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Purpose
Under general direction, oversees the management of all District real estate holdings; negotiates and manages property leases, easements and crossing agreements; leads property acquisition activities and resolves encroachment issues on behalf of the District; provides technical support to the General Manager, Capital Projects Director and engineering staff, and the Board of Directors as required.

Description
This classification oversees the management of all District real estate holdings including property management and real estate acquisition projects. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. Successful performance of the work requires an extensive professional background in real estate as well as skill in coordinating program work.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by, and minimum requirements required of, employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job. SMART reserves the right to determine and amend job responsibilities.

• Manages railroad right-of-way and station grounds properties including facilities and related leases, easements, and encroachments.
• Reviews and processes applications for new railroad crossings and encroachments including license agreements, right of entry permits, survey and special event permits; evaluates encroachment application materials and determines associated fees and insurance coverage required.
• Coordinates review of encroachment requests and/or disputes with rail engineer, the North Coast Rail Authority and its contracted rail operators, legal counsel, and insurance broker, and prepares final execution of encroachment documents.
• Negotiates and manages leases, Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments, insurance requirements and rental delinquencies and utilities payments.
• Coordinates corridor requests and requirements related to plans, security and maintenance with local jurisdictions, North Coast Rail Authority, Northwestern Pacific Railroad (NWP) freight operator Union Pacific, and other agencies such as the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
• Prepares reports in a timely manner, including Board of Directors and Committee staff reports related to real estate agenda items including property and right-of-way matters.
• Prepares and manages property related budgets.
• Coordinates needs for agency property-related corridor maintenance and security contracts with the appropriate management staff; responds to damage to property and facilities that may be caused by accidents, fires, vandalism and flooding.
• Manages all aspects of the property acquisition process necessary for the development of the District’s major construction programs, in coordination and support of the Capital Projects team; provides definition and justification for real estate acquisitions, reviews title reports, arranges and manages environmental assessments, appraisals, relocation plans, development and coordination of acquisition contract preparation and review with legal counsel, contacts and negotiates with property owners.
• Obtains and reviews proposals and work bids from on-call consultants, prepares task orders, oversees development of work programs, budgets and schedules, and manages consultant work process and progress; reviews consultant invoices and keeps the acquisition process on budget and schedule.
• Updates and/or creates District policy and procedures related to various real estate requirements; presents changes in policy to the Board of Directors for adoption.
• Coordinates regularly with the Senior Rail Engineer on all plan reviews, licenses, crossings, permits of entry and encroachments.
• Performs as the District’s designated property negotiator for all property management and real estate matters.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to a four (4) year degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in real estate management, engineering, business administration or a related field, and
• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in real estate or property management that includes significant public contact, preferably including experience with a railroad, transit or other public agency.

Skill in:

• Writing and oral communications, including the ability to compose well written reports and correspondence and ability to present to public meetings and boards, often with media coverage.

Knowledge of:

• Real estate principles, practices and laws pertaining to the appraisal, negotiation, and disposition of land as well as the administration of land use, rental, and leasing agreements including property values, deed and tract restrictions, zoning ordinances, setbacks, tax and improvement assessments, easements, and encroachments.
• Rental and lease agreements and procedures for the negotiation and processing of such agreements.
• Real estate acquisition, residential, industrial, commercial land development, assessment or land appraisal techniques, negotiating, land administration and urban land planning.
• Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of property management.
• Legal descriptions of real property and general engineering terms and symbols.
• Principles and techniques of conducting analytical studies, evaluating alternatives, and making sound recommendations.
• Principles and practices of budget development and administration, contract administration, and sound financial management policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the railroad operations.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and guidelines related to the projects and programs to which assigned.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and reporting.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and District staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and coordinate real estate programs, projects, and activities, including appraisal, acquisition and property management.
• Conduct accurate appraisal reviews on complex and large properties, including historical and agricultural properties.
• Analyze financial statements and pro forma statements.
• Understand and evaluate financial statements, evaluate appraisals, and market study data.
• Conduct negotiations with land owners, potential lessees, outside agencies, and their attorneys to determine the terms and conditions of contracts and agreements.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations and departmental policies and procedures.
• Prepare clear and effective reports, correspondence, and other written material.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Effectively represent the department and the District in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Analyze situations and identify pertinent problems/issues; collect relevant information; evaluate realistic options; and recommend/implement appropriate course of action.
• Read and interpret legal descriptions, surveys, and maps.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, radio and/or in public presentations, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Position Details

• Salary: $74.99 - $91.16 per hour ($155,979 - $189,613 annual)
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• There is a 12-month probationary period for this position.
• A thorough background check will be required including, but not limited to: current and past employers, personal contacts, education verification. A credit report will be required for positions covered under Labor Code 1024.5. (A complete list of background check documents will be provided upon request).
• A pre-employment physical, including a urinalysis drug screen, will be required.
• This position is CalPERS Retirement eligible (2% at 62 per new Pension Reform).
• SMART is a drug-free workplace. All employees will be expected to behave in accordance with this policy.

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.