Title: Right of Way & Utilities Specialist

State Role Title: Prog Admin Specialist II

Hiring Range: $66,254 - $107,663

Pay Band: 5

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: Lynchburg District Office

Agency Website: www.virginiadot.org/jobs

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) is excited to offer and announce a competitive opportunity to serve as a Right of Way & Utilities Specialist in the Central Office’s Right of Way Division. This position will be located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The selected candidate will actively participate as a multi-faceted team member to accomplish project objectives (milestones), achieve project quality, assure cost effectiveness and meet advertisement schedules. Complete routine and complex assignments in Right of Way & Utilities and make independent decisions based on analysis of available information.

This challenging and rewarding position’s specific responsibilities and duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Plan reading for roadway and bridge design to provide technical review, develop property descriptions, prepare plans for right of way acquisition, and working to develop utility plans to determine conflicts and ensure relocations are out of conflict with roadway and bridge design.
• Participate in pre-advertisement meetings, utility field inspection meetings, and pre-construction conferences to provide technical assistance; and meet with utility companies for proposed highway projects.
• Prepare and review legal documents – Prepare documents required for inclusion in negotiation offer packages including Basic Administrative Reports.
• Review and process all negotiated settlement packages and condemnation packages.
• Coordinate with regional and Central Office staff to ensure that documents are prepared and processed in accordance with the Virginia Code and Right of Way Manual.
• Prepare legal documents and plan sheets for recording.
• This position will prepare utility cost estimate studies for highway projects from preliminary design to approved plan using software programs; and review all utility company plans and estimates for compliance with federal and state policies for acceptable engineering design, accounting procedures and construction methods.
• This position will ensure that Right of Way and Utilities Management System (RUMS) entries are made in the system for each discipline according to written standards and criteria as outlined in the Right of Way & Utilities Manuals of Instruction.
• Additionally, the selected candidate will verify the accuracy of utility progress bills, final bills and analyze cost differences between bills and approved estimates then submit billings for payment.

Minimum Qualifications

• This position requires knowledge of highway plans, specifications and standards, construction procedures, sequencing laws, policies and procedures, and environmental regulations.
• Knowledge of the various utility facility methods, requirements and construction techniques is also required.
• The successful candidate will have skill in fiscal and survey requirements used in utility relocations.
• A proficiency in the use of computers and web-based applications to include computer drafting is required.
• The successful candidate will have the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with internal and external customers.
• The ability to make independent decisions, solve problems, organize and prioritize is also required.

Additional Considerations

• A combination of training, experience, or education in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering or any related field is desired.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This position requires a fingerprint based Criminal History Background Check, DMV Record Check and Work History Verification with references.

This position is designated as essential, employees may be required to work in emergencies, including weekends, holidays, and after normal business hours; assignments may vary based on business needs to include working in severe weather.

This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Teleworking policy.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application. 

VDOT utilizes a market-based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

Contact Information

Name: Audrey Phillips

Phone: 804-837-4748

Email: [email protected]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.