Real Property Agent, Senior

Full Job Description

The City of Seattle is seeking a civic-minded, passionate, and skilled Senior Real Property Agent (Sr. RPA) to join our team and strengthen the City’s real estate oversight and planning functions.

This role provides critical support for both public property and commercial real estate activities within the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) and other City departments.

The ideal candidate will bring strategic insight and expertise to responsibilities that include site acquisition, property reuse and disposition, complex research, and negotiating landlord and tenant leases.

At FAS, this work involves close collaboration with other City departments and external agencies, maintaining a citywide real property database, and contributing to the development of City real property policies.

This position involves technical and regulatory work to comply with federal, state and local guidelines on legal aspects of property transactions.

The work requires a high level of intellectual curiosity, cultural sensitivity and independent judgment.

Day-to-day responsibilities include fielding customer service inquiries about City-owned property, contracting for due diligence activities, creating maps using GIS, drafting legislation for City Council and preparing reports and presentation materials for senior staff, the FAS Department Director and elected officials and their staff.

ABOUT US

The Real Estate and Planning Services Division (REPS) within the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) is a dynamic, collaborative team dedicated to ensuring the highest and best use of City property.

Our work is guided by an inclusive approach and a strong commitment to racial and social equity.

REPS oversees citywide real estate management, which includes maintaining property records, conducting research and appraisals, acquiring and disposing of City-owned property, and negotiating and drafting leases and use permits.

FAS is often the public's first interaction with the City of Seattle, operating as a customer-focused front door that assists with everything from paying utilities or reporting a pothole to requesting public information or even adopting a new pet.

The 500-plus employees of FAS span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions, like managing 120 City facilities—including police and fire stations—overseeing the City's neighborhood customer service centers and Customer Service Bureau and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts.

No matter the need, FAS is here—at your service.

Requirements

Projects range from the simple to the complex, a sampling of which includes drafting use permits, commercial lease negotiation and execution, property acquisition for a new fire station, site searches, and assessment of the City’s long-term training space needs.

All of our projects consider equity, race and social justice for the City. Specific duties include:

• Identify leasing criteria and needs of City department clients. Work independently and with real estate brokers to conduct site searches and solicit landlord proposals.
• Negotiate and draft letters of intent, leases and related documents representing City Departments as tenants or as the landlord.

Prepare documents required to complete real estate transactions such as property legal descriptions, recommendation reports, purchase and sale agreements, deeds, easements, interdepartmental agreements and legislative packages.

Coordinate review of documents with Law Department and Risk Management, as needed.

• Represent the City or Department at interagency meetings, site visits and community meetings involving real property matters.
• Prepare consultant contracts and coordinate specialized consultant work, including commercial broker representation, tenant relocation plans, surveying, title, escrow, environmental site assessments, and property valuation and appraisals.
• Maintain collaborative intra- and inter- departmental teamwork, customer relations and communication, providing updates to division and department leadership.
• Conduct property research and market comparisons and real estate due diligence.
• Participate in onsite and remote project meetings and conduct site visits, as needed.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) and the department’s efforts to lead with race.
• Honor FAS principles for employee conduct.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Three years of experience as a Real Property Agent or equivalent.
• Associate’s degree in real estate or related field.
• Current Washington State Drivers License

(Or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.)

The most successful candidates will possess the following:

• 5+ years' experience in real estate, including some experience with acquisitions, dispositions, site development, licenses, leases, easements, permits, conveyance documents or property management.
• Experience drafting and editing documents such as reports, legislation, contracts, leases, or permits.
• Proven verbal, written, presentation, and graphic communication skills. Property mapping using GIS, website, multi-media and other design visualization tools is a plus.
• Software skills, including MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams), graphic design tools and database systems.
• Ability to read real estate plans, permits, property records, technical reports and legal documents.

Work EnvironmentCity positions requires a minimum of three days per week of onsite work (Unless specified in a collective agreement). Overtime work may be required based on business needs.

Alternative Work Arrangements and hybrid telework schedules for work conducted in a normal office environment may be considered and will be based on operational needs and consistency with City policies.

This position requires both onsite and fieldwork.

Additional Information

This position is classified as a Senior Real Property Agent. It is Civil Service represented, FLSA non-exempt and is eligible for overtime. The full range for this step-progression position is $59.19 - $69.00 per hour.

Application Process
Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on the scheduled closed date.

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.
2. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
3. Current resume indicating relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and education.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state “see my resume” or “see my personnel file” are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: This job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Background Check: Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17.

Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

Valid Washington State Driver’s License or equivalent mobility.

Why work at the City of Seattle?The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism.

Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same.

To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Who May Apply: The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences.

Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy.

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at Finance and Administrative Services, please send an email to john.blackmore@seattle.gov.

FAS promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

CANDIDATE NOTIFICATION:

Many important notifications including interview or test invitations, result notices, and status updates will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application.

It is important that you provide a valid email address.

Please add john.blackmore@seattle.govto your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

Candidates can also check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing their profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

It is the applicant's responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.