Siting and Land Rights Agent or Senior 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.

This position is based in Eau Claire, WI 54702 on a hybrid (3 days per week in office) work schedule. It can be hired at the Agent or Senior Agent level, depending on overall qualifications, experience, skills, and interview results.

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.

• 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.

• 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

Perform full range of 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 subsidiary companies. Under consultative direction and with some latitude for unreviewed actions, position makes decisions regarding the need for permits, negotiates acceptable permit conditions and determines appropriate measures to minimize environmental impacts.

Possess comprehensive knowledge of row acquisition and land management principals.

• Negotiate with landowners and their legal representatives for the acquisition and management of land rights for gas and electric utility facilities, up to and including 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 applicable permits from railroads, federal, state and local land management agencies for gas and electric utility facilities. These include Conditional Use Permits from local municipalities. Prepare DOT and railroad permit applications for utility facility…