Land Agent II

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

This position will support complex projects, data management, and internal and external communications. In this role, you will provide support for Senior Land Agents in obtaining right-of-ways for pipeline projects for Peoples Natural Gas, primarily from the office location. This position will also negotiate and secure legal land services with affected landowners to permit the construction of Peoples facilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
• Oversee and coordinate the administrative needs of the land management team, including general daily duties such as: answering phones, typing, preparing correspondence and reports, maintaining filing system(s), opening mail, copying, faxing, coordinating and scheduling meetings, maintaining office supplies, making travel arrangements, and other related activities.
• Investigate questionable areas on reports, received information, etc. and make administrative decisions.
• Process confidential records such as invoices, time cards, purchase card statements, and check management.
• Develop and maintain department information databases.         
• Use computer software, such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, etc. to produce reports, presentations or other documents.
• Negotiate, prepare and secure binding agreements (rights-of way, leases, grants, etc.) with property owners.
• Perform title research and investigations to verify property ownership.
• Perform field verifications by investigating property structures and providing research and photographs for GIS and pipeline integrity compliance.
• Act as liaison between landowner and PNG.
• Investigate easement violations and coordinate necessary resolution with engineering.
• Communicate closely with engineers and field contacts; process verbal notification so jobs can commence.
• Record documents at courthouse and prepare completion package for each job, complete with tax Maps, deeds, and drawings.
• Responsible to work with peers to control overtime, review credit-related issues and maintain appropriate supplies for administrative and clerical needs of the section or department.
• Negotiate damage payments for unsatisfactory restoration.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Associate's degree in Business or related field preferred.        
• Minimum of 5 years in an related role; prior exposure to, land acquisition, transmission lines and substation negotiations.  Demonstrated in effective negotiations and managing multiple projects
• Notary Public Commission required.
• Valid driver's license  and ability to drive PNG company vehicles if needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 
• Knowledge of company policies, practices, and procedures and PUC regulations.
• Excellent computer software skills (such as Word, Excel, graphic software, etc.) and other Microsoft programs.
• Strong planning, writing, data analysis, and time management skills.
• Proficiency in SAP preferred.
• High level of initiative, attention-to-detail, team-focused, and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal, communications (oral and written), negotiating and teaming skills, with a strong customer focus.
• Knowledge of applicable state, county, local laws, systems or practices related to land management, the court record keeping system, and related PNG policies. Competent math and technical abilities, such as research, interpreting maps, blueprints, plans and surveys.
• Ability to work independently; manage multiple tasks, negotiate effectively, and make appropriate decisions.               

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
• Perform sedentary work- exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time
• Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents (if applicable)
• Under normal conditions, periodic travel is required (up to 30%).      

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 

Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.