Agent - Right Of Way

Kinder Morgan provides all employees with a safe, honest, trustworthy, ethical, respectful and professional work environment. We believe in building friendly and personal long-term relationships by supporting our employees with ongoing training, continued growth and internal advancement while cultivating teamwork and diversity with a culture of inclusion from various experiences and backgrounds. Dedicated to providing security to our employees, we offer a comprehensive benefit program that includes, medical, dental, vision, disability, life, 401(k), a retirement contribution (pension plan) and more.

Join our team and help shape the present and future of North America’s energy infrastructure with a career at Kinder Morgan.

General Characteristics – Performs all aspects of right-of-way and real estate related activities necessary to maintain and protect company's property rights, while negotiating favorable terms to various land and right-of-way related agreements secured on behalf of the company, including the acquisition, relinquishment and modification of easements, fee land purchases, franchise & permit rights, encroachments resolution and the settlements of damage claims. The selected candidate will be based in Houston, TX.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Identifies land ownership from both company and public records, including current contact information.
• Researches, reviews, and analyzes land title; identify defects and outlines curative: ability to read title opinions and appraisals.
• Understands and interprets property legal descriptions, and is able to find properties based on GIS data.
• Ensures existing land obligations in the assigned area are paid and forecasted on time.
• Ensures existing obligation renewals are completed, forecasted, and paid on time (or early).
• Negotiates the acquisition of right-of-way and other property interests, as necessary to accommodate the construction, operation, and maintenance of company facilities, in such a manner to minimize litigation.
• Understanding of project related needs to include permits, sites, electrical and crossing agreements.
• Negotiates property damage settlements, as well as the damage release, and loss claims associated with capital projects and day-to-day pipeline operations necessary to maintain company facilities.
• Analyzes and negotiates agreements with local entities to accommodate the construction, operation and maintenance of company facilities and works with our internal finance group to ensure payments are completed on time.
• Manages budgetary aspects of costs associated with the aforementioned negotiations, to maintain department and project expectations.
• Prepares right-of-way related cost estimates associated with land and right-of-way project acquisition.
• Secures civil permits necessary for the construction and maintenance of company facilities.
• Reviews, prepares, analyzes, and interprets all Land and Right-of-Way related agreements, deeds, easements, leases, franchises, permits & licenses.
• Serves as liaison between internal departments, developers, cities, counties, states, and other entities, in support of right-of-way activities.
• Resolves encroachments, damage claims, landowner complaints and inquiries keeping costs to a minimum for the company.
• Adheres to all company reporting and requirement standards as requested or as company policy.
• Creating strong landowner relationships and understanding of your geographical area to better accommodate requests from stakeholders (internal and external).
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Education:

• High school diploma, at least two years of college, or equivalent industry related right-of-way work experience.

Experience / specific knowledge:

• Must have a minimum of 2 years of experience in performing all aspects of land and right-of-way, with direct experience in the pipeline industry supporting operational and sustaining capital projects and FERC regulated and non-regulated projects; and having work experience in Texas.
• Knowledgeable in all aspects of right-of-way, including project management, acquisition, title, property legal descriptions, permitting, budgeting, cost forecasting, operation, due diligence, public relations, community outreach and solid understanding of general regulatory and legal issues.

Certifications, licenses, registrations:

• A satisfactory driving record as determined by the Company and a current, valid State driver's license are mandatory.

Competencies, skills, and abilities:

• Must have demonstrable experience reading and interpreting land contracts and documents, including payment terms.
• Must have organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-starting individual who follows directions and procedures, adheres to a work schedule and can focus on details.
• Interpersonal (people) skills.
• Must be flexible and able to work effectively in a team environment and consistently maintain a professional and respectful demeanor / attitude with co-workers, clients, vendors, and outside contacts and regulatory agencies.
• Possess analytical and reconciliation skills, necessary for problem solving and decision making.
• Be able to successfully perform multiple tasks with abbreviated deadlines.
• Must be able to understand financial impacts of decisions and courses of action, results oriented.
• Strong computer skills desired due to use of various Microsoft Applications, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; and other internal software and database daily usage.

Physical demands:

• Anticipate approximately 30% - 40% travel required to perform duties for this position.

Working conditions:

• Overtime is sometimes required and often extended work hours based upon departmental work load.
• Fast paced and fluid work environment.
• Coordination with other support functions (i.e. regulatory, outreach, engineering, operations, legal, third party contractors, construction and environmental) to ensure successful and timely completion of project objectives.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory responsibility:

• The ROW Agent will not directly supervise others, but will provide leadership and guidance to third party contract right-of-way agents to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures as appropriate.

• Performs other duties and special projects as may be assigned by Department Management.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.