coordinate with other Right-of-Way functions, Department divisions, consultants, and project teams to resolve acquisition and relocation issues, manage competing priorities, and support project delivery schedules.
• Oversee the right-of-way activities of the local public agencies, including coordination between cities, counties, the Federal Highway Administration, divisions of NDOT, and appraisers/negotiators.
• Represent the Department in legal proceedings, as necessary, including providing expert testimony related to negotiation and relocation assistance matters.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to provide independent, authorized transportation.
• Some overnight travel may be required.
• Regular and reliable attendance is required.

Knowledge of: Federal and State laws, regulations, and standards associated with highway right-of-way determination, property acquisitions, and related functions; the goals, principles, methods, and documents of right-of-way projects such as title/real estate determinations, legal requirements, instruments, and records for transferring property; pertinent property evaluations and real estate transactions; current highway construction renovation projects and plans; NDOT and divisional goals, structure, functions, and policies; practices of staff supervision and development.

Skills in: communicating effectively through written and verbal means; producing meaningful and useful written records; negotiating with landowners and tenants for the most complex acquisitions and relocations; determining the most effective approach to the management of activities and functions to support the project delivery process; designating the appropriate time frames and work sequences of assigned projects and staff activities for projects and activities assigned.

Ability to: exercise tact and judgment when dealing with property owners; present technical information and advocate decisions and judgments made to NDOT managers, landowners and their representatives, and others; determine time frames and work sequences of assigned projects to maintain schedules.