Real Property Specialist - GovernmentJobs.com : Job Details

The East Bay Regional Park District is currently recruiting for a Real Property Specialist. This position is a 37.5-hour work week and is located at the Administrative Headquarters at 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA. The hiring pools established as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy and any future vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.

The Land Acquisition Department within the Acquisition, Stewardship and Development Division is at the forefront of the Park District's efforts to expand this park system by acquiring property and securing rights to preserve the unique and special landscapes of the region and provide an array of recreational and environmental education opportunities for all East Bay communities. We have a great opportunity to join a dynamic team and are seeking a highly motivated individual with experience in real estate transactional work to join our team.

What You'll Be Doing:

• The Real Property Specialist performs a variety of work in all phases of conservation real estate transactions involving the acquisition of land and other real property rights through purchase, dedication, easement, exchange, lease, license and other means for public park, recreational trail, and open space preservation purposes.
• Is conversant in all aspects of real estate transactions, including negotiating and drafting transaction agreements and conveyance documents, commissioning and reviewing complex property appraisals, performing title review and other due diligence functions, and coordinating the Park District's role in the escrow and closing process.
• Is self-directed and able to manage several projects concurrently and move them forward to completion.
• Has strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to exercise initiative, tact, and good judgment.
• Has experience working with public agencies or land trust organizations in real property acquisition and/or land conservation.

Candidate screening: Week of 8/11/2025 Panel Interviews: Week of 8/18/2025 Selection interviews: Early September

About Us:

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres; 1,250 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education.

Our Mission:

EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

Our Values:

• Respect We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

Why Work for EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here for details regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles).
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

• Under direction, assume primary responsibility for project management including identifying, researching, and executing all phases of projects from initial outreach and landowner negotiations through coordination with attorneys and supervision of appraisals, surveyors, and other consultants; conducting necessary due diligence for transactions; managing projects budgets and timelines; and seeking internal approvals.
• Negotiates the acquisition of land and other real property rights through purchase, exchange, donation, dedication, lease, license and other methods.
• Oversees the property appraisal process including scoping, obtaining and interpreting appraisal reports prepared by independent appraisers.
• Selects applicable work sequences and methods for completing project assignments including consulting or contracting with internal or external experts.
• Obtains, examines and interprets title reports.
• Prepares option and purchase agreements, exchange agreements, easements, leases, licenses and other instruments necessary to purchase or acquire land and other real property rights.
• Prepares escrow instructions and coordinates the closing of escrow to complete real property transactions; Investigates, develops recommendations, and negotiates to resolve encroachment issues.
• Coordinates the use of consultants providing property appraisal, land survey, environmental site assessment, historical resources assessment, title search, and other services.
• Assists with eminent domain (condemnation) actions in coordination with supervisor and Park District attorneys.
• Assists in preparing and submitting grant applications to fund land acquisition projects; Researches and responds to internal and external inquiries regarding Park District property rights; Prepares and presents reports to the Board of Directors.
• Develops trust-based relationship with conservation partners representing a diversity of interests including local and regional land trust, public funders, and private landowners.
• In consultation with Management, develops, maintains, and assumes primary responsibility for a portfolio of projects.
• Maintains current awareness of the land conservation techniques, opportunities, and issues by reading periodicals and other related documents, attending public forums, and identifying and participating in training opportunities.
• And performs related duties as assigned.

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in real estate, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field such as conservation planning, ecology, geography, environmental studies, or other natural resources. AND Experience: Two years of experience in real estate negotiations and/or appraisal for the acquisition of land and other real property rights involving project management in land conservation, preferably with a public agency or nonprofit land trust, land management group, or similar organization; experience working as project lead capacity is highly desirable. AND License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties

Knowledge of:

• Demonstrated understanding of basic real property principles, practices, and methods of real estate transactions for the acquisition or conveyance of land and other real property rights through purchase, exchange, donation, dedication, lease, license and other methods.
• Real estate law and land transaction procedures and instruments.
• Real property valuation and appraisal methods.
• Principles and practices of negotiation styles and approaches.
• The effect of various encumbrances and interests in real property upon title, and the procedures required to clear title.
• Methods used to carry out the transfer of real property interests or ownership through escrow.
• Eminent domain and condemnation procedures.
• Principles of land surveying and engineering mapping.
• Principles of basic budget management for project funding and accounts.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Familiarity with public agency real estate departments.
• Able to negotiate successful real estate transactions.
• Able to work on complex projects with moderate level of supervision.

Ability to: