Project Specialist

Day-to-Day Responsibilities/Workload
Subject matter expert and lead within the Railroad team, assists with standard Railroad projects ensuring the proper clearance, approval and/or land rights are acquired on-time.
Manage approximately 50+ new Railroad projects including standard UPRR and BNSF Railroad requests.
Manager and oversee more than 100 pre-construction Railroad projects requiring follow-up activities, Railroad safety training coordination, flagging services, and payment processing.
Addresses questions and inquiries from various internal Operating Unit partners regarding RR processes, timelines, and requirements for obtaining RR approval.
Manage and lead Railroad projects/ requests, advising on scope, timing of RR acquisitions and identifies constraints or encroachment concerns that the RR agency may not approve.
Meets with Railroad agencies bi-monthly or monthly to discuss status of current projects in the queue. Answer questions and address concerns to help obtain RR approval or clearances.
Ensures 's prior rights are being recognized by the Railroad entity, and no additional fees will be applied to for standard O&M activities.
Support multiple large rail expansion projects by working with Project Management to appropriately scope the projected work while planning/design is being completed.
Project manages, negotiates and schedules bus bridging for projects.
Submits NON PO payments for Railroad Acquisitions and Line Rents, when required. Prepares Senior Leadership routing memo for all NON PO Payments that will require Sr Leader authorization to approve the agreed upon compensation, in accordance with the T&D Approval Authorization Delegation Matrix
Answers questions or access issues to the RR SharePoint site, provides proper access and ensures the OU's have the ability to submit a RR request and can properly track the progress of their RR request on the RR Tracker
Schedules Railroad safety training for all crews that will be working within the RR ROW
Submits payments for all RR agreements, invoices, flagging services, safety training and any other fees associated with a RR project.
Attends project team meetings, advises internal and external customers on acquisition requirements, manages costs and budgets, and develops detailed acquisition plans and schedules.

Required Skills/Attributes
5 or More years experience in Right of Way/ Railroad/ Utility real property transactions, and real estate acquisition experience
Will consider High school diploma (with Railroad agency work experience), Associate or Bachelors Degree.
Experience working with UPRR, BNSF, SBCTA, OCTA, LAMTA, SCRRA and/or any other Rail entity

Considers safety as the highest priority when making decisions, experience acquiring easements, license agreements, right of entries, conditional clearance memos, ability to review plans, easements and land related documents, experience interpreting land rights/ easements, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, ability to make timely, informed decisions based on sound judgment while involving key stakeholders at the appropriate level. Share innovative ideas openly, achieves high levels of customer service internally and externally, meets commitments and delivers results.

Communicates with openness, respect and adjusts style and level of detail for the audience while contributing to an inclusive environment. Ability to work in a team environment and work alone.

Desired Skills/Attributes
5-7 years Railroad agency/ Utility/ Right of Way Acquisition, real property transactions, and real estate acquisition experience