Siting and Land Rights Agent (Agent or Sr. Agent)

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow?  A  position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Position Summary

The below job summary and responsibilities reflects the duties of the Agent; Senior level will differ as more skills and/or experience will be required.  The successful candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with the candidate's skills and experience.

Performs the range of agent activities associated with the planning, siting and acquisition of permits and land rights for the construction, operation and maintenance of electrical and gas utility facilities for Xcel Energy and its operating and subsidiary companies. Works under minimal supervision conferring primarily on unusual matters and has appreciable latitude for unreviewed actions and/or decisions.

Essential Responsibilities

• Negotiate with landowners and their legal representatives for the acquisition and management of land rights for the above described gas and electric utility facilities, up to the process of condemnation. Prepare easement packages, perform abstracting and other related courthouse documentation searches to facilitate acquisition of easement rights.

• Prepare applications and negotiate for and obtain certain applicable permits from state and local land management agencies for gas and electric utility facilities. These include Conditional Use Permits from local municipalities. Prepare railroad and DOT permit applications for utility facility crossings and longitudinal encroachments. Prepare or assist in preparation of other local and state permits as required.

• Represent the company before local regulatory and land management agencies, boards, planning commissions and councils. Prepares project descriptions and summaries, responds to date requests and, with support from the project team, makes presentations to the governing jurisdiction's representatives in public meetings in order to obtain approval for projects.

• Maintains a general understanding of applicable federal, state and local land rights laws, codes, ordinances and regulations. Familiar with effective negotiating strategies and techniques in order to secure land rights at a fair and equitable cost.

• Perform limited planning, assist in route alternative analysis, selection, and development of sites and corridors for small to moderate size gas and electric utility facilities. Depending on the scope and complexity of the individual project this responsibility requires close interaction with multi-disciplinary internal project teams, involving engineering, legal and project management staff.

• Ensure compliance with all land rights related permit conditions and landowner agreements including easement conditions, documentation and releases. Makes post-construction damage assessments and settlement payments to impacted landowners subject to approved price schedules.

• Provides assistance to other internal Xcel Energy departments and subsidiaries involving land rights management and acquisition, valuation, scheduling and cost estimates for siting and land rights activities.

Minimum Requirements

Sitting and Land Rights Agent Requirements ($73,700-$104,633)

• Bachelor's degree in real estate, land use planning, management or business (a combination of relevant education and experience totaling 8 years may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement)

• 2 years of increasingly complex siting, acquisition and/or land rights management experience

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills Preferred -Project management experience

Sr. Sitting and Land Rights Agent Requirements ($84,900-$120,566)

• Bachelor's degree in real estate, land use planning, management or business.

• A combination of relevant education and experience totaling 8 years may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.

• Minimum of 5 years of increasingly complex siting, acquisition and/or land rights management experience.

• Demonstrated project management skills.

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of somet