Land Acquisition/ Right-of-Way Specialist - New York - PACO Group

Description

Employment Type:
Part time


Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Working knowledge of the ULURP process and requirements, FHWA regulations, and state DOT or transit authority ROW procedures, Experience supporting acquisitions for transportation or utility projects, Strong negotiation, documentation, and stakeholder coordination skills.

Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Engineering, Business, Public Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience)


Hourly Rate:
$60-70

Job Summary

PACO Group is a nationally recognized program and construction management (PM/CM) firm serving public-sector clients across the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry.

PACO Group provides owner-representation, advisory, and compliance-focused services for complex transportation, transit, aviation, and infrastructure programs.

PACO Group is seeking a Land Acquisition Specialist / Right-of-Way Specialist to support a New York City design-bid-build, full bridge replacement project during the design and pre-construction phases of delivery.

The role functions as part of the owner's project management team and supports surveys and investigations, easement identification, land acquisition coordination, ULURP activities (as applicable), and preparation of construction contract documents.

The position is project-based and supports discrete phases of project delivery as design advances toward procurement and construction.

Responsibilities include identifying and evaluating impacted properties, supporting right-of-way planning and documentation, coordinating land use and acquisition approvals, and maintaining accurate, auditable acquisition records to support agency decision-making.

The role requires close coordination with transportation agencies, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), property owners, legal counsel, and technical disciplines, as well as strong analytical, documentation, and reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities
Property & Right-of-Way Acquisition Coordination

• Identify properties potentially impacted by permanent acquisitions, temporary construction easements, access requirements, underpinning, strengthening, or other construction-related needs
• Support early-phase discovery to determine whether permanent or temporary property interests, easements, or ULURP actions are required
• Track all fee acquisitions, permanent easements, temporary construction easements, and other property interests required for the project
• Coordinate right-of-way requirements with evolving design, survey, geotechnical, utility, and structural information
• Prepare and maintain right-of-way plans coordinated with preliminary and final design drawings
• Track acquisition status through all phases of the process and support turnover to construction as applicable
• Support condemnation proceedings, joint development considerations, and risk evaluations associated with acquisition strategies
• Address proposed property modifications with owners and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
• Coordinate and expedite encroachment resolution efforts between agencies, contractors, and property owners

Agency, Stakeholder & Public Coordination

• Coordinate and support meetings with transportation agencies, public and private property owners, and AHJs to facilitate land acquisition and land use approvals
• Support ULURP-related coordination activities, including preparation of application materials, notifications, and agency submissions, as required
• Prepare for, attend, and follow up on public meetings, hearings, and community engagements where property impacts are discussed
• Coordinate with Community Boards, Borough President offices, City Planning, and other stakeholders, as appropriate to project needs
• Coordinate and track Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), agreements, and approvals with public and private entities
• Respond to requests for information and documentation, including environmental and land-use compliance requirements

Tracking, Mapping & Documentation

• Develop and maintain acquisition tracking tables, logs, and schedules aligned with design-phase and pre-construction milestones
• Develop and update maps reflecting acquisition progress, easement requirements, property limits, and design changes
• Maintain accurate parcel-level documentation, including ownership, occupancy, easements, access, and constraints
• Review intermediate and final design submittals to confirm consistency with right-of-way and land acquisition requirements
• Support relocation and acquisition tracking through agency or project property portals

Data Management, Systems & Reporting

• Conduct discovery-phase research including review of deeds, easements, liens, judgments, surveys, zoning, and related public records
• Perform or coordinate title searches and summarize findings to support acquisition and risk assessments
• Develop and maintain a structured database to store parcel-level records, activities, correspondence, and supporting documentation
• Produce dashboards, reports, and visualizations to support project management, agency reporting, and audit requirements
• Ensure data accuracy, version control, traceability, and audit-ready documentation throughout the acquisition lifecycle

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Urban Planning, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in real estate acquisition, right-of-way, land use, or related public-sector infrastructure work
• Experience working with New York City agencies (e.g., DOT, DCP, DOB, DOF) and familiarity with city-specific property, zoning, and compliance procedures
• Demonstrated experience managing and tracking property acquisitions through design-phase and pre-construction activities
• Working knowledge of the ULURP process, including agency roles, review phases, and public engagement requirements
• Proven ability to coordinate with government agencies, property owners, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
• Proficiency in developing and maintaining acquisition tracking tables, maps, and reports; working knowledge of GIS, property portals, and database-driven project tracking systems
• Experience with database development, reporting, and data visualization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including participation in public meetings and hearings
• High attention to detail and ability to manage complex documentation accurately

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting NYC DOT, MTA, PANYNJ, or similar agencies
• Experience supporting design-bid-build bridge replacement or transportation infrastructure projects
• IRWA certification (RWA, SR/WA) or similar credentials

Skills & Competencies

• Public-sector coordination and negotiation
• Regulatory compliance and documentation accuracy
• Analytical review of property, title, and land-use records
• Data analysis, visualization, and reporting
• Professional judgment and discretion
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities

Work Environment & Schedule

• Combination of office-based and field assignments, with travel between job sites as required within the New York / New Jersey metropolitan area
• Part-time position, supporting a single, defined project on an as-needed basis, with workload aligned to design-phase and pre-construction milestones
• Workload is expected to vary over time as design advances and acquisition activities evolve
• Occasional travel may be required for meetings, site visits, public hearings, or agency coordination sessions

Compensation

• The good-faith hourly compensation range for this position is $60-$70 per hour, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and client requirements
• Compensation will be consistent with client budget and company policy

Benefits

• 401(k) and Employer Matching
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Group Life Insurance, LTD, and AD&D
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Professional Development Assistance

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
PACO Group, Inc. is committed to furthering opportunities for everyone in the national construction market. The firm periodically reaffirms this commitment through an active affirmative action plan.

It provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees without unlawful discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, religion, military status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or citizenship status.

As an equal opportunity employer, we have recruited, hired, promoted, and retained an ethnically and socially diverse professional staff.

Our efforts to date have produced a multidisciplinary workforce - a record of diversity that extends to the highest levels of the firm's management.