Property Agent and Appraiser

Role Responsibilities

Play a key role in supporting the delivery of provincial infrastructure projects through strategic land acquisition and property management.

Reporting to the Property Manager, the Property Agent manages regional property matters, including the acquisition and management of land required for Provincial Government projects.

Key responsibilities include negotiating and acquiring land, coordinating land surveys, managing government-owned properties, and overseeing external stakeholders involved in land negotiations. The role also responds to property inquiries, reviews processes to identify improvements, and contributes to team and departmental goals.

Property acquisition is critical to the timely delivery of departmental construction projects. Projects vary in complexity and may involve agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional, residential, and irrigation lands, ranging from small acreages to large multi-parcel developments. Acquisition activities may include negotiations, compensation agreements ranging from nominal amounts to over $1M, and legal processes under provincial expropriation legislation to secure required property interests.

Responsibilities:
Some of the responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Acquire property for Provincial Government purposes:
  Plan and manage land acquisition projects supporting government infrastructure initiatives. Negotiate with landowners, resolve issues, prepare required documentation (including expropriation files), and monitor budgets and project progress.
• Manage and coordinate external resources to meet Department property acquisition requirements:
  Oversee contracts and coordinate external professionals such as surveyors, appraisers, engineers, and land agents. Ensure work is properly approved, funded, and compliant with legislation and departmental requirements.
• Review property acquisition functions on a continuous basis. Propose effective and innovative ways of doing business:
  Assess land acquisition practices and recommend process improvements to increase efficiency. Ensure consistent procedures that reduce risk and support sound legal and compensation outcomes.

Role Responsibilities cont.

• Ensure that the Department's property inventory is managed in a professional and efficient manner:
  Manage leases and agreements for government-owned properties across multiple property types. Support the cost-effective management and disposal of surplus properties in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Ensure that the Region's and the Department's goals and objectives are met:
  Work collaboratively with the Property Manager and team members to support regional and departmental priorities. Provide real property expertise and address stakeholder issues to help achieve operational objectives.
• Acquire Hwy r/w through Indian Reserves & resolve outstanding issues:
  Support engagement and negotiations with First Nations to secure highway right-of-way acquisitions. Coordinate with government partners and prepare documentation to finalize agreements

Ready to make an impact on projects that shape the province? Apply today and join our team!

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Some of the competencies critical for this position are:

• Agility: Proactively incorporates change into processes. Creates opportunities for improvement. Is aware of and adapts to changing priorities. Remains objective under pressure and supports others to manage their emotions. Proactively explains impact of change on roles and integrates change in existing work. Readily adapts plans and practices.
• Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Collaborates across functional areas and proactively addresses conflict. Encourages broad thinking on projects and works to eliminate barriers to progress. Facilitates communication and collaboration. Anticipates and reduces conflict at the outset. Credits others and gets talent recognized. Promotes collaboration and commitment.
• Systems Thinking: Considers inter-relationships and emerging trends to attain goals. Seeks insight on implications of different options. Analyzes long-term outcomes, focus on goals and values. Identifies unintended consequences.
• Creative Problem Solving: Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues. Engages perspective to seek root causes. Finds ways to improve complex systems. Employs resources from other areas to solve problems. Engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Land Management, Environmental studies, Agriculture or an equivalent field.
• Minimum 6 years of experience with an emphasis on negotiation and real property appraisal in areas such as acquisition, marketing, sales, legal & documentation, project coordination, stakeholder relations, leasing, development, finance, assessment or appraisal.
• Experience in property acquisition or property/land management. 
• Knowledge of relevant provincial legislation and processes related to land acquisition (e.g., Expropriation Act, Land Titles Act, or similar regulatory frameworks).
• Experience in property acquisition or property/land management, preferably related to infrastructure, transportation, utility, or public sector projects.

Equivalencies: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• A related two-year diploma and a minimum of eight (8) years of related experience; or 
• A related one-year certificate and a minimum of nine (9) years of related experience; or 
• A minimum of ten (10) years of related experience.

Qualifications cont.

 Assets: 

• Professional accreditation through the International Right of Way Association (SR/WA: Senior Right of Way Agent). or the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AACI: Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute).  
• Accreditation through the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AACI: Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute) may be considered.  These accreditations have prescribed educational prerequisites (post-secondary or equivalencies), extensive related experience requirements, and five-year articling terms.  Both accreditations have ongoing recertification requirements. 
• Ability to professionally represent the Department at judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings.  Included are the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, Court of King's Bench, Questioning pursuant to the Alberta Rules of Court, and Inquiries under the Expropriation Act.
• Strong communication and active listening skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to assess complex or conflict situations and develop practical, timely solutions.
• Demonstrated negotiation and mediation skills.
• Proven ability to adapt and work effectively with stakeholders at varying levels of experience and understanding.
• Broad general knowledge in multiple disciplines including contract law (writing acquisition contracts), surveying (arranging surveys, reviewing survey plans, interpreting existing plan information), engineering (understanding and explaining engineering drawings to landowners), property law (especially related to land titles, encumbrances and land title processes), property valuation (read and understand appraisal reports and concepts used in valuation).

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointments to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Additional Position Details:

• Term of Employment: Permanent, Full-time position.
• Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly – Monday to Friday.
• Location: Red Deer

Recruitment Process:

• Final candidates may be required to undergo security screening.
• Pre-Employment Checks will be completed to assess the candidate’s suitability for the role. These checks will include Reference checks, Academic Check, CRC check and verification of a Valid class 5 Driver’s License and a Driver’s Abstract. 
• This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.  
• Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary.
• Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.
• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 – June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.
 

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca/
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.