Permitting & land right specialist i, ii, iii or senior

Responsible for leading multiple, complex generation and transmission projects including development and implementation of activities associated with siting, land use permitting and acquisition for proposed transmission/generation facilities, and for assisting in the management of those permits and land rights. Initiates landowner contracts and obtain permission to survey and rights-of-entry. Acts as project lead to ensure that all plans, schedules and budgets for siting and land rights activities associated with transmission and generation projects are adhered to. Negotiates for the acquisition of land and land rights, and for property damage settlements with landowners and public land managers.

Base location: Headquarters-Westminster, CO or Cheyenne Field Facility-Cheyenne, WY

Note: There is one position available, and this position will be filled at one of four job grade levels: Permitting & Land Right Specialist I, job grade 5; Permitting & Land Right Specialist II, job grade 7; Permitting & Land Right Specialist III, job grade 8 or Senior Permitting & Land Right Specialist job grade 10. This decision will be based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate and Tri-State business needs at the time of hire.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includes: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Work Schedules including compressed work week and telecommuting opportunities to work remotely up to 40%, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance, Retirement Option, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefits.

Senior Permitting and Land Right Specialist Hiring Salary Range: $109,000-$139,000

Permitting and Land Right Specialist III Hiring Salary Range: $88,000-$111,000

Permitting and Land Right Specialist II Hiring Salary Range: $80,000-$99,000

Permitting and Land Right Specialist I Hiring Salary Range: $64,000-$79,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring salary range based upon work experience, education and/or skill level.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Initiate landowner contracts and obtain permission to survey and rights-of-entry.
• Act as project lead to ensure that all plans, schedules and budgets for siting and land rights activities associated with transmission and generation projects are adhered to.
• Negotiate for the acquisition of land and land rights, and for property damage settlements with landowners and public land managers.
• Review and process applications for licenses and out grants from the public requesting use of Tri-State's land and land rights.
• Request and obtain various types of title clearance documents such as subordinations from the appropriate entity.
• Prepare and submit application for various types of permits, including land use permits, issued by county and local governments.
• Participate in land related hearings, public meetings and provide expert testimony as required.
• Provide estimating and evaluation of land values and appraisals, including appraisals used in condemnation hearings.
• Participate as project team member and assist line routing, to include site selection and preparation and maintenance of budgets and schedules.
• Provide assistance including testimony in condemnation actions.
• Research land records and prepare related land documents, and prepare reports, presentations, and special projects, as required.
• Coordinate the work of appropriate functional area and contract personnel, as assigned.
• Adhere to and demonstrate compliance with appropriate electric utility industry regulatory requirements. Attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of development in regulations, laws, standards and best practices applicable to the functional area including, but not limited to, Standards of Conduct, Environmental, Employment Law, NERC Reliability Standards and Safety. Must be familiar with, and comply with, all aspects of Corporate Policy C-54, Compliance.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with Tri-State’s culture embodied in the Cooperative principles and spirit and core values of technical competency, respect and dignity, accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and servant leadership to empower or otherwise enable others to optimally perform their job responsibilities. Demonstrate and promote ethics and behaviors consistent with Tri-State’s culture, Board policies, and business practices. Understand and fulfill the role and responsibility for all compliance programs within the company.
• Because Tri-State is an electric utility with continuous service obligations to its customers, regular, reliable, and predictable performance of the essential functions and responsibilities is an essential function of the job.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Training

• A Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate or related area, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Advanced knowledge of right-of-way acquisition procedures and techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of state and local land related laws.
• Advanced knowledge of land appraisal process.
• Advanced knowledge of government regulations.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.

Experience:

• Eight (8) years or more of land related experience. Note: The above requirements describe the experience and education qualifications for the Senior Permitting and Land Right Specialist. Those with less experience will be hired at the I, II or III job grade level.

Other:

• Willingness to travel up to 65% of the time on an annual basis. (Must possess a valid driver’s license.)
• Must be able to demonstrate that he/she can perform all of the essential functions of the position.

DESIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Transmission line land experience, desired.
• Knowledge of Tri-State system, desired.

Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with electric distribution cooperatives and public power district members in four states: Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Together with its members, Tri-State delivers reliable, affordable and responsible power and energy services to nearly a million electricity consumers across roughly 200,000 square miles of the West.

Founded in 1952 by its member systems to provide a reliable, cost-based supply of electricity, Tri-State is now headquartered in Westminster, Colo., employing approximately 1,000 people across five states.

Tri-State's electricity is generated from coal, natural gas, hydropower, wind, and solar. This power reaches members via a transmission system that includes substation facilities, telecommunications sites and almost 6,000 miles of high voltage transmission lines.

As a member-owned and -governed cooperative, every member has a voice and an equal vote in the future of Tri-State.