Real Estate and Land Acquisition Manager
: Job Details :

Job Description: Real Estate and Land Acquisition Manager

The Illinois Tollway is dedicated to providing a safe and efficient highway system while ensuring high service levels to customers. Our initiatives include I-PASS, the Move Illinois Program, open road tolling, and H.E.L.P. trucks, all aimed at delivering benefits and services.

The Tollway operates as a user-fee system, funded solely by toll and concession revenues, with no support from state or federal taxes. Our leadership, including the Board of Directors and Executive Staff, is committed to goals such as regional collaboration, economic promotion, financial integrity, environmental responsibility, safety, transparency, customer service, and public trust.

The Real Estate and Land Acquisition Manager reports directly to the Chief of Planning, overseeing a team that includes the Relocation and Acquisition Specialist, the Senior Property Specialist, and the Property Specialist. Support is also provided by a Design Engineer, who acts as a Condemnation Engineer and manages surveying contracts, and the Legal Department, which assists with property closings and tax exemptions.

This role involves managing land acquisition in a dynamic environment characterized by population shifts and land use changes, often leading to increased land costs. The position requires detailed knowledge of legal and procedural aspects of land acquisition, including right-of-way identification, appraisals, negotiations, and condemnation activities. The manager interfaces with survey and design teams to ensure timely property assessments and acquisitions, representing the Tollway at public hearings and negotiations with property owners and stakeholders.

The manager monitors all stages of right-of-way acquisition to adhere to schedules, process invoices, ensure current title commitments, and respond to land acquisition correspondence. They are responsible for overseeing appraisal, review, negotiation, and condemnation processes, ensuring properties are free of encroachments and unauthorized uses, and managing Tollway-owned properties, including leasing and disposal of excess properties.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain schedules for rights-of-way acquisition to meet construction timelines.
• Oversee the preparation of plats and legal descriptions, appraisal processes, and negotiations.
• Coordinate condemnation activities and select appraisers and consultants.
• Ensure fair treatment and prompt compensation for property owners affected by Tollway projects.
• Identify and evaluate hazardous materials on rights-of-way for safety and compliance.
• Manage acquisition-related accounts payable and supervise unauthorized use investigations.
• Oversee disposal and leasing of excess properties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Arts or Sciences from an accredited four-year college.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum of six years' experience in real estate appraisals, rights-of-way, conveyance documents, and closings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize and complete responsibilities efficiently.
• Ability to review and interpret plats of survey and construction plans, and explain them clearly.

This position is subject to the Revolving Door provision under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. For questions, contact the Illinois Tollway Ethics Officer.

The Illinois Tollway is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, military discharge, age, protection order status, military status, sex, or sexual orientation.

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