Land Use Administrator

Umatilla Electric Cooperative is headquartered in Hermiston, Oregon (population 18,000+), the largest and fastest-growing city in Eastern Oregon. Located seven miles south of the Columbia River, Lake Wallula and the McNary Dam, the Hermiston area has become a hub for logistics and data center activity. The area is 30 minutes south of the Tri-Cities in Washington, two-and-a-half hours south of Spokane, three hours east of Portland, and three-and-a-half hours northwest of Boise. Cost of living is lower than the national average. Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University have branch facilities in Hermiston; Columbia Basin College and a branch campus of Washington State University are a 40-mile drive. Area activities are plentiful, and include golfing, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and snow skiing.

UEC Company Benefits & Perks:

4-10 Schedule (Friday's Off)

401(K) up to 11% Company Match

Pension Plan (100% Employer Sponsored)

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits options

Competitive Wages

Vacation, Sick Leave and 11 paid holidays

Gym Membership Subsidy

Employer Sponsored Training

Various Opportunities for Fundraising and giving back to the community

SUMMARY

The Land Use Administrator is responsible for and oversees easement and permit acquisition, property procurement, and reviewing environmental documents to support Engineering Work Plans. This position will work closely with engineers, attorneys, property owners, and local agencies to acquire right-of-way and ensure compliance with land use regulations for preparation and execution of construction work packages. This position will help to lead, mentor, and develop Land Use staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES may include other duties as assigned.

• Responsible for development, updating, and implementation of organizational land use acquisition strategies consistent with cooperative principles.
• Oversees easement negotiations and property acquisition.
• Organize and collaborate with project managers and engineers to develop comprehensive project land use plans, including scope, goals, timelines, and budgets.
• Act as point of contact and communicates regular land use project status updates to internal and external stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of local and regional land use activities and developments. Foster and maintain strategic partnerships. Attend local jurisdiction planning commission and council meetings. Actively monitor state and federal land use requirements and changes.
• Responsible for overseeing project timelines, tasks, and resources to ensure efficient and successful project delivery. Identify potential constraints, providing timely updates to project managers and suggesting remedial actions.
• Leads, mentors, and develops other Land Use staff.

JOB DUTIES may include other duties as assigned.

• Oversee preparation, submittal, and tracking of land use applications to regulatory agencies and ensuring permits are acquired and recorded in a timely manner. Ensures projects are completed per regulatory agency requirements and/or obligations.
• Maintains and shares knowledge of easement law, land ownership rights, title, easement descriptions and the processes involved with obtaining such. Responsible for reading and interpreting Metes and Bounds descriptions in order to maintain map files, GIS layers, writing easements, and related records and databases.
• Oversees timely development and accurate production of supporting project documents related to land use that are necessary for substation, transmission, and/or distribution construction work packages.
• Manage resource allocation and task assignments, ensuring the right people are assigned to the right tasks at the right time.
• Able to review, interpret, and revise legal documents in accordance with UEC's various Land Use activities.
• Makes sound business decisions based on the short- and long-term interests of the cooperative and its members.
• Workload must have balance of volume and accuracy in all aspects of the job.
• Manage projects to keep them moving forward, adding value, and taking ownership.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations, zoning requirements, safety requirements and permits.
• Requires self-motivation and a willingness to function as a team member with the ability to interact well with the general public and various agencies. Conducts themselves in a manner that reflects well on UEC and contributes to harmonious relations with members.
• Must uphold excellent communication skills, including: presentation, persuasion and negotiation skills required when working with members, coworkers, or outside agencies and including the ability to communicate effectively and remain calm and courteous under pressure.
• Complies with UEC policies and procedures.
• Respectfully takes direction from supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY

Supervises the Land Use Specialists within the Engineering Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Law, Environmental Science, Business, or related discipline.

Experience: Ten (10) years of applicable urban or regional planning, real estate, land-use/right-of-way experience, and/or training in a related field is required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications/skills:
Ability to work with concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, proportions to practical situations, buffers, network connectivity and flow, query structures, and measurements related to various coordinate systems.
Has advanced specialized computer skills that require mastery of applicable software in such fields such as Computer Aided Design ("CAD"), electric utility system design software, GIS, analytical engineering software, and web-based training.
Familiarity with electrical utility systems and ArcGIS Pro or similar mapping software is preferred. Familiarity with web mapping services, mobile mapping solutions, modeling/scripting, and working with multiple data formats is preferred.
Ability to write and draw Metes and Bounds descriptions to maintain map files, GIS layers, writing easements, and related records and databases.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common technical descriptions/instructions, work or service orders, and legal documents. Ability to effectively present information to colleagues, management, the public, and/or boards of directors.
A valid Driver's License is required for business travel.

EOE M/F/Veteran/Disability