Senior Real Property Agent (Sr RPA)

at  City of Seattle

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Real Estate and Planning Services Division (REPS) at the City of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) is a talented and nimble work group dedicated to pursuing the highest and best use of City property with an inclusive mindset and a racial and social equity lens.
We are seeking a civic-minded, passionate and talented Senior Real Property Agent (Sr RPA) to enhance our team’s real estate oversight and planning functions for the City, providing both public property and commercial real estate support for FAS and other departments. The ideal Sr RPA will bring a thoughtful perspective to the job and be responsible for site acquisition, property reuse and disposition, complex research, and landlord and tenant lease negotiations. At FAS, that includes working with other City departments and outside agencies, maintaining a citywide real property database and City real property policy development.
This position involves technical and regulatory work to comply with federal, state and local guidelines on legal aspects of property transactions. The work requires a high level of intellectual curiosity, cultural sensitivity and independent judgment. Day to day responsibilities include fielding customer service inquiries about City-owned property, contracting for due diligence activities, creating maps including using GIS, drafting legislation for City Council and preparing reports and presentation materials for senior staff, the FAS Department Director and elected officials and their staff.

ABOUT US

The Real Estate and Planning Services (REPS) Division of the Department Finance and Administrative Services is responsible for Citywide real estate management, including tracking real property information, conducting property research, appraisals, acquiring and disposing of City property, and negotiating and drafting leases and use permits.
The 450-plus employees of FAS span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions, like managing 120 City facilities—including police and fire stations—coordinating logistics and emergency management and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts. FAS is a collaborative workplace with collective accountability to promote equity, respect, civility, integrity, inclusiveness, and fairness for all employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

• Three years of experience as a Real Property Agent or equivalent.
• Associate’s degree in real estate or related field.
• Current Washington State Drivers License

(Or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.)

Projects range from the simple to the complex, a sampling of which includes drafting use permits, commercial lease negotiation and execution, property acquisition for a new fire station, site searches, assessment of the City’s long-term warehouse needs. All of our projects consider equity, race and social justice for the City. Specific duties include:

• Identify leasing criteria and needs of City department clients. Work independently and with real estate brokers to conduct site searches and solicit landlord proposals.
• Negotiate and draft letters of intent, leases and related documents representing the City as tenant or landlord.
• Prepare documents required to complete municipal real estate transactions such as property legal descriptions, recommendation reports, purchase and sale agreements, deeds, easements, interdepartmental agreements and legislative packages. Coordinate review of documents with Law Department and Risk Management, as needed.
• Represent the City or Department at interagency meetings, site visits and community meetings involving real property matters.
• Prepare consultant contracts and coordinate specialized consultant work, including commercial broker representation, tenant relocation plans, surveying, title, escrow, environmental site assessments, and property valuation and appraisals.
• Maintain a high-level of intra- and inter- departmental teamwork, customer relations and communication, providing updates to division and department leadership and leveraging partnerships.
• Conduct property research, market comparisons and real estate due diligence.
• Participate in onsite and remote project meetings and conduct field work and site visits, as needed.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) and the department’s efforts to lead with race.
• Honor FAS principles for employee conduct.