Property & Acquisition Specialist ; In-Training

About WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence! Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

WSDOT is seeking a highly skilled Property and Acquisition Specialist 5 (In-Training) to join the North Central Region Property Asset Office in Wenatchee, Washington. This role serves as a senior-level appraisal professional, providing expert real property valuation in support of WSDOT’s transportation mission.

In this position, you will appraise real property and property rights to support the acquisition of right of way for transportation projects, as well as provide accurate and defensible valuations for the sale or lease of WSDOT-owned properties and property interests. You will prepare complex valuation analyses for access breaks on limited access highways, develop cost estimates to establish right of way work orders and project funding, and provide valuation expertise and analytical support to project engineering offices.

In addition to hands-on appraisal work, this role includes managing appraisal consultant contracts, ensuring compliance with professional standards, timelines, and contractual requirements. The position plays a critical role in delivering legally sound, well-documented property valuations that support project delivery, fiscal stewardship, and public trust.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Property and Acquisition Specialist 5 will:

• Provide estimates for project real estate acquisition and manages contract appraisal work.
• Manage daily appraisal matters, including, but not limited to, planning, scheduling, and implementing of appraisal workload to ensure timely completion of all acquisition, disposal, and lease appraisals, Waiver Valuations, and Value Memos.
• Complete project reconnaissance, appraisal cost estimates, and project funding estimates.
• Define tasks for assignment of parcels to fee appraisers based on the complexity and needed expertise and available staff.
• Solicit appraisal bids, negotiate, draft, award and monitor personal service contracts for appraisal and related activities.
• Examine appraisal to assure compliance with acceptable appraisal procedures, state and federal laws, contract or assignment terms, current departmental requirements and recommend corrective actions.
• Coordinate with state review appraisers for review of appraisals and preparation of Determination of Value.
• Perform appraisals, waiver valuations, and value memos for WSDOT projects and disposals.

This is a Property and Acquisition Specialist 5 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the classification series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan.

To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required to meet the PAS 5 level
:

• Property Appraisal & Valuation Expertise
  :
  Demonstrated ability to independently lead and complete complex real property appraisal assignments—including acquisitions, access breaks, leasing, and disposals—by applying sound valuation methodologies and professional judgment to support transportation and property management objectives.
• Consultant Contract Management
  :
  Demonstrated ability to manage appraisal consultant contracts from procurement through completion, including scope development, competitive bidding, negotiation, performance oversight, and review of deliverables to ensure quality, compliance, and timeliness.
• Financial Analysis & Project Cost Estimation
  :
  Demonstrated ability to develop accurate cost…