Right-of-Way Review Appraiser 1 (Eminent Domain; 25-0219)

Our organization, mission, and culture:
The mission of the Department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure”. The DOT&PF Commissioner directs planning, design, contracting, project oversight, construction, operation, maintenance, and oversight of nearly $13B in transportation asset infrastructure and administering ~$1 billion Federal transportation project funding annually. DOT&PF's manages more than 300 aviation facilities and airports; nearly two dozen harbors and a ferry system covering over 3,500 nautical miles that serve 35 coastal communities and international ports; over 11,700 lane miles of roads and highways; nearly a dozen weigh stations and hundreds of material sites; over 70 staffed maintenance stations; more than 830 State-owned bridges; more than 770 public facilities; and 2 State-owned tunnels (including the longest highway tunnel in North America). The Division of Statewide Design & Engineering Services works in service to Department staff, multiple agencies’ personnel, private contractors, and the public to provide the necessary tools to deliver project funding and ensure compliance with applicable State and Federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

The working environment you can expect:
We conduct our daily work primarily through electronic and online coordination with staff and appraisers based primarily in Alaska's three most populated cities. A flexible work schedule and telecommuting may be available for the ideal candidate after a successful probationary period.

Some travel is involved when necessary to obtain geographic competency and inspect properties and projects as needed (following accepted industry standards, Department guidance, and supervisory direction).

The benefits of joining our team:
This is an essential, capital-project-funded, professional role mandated by Federal and State laws and regulations. The vast majority of the work has stable, abundant Federal funding and the demands on this function are likely to increase significantly as many more projects initiate under recent federal legislation.

This challenging, fast-paced, position works with team-oriented professionals tackling a variety of assignments that will keep you engaged and give you a unique perspective from behind the scenes. Projects vary greatly and offer opportunities for statewide travel. This position is a rare mix of providing meaningful services to preserve the public trust while helping deliver vital, tangible, public infrastructure.

What you will be doing:
Working in service to the Statewide and Regional Right-of-Way groups, this position's primary function is to help preserve the public trust by ensuring appraisals are conducted in accordance with standards and build a credible Recommendation of Just Compensation for properties acquired for critical public infrastructure projects. Unique to this position, the reviewer must work cooperatively with (contract) appraisers to obtain compliance and develop defensible analyses. The process entails applying sound, defensible, industry-accepted methodology to provide independent, professional, unbiased, and consistent quality control. This work involves various types of analyses for permanent, temporary, whole, and partial acquisitions, which requires estimating damages, benefits, costs to cure, uneconomic remnants, and economic rents where applicable. Properties include vacant land and improved properties, commercial, residential, industrial, and specialized realty and personality along highways, on airports, and on marine highway and public facility sites in urban, rural, and remote locations throughout Alaska. This position serves as the State’s lead expert in eminent domain appraisal review, providing technical expertise, expert witness consultation and testimony; customer service, and training in the latest accepted industry practices and valuation concepts (including manuals, guidelines, policies, procedures, regulations, statutes, and case law), particularly to colleagues, contractors, legal counsel, and peers.

Other duties include:

• performing critical analyses, valuation services, consulting, and other professional and support services, as directed;
• reviewing designs and developing appraisal scope, contract coordination, and professional services contract administration;
• assisting in deterring economic rents and market values for permits, disposals, transfers, and other activities;
• conducting inspections, verifying data, and performing market, economic, geographic, project, parcel, industry, and case-law research;
• recruiting and leading staff and transition planning as needed; and
• maintaining files, tracking relevant statistics, and other record keeping.

Who we are looking for:
The ideal candidate will exceed the minimum qualifications through specialized education, knowledge, and experience, particularly in formal eminent domain appraisal review for a government transportation agency. Candidates must demonstrate excellent, professional-level competencies in:

• communicating successfully with multi-disciplinary project managers, consultants, and legal counsel through a variety of methods and providing expert consultations and basic training to colleagues;
• employing independent problem solving techniques using a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems and identify and implement solutions, drawing on one’s knowledge and experience and calling upon other resources as needed for advanced appraisal principles and appraisal review techniques specifically for eminent domain transactions under relevant Federal and State requirements; industry standards; and contracts;
• analyzing economic markets and trends in a variety of geographic locations, communities, and economic markets and researching data that is not readily available;
• objectively reviewing appraisals and related reports and working cooperatively with appraisers to obtain successful compliance for defensible, highly-technical/complex analyses, presentations, and litigation; and
• tracking and managing multiple, simultaneous priorities and projects on short timelines and leading and providing expert training to assistive staff.

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT
The State’s online recruitment system, Workplace Alaska, requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The State of Alaska does not function in the role as an employer sponsor.

ONGOING POSTING NOTICE
The applicant pool(s) for this position will be reviewed regularly for qualified applicants. This recruitment may be closed early if a qualified applicant is found before the closing date. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure consideration.

APPLICATION
This recruitment utilizes a supplemental questionnaire as part of the application process. These questions may be a mix of written, multiple choice, and select all that apply questions. The answers you provide to the questions will be an opportunity for you to tell us about your experience and/or education. The answers will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process; please be as thorough and accurate as you can.

A cover letter is NOT required for this position. Your complete application, including supplemental questions, will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

At time of interview, please be prepared to provide proof of Certified General Real Estate Certification in good standing from the State of Alaska or another Title XI-compliant state (Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) rated as "Good" or "Excellent").

NOTE: General Real Estate Appraisal Certification requires Board approval through application (including fees); successful examination; specialized, in-person/live education beyond a college degree; and verifiable, on-the-job experience of at least 3,000 hours of appraisal work (including at least 1,500 hours of nonresidential work) obtained continuously over a period of not less than 18 months. Maintaining certification requires ongoing fees and Continuing Education throughout employment. Applicants must already be certified in order to meet MQs, however, a Conditional my be available for those certified in other states per the MQ.

SALARY INFORMATION
Starting salary is dependent on qualifications and experience, State of Alaska policy, and Collective Bargaining Agreement(s).

SALARY INFORMATION
Base salary for:

• Anchorage ….. $2,922.00/Biweekly
• Juneau …….…. $3,068.25/Biweekly
• Fairbanks ….… $3,009.75/Biweekly

WORK EXPERIENCE
Applications and resumes will be reviewed to determine if the minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

EDUCATION
If post-secondary education is required or is used as a substitution to meet the minimum qualifications, it is required to complete the Education section of your Profile. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of credit hours earned in the Units Completed field. Copies of transcripts will be required at time of interview but may also be attached to the application.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

RECRUITMENT NOTICE
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

APPLICATION NOTICE
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to successfully apply. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/help/

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/programs/index.html for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Gym discounts at participating fitness providers in multiple locations throughout the state.

See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/ghlb/employee/health/gymListing.html for additional information