Right of Way Acquisition Specialist

Job Description

Atwell’s Land Solutions team is growing, and we are seeking experienced Right of Way Acquisition Specialists to support utility, energy, and infrastructure projects across the state of Michigan. This is a project-based, field-focused role where your ability to build trust with landowners, manage parcel-level details, and drive acquisition progress will directly support critical real estate and right-of-way programs.

This role will support statewide Michigan right-of-way and real estate services, including land acquisition, easement negotiation, right-of-entry coordination, title and ownership research, document execution, and project close-out. Ideal candidates will be located in Michigan and comfortable supporting work across urban, suburban, rural, and agricultural communities.

You’ll manage the acquisition lifecycle from initial landowner contact through final documentation while coordinating closely with project managers, title teams, document specialists, GIS, permitting, legal, survey, environmental, and construction teams.

Responsibilities

• Engage landowners, property owners, and stakeholders across Michigan to explain project scope, answer questions, address concerns, and secure required land rights.

• Negotiate and obtain easements, rights-of-entry, licenses, temporary construction rights, purchase agreements, option agreements, and other real estate documents as needed.

• Research property ownership, parcel boundaries, title information, tax records, deeds, mortgages, liens, legal descriptions, and other public record documents through county, municipal, and online systems.

• Review title commitments, ownership reports, GIS data, plats, surveys, engineering drawings, alignment sheets, and legal descriptions to understand project impacts.

• Prepare, review, route, and support the execution of right-of-way and real estate documents in accordance with client, project, state, and regulatory requirements.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all landowner communications, negotiations, commitments, parcel status updates, and project milestones.

• Coordinate with title agents, document specialists, project coordinators, GIS staff, permitting/zoning staff, surveyors, environmental teams, inspectors, legal counsel, and project managers.

• Support valuation reviews, compensation recommendations, damage settlements, crop damage claims, and restoration-related discussions.

• Track acquisition progress in project databases and provide regular status updates to project leadership.

• Record executed documents with appropriate county offices and support parcel close-out activities.

• Represent Atwell and our clients professionally in the field, during landowner meetings, and in coordination with local agencies or municipalities.

• Support multiple project assignments as needed and respond quickly to changing client priorities or staffing needs.

Qualifications

• 2–5+ years of experience in right-of-way acquisition, land acquisition, real estate, land services, title, permitting, or a related field.

• Experience supporting utility, electric transmission/distribution, pipeline, renewable energy, infrastructure, or public works projects preferred.

• Michigan-based candidates are strongly preferred.

• Working knowledge of Michigan land rights, real estate documents, public records, county recording processes, and rural/agricultural land acquisition practices preferred.

• Comfortable researching title, ownership, parcel, and tax information through Michigan county records and public systems.

• Strong landowner communication skills, including the ability to explain project impacts clearly and professionally.

• Proven ability to negotiate, resolve concerns, and maintain productive relationships with landowners, agencies, and project stakeholders.

• Ability to read and interpret maps, plats, surveys, legal descriptions, engineering drawings, parcel exhibits, and GIS information.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple parcels, deadlines, documents, and stakeholder communications.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with project databases, GIS tools, or document management systems preferred.

• Comfortable with regular field travel across Michigan, including rural, agricultural, and remote areas.

• IRWA coursework, real estate licensing, notary commission, or related certifications are a plus.

• Associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Disclaimer 

While AI tools may support your application process, this role is built on human talent. Your judgment, experience, and character matter most, so we encourage you to showcase what makes you uniquely you.

Atwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from any 3rd party agencies. No fee will be paid to 3rd parties who submit unsolicited resumes to any Atwell employee. Resumes from approved vendors must be specifically requested by Atwell and approved by the Atwell Talent Acquisition Team.

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