Right of Way Agent

Canacre’s core services focus on leadership in Environment and Land services throughout the project lifecycle. At Canacre, we emphasize continuous development and growth. Our commitment to investing in industry knowledge and the expertise of our teams sets us apart. Our goals are to provide technical leadership for greater regulatory understanding and certainty and to build collaborative relationships with stakeholders, mitigating tomorrow’s environment, land and right-of-way risks today.
 
At Canacre, we act with honesty and integrity within a culture where trust, collaboration, and teamwork flourish. We commit to diversity, inclusivity and the celebration of successes. Our vision is to foster an environment that promotes inspired and empowered team members who make an impact.

The Right of Way Agent will be responsible for acquisition and enforcement of real property rights required for the operation, maintenance, and expansion of transmission, distribution, and communication systems, and other public and private infrastructure. The Right of Way Agent will provide local contact for interface with government, permitting, and customer interface related to franchise or property rights. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

• Research, negotiate, acquire, defend, and ensure legal recording and enforcement of property rights required for electric, gas, or communication infrastructure for the client
• Document all project related activities, communication and correspondence with landowners including in-person meetings, email, phone, mail, etc.
• Assist in preparing and securing specific state, highway, railroad, County, Town, City, Village permits for use of lands owned by governmental agencies, the public or other utilities including tree clearing permits.
• Research, negotiate, and acquire leases, licenses, and permits for client infrastructure, staging areas for storm or construction lay down areas, railroads & canals crossing permits
• Coordinate and process payments to landowners for certain property rights
• Review legal descriptions, maps and other resources to ensure acquisition areas are correctly defined.
• Review real estate market data and/or appraisals to present to landowners or to develop basis for proposed settlements; develop comparable market analyses for presentation to client as needed.
• Prepare various documents necessary to document basis for settlements, construction conditions, close negotiations, damages, etc.
• Serve as legal witness as necessary for condemnation or other proceedings
• Other activities related to obtaining or managing land rights to support substation relocations/rebuilds, transmission line rebuilds, and other utility scale projects
• Other tasks as assigned by project stakeholders.
• Maintain project related files in organized manner, adhering to company work breakdown structures and file naming protocols.

Perform other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Secondary degree or accreditation in related field is considered an asset.
• 2-3 years of experience negotiating property rights documents including rights-of-way, easements, licenses, leases, purchase and sale agreements
• Experience drafting and negotiating property rights documents including rights-of-way, easements, licenses, leases, purchase and sale agreements
• Knowledge of Real Estate principles gained through education and experience
• Clear, concise written and oral communications
• Strong organizational skills including project files, diaries and other project data.
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Computer literacy (working knowledge of Microsoft Office software, Google Earth)
• Ability to plot metes and bounds descriptions of property and read a variety of maps, electronic and paper
• Ability to evaluate, interpret, and analyze engineering and right-of-way drawings
• Ability to interpret and research (abstract) legal documents
• Skilled in property rights research methods, including courthouse searches for recorded documents and internet research of same
• Ability to research, develop and determine valuation of local real estate, crops, timber, etc. for compensation and/or damage settlements.
• Ability to create and manage project forecasts associated with field agent tasks and professionally convey progress to internal and external stakeholders.
• Must be willing to travel regularly (up to 80%)
• Must have or have the ability to obtain a Notary Public License

At Canacre, our benefits program is one of the ways in which we reinforce the value we place on employees and the role they play in helping us achieve our goals. Canacre offers comprehensive health and dental coverage, paid time off, and disability insurance. Other benefits include a 401(k) Savings Plan employer matching program, Employee Assistance Program, flexible work arrangement and a variety of wellness programs.

Canacre is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse workforce. Canacre complies with federal and state/provincial law governing non-discrimination in employment practices.

Given the volume of applications we typically receive, we are unable to respond to all applicants, however, you will be contacted if your experience is a suitable match with one of our upcoming projects. 

At Canacre, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of employment practices in each jurisdiction we operate in. We ensure that all employees are fairly compensated for their work, in accordance with the provisions outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Canada Labour Code.