Senior Right-Of-Way Agent

Salary : $77,640.16 - $129,399.50 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 25-00835
Department: DPWES Capital Facilities
Opening Date: 04/12/2025
Closing Date: 5/2/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S27
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

This position under the general supervision of a branch chief performs the following duties:

• Coordinates and executes acquisitions of real property necessary to construct various stormwater, transportation, wastewater, public buildings, and capital improvement projects.
• Provides leadership or supervises a diverse group of right-of-way agents and engineering technician staff in the performance of land acquisition work.
• Personally performs difficult and complex acquisition/negotiation work involving state or federal guidelines, severely impacted properties, high profile and/or controversial issues, acquisitions involving commercial and/or residential relocations, and critical path time constraints.
• May be assigned less-complex projects as workload requires. Negotiates the settlement of acquisitions under the threat of litigation or use of eminent domain. Guides continuous improvement initiatives.
• Interprets plans, plats, and drawings. Analyzes title reports and complex reports and documentation to determine property ownership.
• Reviews real property appraisal reports and performs waiver valuations or cost estimates as appropriate.
• Prepares and reviews agenda items for the Board of Supervisors; plans and coordinates condemnation proceedings with staff from other agencies, attorneys, and elected officials; makes presentations and testifies before the Board of Supervisors and/or in court regarding condemnation matters as appropriate.
• Promotes communication, teamwork, and collaboration within the project team, stakeholders and with other divisions in Capital Facilities. Candidates are expected to have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Coordinates relocation activities as necessary.
• Interprets real estate valuation principles and drawings.
• Assists in writing and updates Land Acquisition Division procedures for the various types of projects;

DPWES is a diverse, nationally-accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness.

Please review our awesome benefits:The Land Acquisition Division is responsible for the acquisition of land or right-of-way and other land rights, including permanent and temporary easements and letters of permission, necessary to support the Capital Improvement Program.

Note: This job announcement may be used to fill multiple current and/or future vacancies.
Illustrative Duties

• Handles the more difficult and/or sensitive purchases of real property for the County;
• Serves as team leader, coordinates project assignments, and provides technical expertise to Right-of-Way Agents and Engineering Technicians;
• Coordinates training for the Division and provides training to professional and technical staff;
• Researches legal records to determine real estate ownership;
• Interprets and determines the applicability of various federal, state, and County statutes, codes, and ordinances such as the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act and the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance;
• Interprets real estate valuation principles, engineering plans and construction drawings;
• Coordinates the gathering of data in preparation for public hearing and condemnation proceedings;
• Coordinates legal issues with the County Attorney's Office;
• Testifies in court regarding condemnation matters;
• Conducts special investigations and issues reports;
• Meets with the professional and technical staff, compiles project updates and disseminates data at twice-monthly project status meetings;

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of real property acquisition for public purposes;
• Knowledge of the law governing condemnation or disposal proceedings;
• Knowledge of the legal instruments involved in real estate transactions;
• Skill in negotiating the purchase of real property;
• Ability to interpret real estate valuation principles;
• Ability to lead and instruct other employees in the land acquisition process;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with property owners, the public and other County officials;
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally;
• Ability to prepare correspondence and write reports.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
A bachelor's degree in real estate or a related field from an accredited four year college or university; plus four years of experience in real property negotiation, disposition and/or evaluation.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years of supervision of diverse staff or team leadership.
• Project management skills.
• Experience reviewing and/or evaluating plans and plats.
• Experience reviewing and/or evaluating real property title reports.
• Experience with physical inspection of real estate to identify and/or evaluate property features, and construction of capital improvements.
• Experience in contract administration, planning and zoning related research, including proffers, and mapping using Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
• Possession of any of the following licenses: Virginia Brokers License, Virginia Certified Residential Appraiser License, Virginia Certified General Appraiser License, Virginia Real Estate Sale License, Virginia Law License, License(s) from other state or jurisdictions.
• Possession of the Senior Right-of-Way Agent (SR/WA) designation awarded through the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) or the ability to complete those requirements within three years where time and budget permit.
• Education and experience in one or more of the following: real estate, implementing real estate transactions as allowed by Virginia law, eminent domain, real property appraisals, or property title research.
• Proficiency in basic Microsoft Office Suite applications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate with others to exchange information during virtual and in-person meetings. Ability to produce handwritten and typed documents. Ability to travel to project locations throughout the county. Ability to visually inspect project locations against engineering plans. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
#LI-JY1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Flexible Spending Program
• Deferred Compensation

Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate your area(s) of study or major(s)/minor(s) towards a degree. Check all that apply.

• Real estate
• Engineering
• Surveying
• Planning
• Public administration
• Communication
• Law
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not Applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience in real property negotiation, disposition and/or evaluation do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight years or more

06

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of full-time equivalent supervisory/management experience do you have with a diverse group of employees?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

08

How many employees have you supervised in the past?

• None
• One to two
• Three to four
• Five or more

09

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have reviewing and/or evaluating plans and plats?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

10

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have reviewing and/or evaluating real property title reports?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

11

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have reviewing and/or evaluating real property appraisal reports?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

12

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience do you have in the acquisition of land rights?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

13

In which of the following areas do you have work experience? Check all that apply.

• Physical inspection of real estate to identify and/or evaluate property features
• Construction of capital improvements, including working knowledge of constructability-related issues
• Contract administration, including the creation of contracts, working with vendors, performance management, and resolution of problems
• Planning and Zoning-related research, including proffers
• Mapping, including use of tax and zoning maps, and the creation of maps using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other methods
• None of the above

14

Please indicate which of the following you have education and experience in. Check all that apply

• Real estate
• Implementing real estate transactions as allowed by Virginia law
• Eminent domain
• Real property appraisals
• Property title research
• None of the above

15

Do you possess a valid license in any of the following? Check all that apply. Note: All license information (number, expiration date, etc.) must be included in your applicant profile.

• Virginia Brokers License
• Virginia Certified Residential Appraiser License
• Virginia Certified General Appraiser License
• Virginia Real Estate Sale License
• Virginia Law License
• License(s) from other state or jurisdictions
• None of the above

16

If you selected "License(s) from other state of jurisdictions" in the previous question, please list all of your license(s). If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not possess a license, enter "Not applicable"
17

Do you possess the Senior Right-of-Way Agent (SR/WA) designation awarded through the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) or are able to complete those requirements within three years where time and budget permit?

• Yes
• No

18

Are you proficient in any of the following Microsoft Office Suite applications? Check all that apply.

• Outlook (Composing email messages; sending and receiving email messages; organizing email messages into folders; managing contacts; scheduling appointments & meetings, managing tasks)
• Word (Knowledge of common functions such as creating a title; using, modifying, and creating styles; indenting paragraphs; using tabs and tables; inserting a hard page break; using page numbering; creating headers and footers; inserting graphics; adding comments and tracking changes)
• PowerPoint (Creating a template and working with a design template; working with graphics, animation and multimedia; building interactive presentations using hyperlinks)
• Excel (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents; creating and modifying pivot tables; using formulas and links to other cells/worksheets)
• None of the above

Required Question