Senior Real Property Specialist

East Bay Regional Park District

Salary: $10,255.38 – $11,604.13 Monthly

Job Type: Full-time (37.5 hrs)

Job Number: 24-TT-04

Department: LAND ACQUISITION DEPT

Closing: 4/10/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

The Position

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres; 1,250 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. Learn about our https://www.ebparks.org/about/mission-vision  https://www.ebparks.org/history  and our contributions to the https://www.ebparks.org/public-info/awards/un-global-citizen 

OUR MISSION:
EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency – We hold the public’s trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/EBRPD-Benefits-Matrix.pdf https://get.adobe.com/reader/ for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

THE OPPORTUNITY: The Land Acquisition Department plays a pivotal role in expanding this park system to preserve the unique and special landscapes of the region and provide an array of recreational and environmental education opportunities for all East Bay communities. We have a great opportunity for a highly motivated individual with experience in real estate transactional work to join our team. If this sounds like you, please apply today!
The Park District currently has one vacancy at the Administrative Headquarters at 2950 Peralta Oaks Court in Oakland, CA. The hiring pools established as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy and any additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING: The Senior Land Acquisition Specialist performs more complex and difficult work involving real property transactions leading to the acquisition or disposition of land and other real property rights for public parks, recreation, open space, and trail purposes; negotiates and prepares purchase agreements, easements, licenses, permits, leases and other mechanisms required to purchase or acquire land and other real property rights; may provide lead direction to lower level staff as necessary; and performs related duties as assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Is conversant in all aspects of real estate transactions including negotiating, project management, drafting transaction agreements and conveyance documents, commissioning and reviewing complex property appraisals, performing title review and other due diligence functions, and coordinating the Park District’s role in the escrow and closing process.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, project management, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Is self-directed and able to manage several projects concurrently and move them forward to completion. Has strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to exercise initiative, tact, and good judgment in order to manage critical relationships with landowners and key private and public partners
• Familiarity with legal strategies and funding opportunities for land conservation.
• Has experience working with public agencies or land trust organizations in real property acquisition and/or land conservation.

Essential Functions

• Performs the highest level of technical real property work for negotiating the acquisition of land and other real property rights through purchase, exchange, donation, dedication, lease, license and other methods;
• Conducts negotiations on projects which demand the highest degree of discretion, technical knowledge, initiative and judgment; provides lead direction and technical assistance to subordinate staff in proper methods and techniques of land appraisal, negotiations, condemnation proceedings, clearance and disposal of property and property management as necessary;
• Oversees the property appraisal process including scoping, obtaining and interpreting appraisal reports prepared by independent appraisers for complex and unique appraisal problems;
• Selects applicable work sequences and methods for completing project assignments including consulting or contracting with internal or external experts, as necessary;
• Obtains, examines and interprets title reports;
• Prepares option and purchase agreements, exchange agreements, easements, leases, licenses and other instruments necessary to purchase or acquire land and other real property rights;
• Prepares escrow instructions and coordinates the closing of escrow to complete real property transactions;
• Investigates, develops recommendations, and negotiates to resolve encroachment issues;
• Coordinates the use of consultants providing property appraisal, land survey, environmental site assessment, historical resources assessment, title search, and other services;
• Assists with eminent domain (condemnation) actions in coordination with supervisor and Park District attorneys, and may serve as an expert witness in condemnation proceedings;
• Assists in preparing and submitting grant applications to fund land acquisition projects; researches and responds to internal and external inquiries regarding Park District property rights;
• Prepares and presents reports to the Board of Directors;
• And performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in real estate, economics, business administration, public administration or a related field,

AND

Experience: Three years of recent experience in real estate negotiations and/or appraisal for the acquisition of land and other real property rights, preferably with a public agency or nonprofit land trust.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.
• Certification as a California Notary Public is highly desirable.

Additional Information

Knowledge of: principles, practices, and methods of real estate transactions for the acquisition or conveyance of land and other real property rights through purchase, exchange, donation, dedication, lease, license and other methods; real estate law and land transaction procedures and instruments; real propertyvaluation and appraisal methods; principles and practices of negotiation styles and approaches; the effect of various encumbrances and interests in real property upon title, and the procedures required to clear title; methods used to carry out the transfer of real property interests or ownership through escrow; eminent domain and condemnation procedures; principles of land surveying and engineering mapping; principles of basic budget management for project funding and accounts; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to: lead, train, and motivate staff; initiate and negotiate complete complex real property transactions; analyze complex real property situations, evaluate different courses of action and make recommendations on the most appropriate course of action; negotiate and coordinate the preparation of all manner of agreements necessary for the acquisition of land and other real property interests through purchase, exchange, dedication, donation, lease, license, operating agreement, or other means; work independently or as a member of a team; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

Conditions of Employment:

• The individual chosen for hire must be able to pass a Level 1 background check, which includes: employment history verification, employment reference checks, education or certificate verifications, Department of Justice fingerprinting and criminal history review.
• A valid California Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.
• May be required to work unusual hours, weekends, and holidays.

UNION AFFILIATION:
AFSCME: East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park District and Local 2428. The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months.

INTERNAL PROMOTIONS: Placement shall be made at the first step in the salary range for the new position (Step A) unless the salary rate at Step A of the new position is less than a 5% increase. In such instances, the employee will be placed at a step in the new salary range that ensures at least a 5% increase.
Application materials for this position consist of two (2) required parts:

• A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
• Completed supplemental questions.

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact the NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the disposition of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your governmentjobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.

Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.
Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154.

Tentative Date of Onsite Examinations: April/May 2024

Equal Opportunity Employer:The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

To apply, please visit https://apptrkr.com/5124791 

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