Senior Land Agent

Requisition ID# 170419

Job Category: Real Estate / Facilities

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations – Other

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Auburn

Department Overview

The Hydro Support team provides a broad range of land management and real estate support to Power Generation’s Hydro Operations staff. The Hydro Support team is a part of the Land Management (LM) organization and is responsible for the oversight and management of PG&E hydro watershed lands.We support Power Generation and Hydro Maintenance by communicating with landowners and ensuring we have adequate land rights for Hydro Projects. We manage third party uses of PG&E’s hydro watershed lands, including leases and licenses. We also monitor the lands for trespass and encroachments and act to protect the company’s land rights on these lands. We support the Environmental Management Energy Supply to ensure that FERC license requirements are met and maintained

position Summary

This job is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) and is subject to collective bargaining.
Under the supervision of an exempt supervisor, you will be responsible for complex land-related document research, reporting, writing, interpretation of rights and permitting activities for all projects requiring the high level experience and expertise in land rights matters.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.

A reasonable salary range is:
California Minimum: $129,228
California Maximum: $161,544

Job Responsibilities

The Senior Land Agent provides oversight, advice, guidance, technical direction and training to Hydro Support staff and advises PG&E management and other business partners on all matters relating to land rights, title issues, LCC requirements, FERC obligations, and third party uses of PG&E’s lands and easements. The Senior Land Agent reviews title of both fee land and land rights for PG&E projects as well as for those special projects as may be required by PG&E. Responsibilities also include the review of land rights documents to ensure they are legally sufficient and conform to PG&E’s policy. The Senior Land Agent is responsible for overseeing and providing guidance on the Hydro Support Property Management portfolio. The Senior Land Agent may discuss title and land rights matters requiring higher levels of experience and expertise with private, public, or governmental bodies and agencies.
Essential Job Functions:
1. Oversight, Guidance, Technical Direction and Training:
* Provides oversight, guidance, technical direction and training to Hydro Support staff on complex land rights issues, uses of PG&E’s lands and easements by others including adherence to CPUC Code Section 851, and compliance with FERC and the LCC.
* Provides high-level technical and legal support to Land Management staff, and business partners.
* Ensures adequacy of land rights and conformance to CPUC tariffs regarding acquisition of land rights.
* Oversees and ensures compliance with Conservation Easements as well as FERC requirements.
* Understands shoreline management practices and provides guidance and direction on managing 3rd party uses on PG&E lands.
2. Legal Research and Determination of Land Rights:
* Research and respond to title questions.
* Knowledgeable of the Subdivision Map Act, the Subdivided Lands Law, the Professional Land Surveyors Act, the Act of 1866, various California legal codes pertaining to real property, easement law, notary law, recording law, taxation, and those portions of other codes, CPUC rules and PG&E policies which are most frequently applied to PG&E land rights and title matters, and consults with Law Department when appropriate.
3. Title, Timber, Water and Mineral Rights Review:
* Completes the more difficult and complex reviews of land title.
* Determines the condition of title to PG&E’s fee property and facilities. Advises Business Partners which rights must be protected or terminated in connection with a proposed project.
4. Property Purchase and Sales Review:
* Property Purchase: Reviews preliminary title reports prepared by outside title companies for the parcel to be acquired. Determines if the title to be conveyed to PG&E is acceptable and initiates appropriate action. Make recommendations of action to be taken, if any, to clear title to the property as a condition to closing the transaction.
* Property Sales: Prepares title reviews for sales transactions. Involves a review of the chain of title, identification of grants out made by PG&E affecting the property and review of the buyer’s preliminary title report prepared by a title company. Provides direction to the document writer on how title is to be conveyed. Reviews the historical use of the property while owned by PG&E, as well as information which must be disclosed to the prospective buyer including identification of special conditions which may affect the sale transaction.
5. Document Review:
* Reviews changes to Law Department approved standard documents.
* Provides direction and guidance to Land Management staff, and assists to assure the integrity, adequacy and legal sufficiency of documents relating to land rights in conformance with PG&E’s policy.
6. Represent PG&E:
* Discuss title and land matters requiring higher levels of experience and expertise with private, public, or governmental bodies and agencies beyond the scope or authority of lower classifications.

Qualifications

Minimum

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college OR four (4) years’ experience in land rights, contracts, California land regulations, or other related land/environmental policies OR a combination of education and work experience.
• An additional 1 year of experience being responsible for land matters, including discussing them with private, public, or governmental bodies and agencies to obtain necessary rights-of-way, contracts, agreements or concurrence within established policies. This work includes such duties as coordinating relocation projects, review of encroachments and gathering material and preparing preliminary reports/data sheets for use in land sales and leases.
• Must be able to make effective oral and written presentations on title and land matters.

Desired

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience and excellence in customer service and possess a customer centric vision.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Utility industry experience.
• Ability to work in a fast paced team environment; with a focus on inclusion and belonging.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.
• Title research and document interpretation skills are essential