Title & Contracts (T&C) Project Manager

ARIZONA STATE LAND DEPARTMENT

Since its inception in 1915, the Arizona State Land Department has been entrusted with managing approximately 9.2 million acres of State Trust lands scattered throughout Arizona. The Common Schools (K-12) are the largest beneficiary entitled to approximately 87% of the land and receiving close to 90% of State Trust Land revenues. Through the application of sound stewardship, and effective business management principles, the Land Department can succeed in its mission of responsibly managing the assets of a multi-generational perpetual Trust in alignment with the interests of the beneficiaries and Arizona’s future. Are you ready to join us in our mission?
Please apply today!
For general information, visit our website: www.azland.gov
1110 West Washington, Suite 510 Phoenix, AZ 85007

TITLE & CONTRACTS (T&C) PROJECT MANAGER

Job Location:

1110 West Washington Street, Suite 510

Phoenix, AZ, 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $55,000 -$65,000 

Grade: 21

Open Until Business Needs Are Met

Job Summary:

Under the direction and guidance of the Title and Contracts (T&C) Manager, the Project Manager will provide efficient, accurate and timely examination of agreements, contracts, orders, and other legal documents to internal staff and outside representatives. Responsible for meeting deadlines; and for the accuracy of information disseminated.

Exercise considerable independence and discretionary judgment. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including but not limited to detailed and lengthy land use and title reports. Ability to deal courteously and effectively with all levels of ASLD staff, including the Commissioner's Office, customers, federal, state, and local government officials, the Attorney General's Office, Court of Law, and members of the public.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Job Duties:

• Apply the principles, theories, and concepts of the Arizona Management System; actively participating in group huddles; continually identifying areas for process and quality improvement; adhering to established standard work and procedures

• Examine and traverse recorded metes and bounds legal descriptions and recorded plats to create new parcels, rights of way, verify acreage and ownership, assign Land Numbers, update GIS databases, and properly document completed work 

• Provides leadership, guidance, and recommendations in managing all aspects of a project’s life cycle and works with all related areas of the organization to define requirements, deliverables, and timelines

• In the absence of the Title & Contracts manager, act as the primary contact, which can include advising, instructing, evaluating, and making recommendations on special programs/projects

• Coordinating land ownership transfers between the state and federal governments resulting from federal condemnation/eminent domain transactions with possible on-site visits to inspect land

• Examine recorded metes and bounds documents to verify legal descriptions and subsequent transfer of existing parcels, and properly document completed work

• Assist and respond to inquiries for general information concerning location of property, requests for custom maps, or reviewing legal descriptions

• Review complex land issues and oversee all current land and title records ensuring the accuracy of over 9 million acres

• Research and reconfigure parcel areas within the Department’s parcel database or new control becomes available

• Process critical/complex surface applications for purchase, lease, permit and rights of way

• Facilitates the definition of project missions, goals, tasks, and resource requirements

• Assists in the resolution of conflicts within and between projects or functional areas

• Evaluate, update and/or develop applicable forms, policies, and procedures

• Serve as a primary contact for land planning and disposition of Trust land

• Responsible for inventorying, scanning and digitizing ASLD title records

• Follows defined, agreed upon project management methodologies

• Monitors project or area progress and escalates as appropriate

• Manages projects based on repeatable standards and practices

• Digitization of parcels utilizing the ArcGIS Pro software

• Process all cancellations for leases, permits, ROWs

• Leads planning and/or implementation of projects

• Research historical roads (RS2477)

• Manages small sized projects

• All other relevant duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Understanding and knowledge of the Statutes, Departmental rules, policies, objectives, and procedures as they relate to this position

• Working knowledge of GIS systems, spatial data and database management systems and development platforms

• Considerable knowledge in land research practices, legal terminology, and preparation of documents

• Both theoretical and practical aspects of project management & the organization’s methodologies

• Federal condemnation/eminent domain transactions

• Researching land title and land leasing records

• Expert knowledge of land legal descriptions

• Cadastral systems, Surveys, and Plat Maps

• ArcGIS Pro software

Skills in:

• Advanced interpersonal, written, and verbal communications; basic project coordination skills; balance, prioritize and organize multiple tasks; work collaboratively in teams and across organizations; and adjust plans accordingly to meet deadlines

• Prioritize and organize documents; possess attention to detail; display critical thinking

• Intermediate proficiency in computer use (Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Salesforce)

• Establish and maintain working relationships with outside agencies and personnel

• Experience and understanding of land legal descriptions and ALTA surveys

• Proficient in examining/proofreading documents for accuracy

• Basic land planning and disposition experience

Ability to:

• Respond promptly to customer needs; take a customer-centric approach to problem solving; use time efficiently; communicate activities and results as appropriate

• Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations and streamline work processes

•Read and decipher current and historical land records, including land title records

• Read, interpret and write a variety of legal descriptions

• Create, modify and manipulate advanced data sets

• Advanced analysis and produce advanced reports

• Manipulate complex geospatial aspects of data

• Display data and create advanced maps

Selective Preference(s):

• A minimum of 3-5 years of previous technical examining and/or title work similar to that done within a title company (i.e., Assessor’s Office, State, Federal or City land/title Department) including working on land planning and disposition issues, reading and plotting land legal descriptions and ALTA surveys, and working with Cadastral/GIS team

• Any combination of training and experience that meet the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs); typical ways KSAs are obtained may include, but are not limited to, relevant degree from an accredited college or university, coursework and work experience relevant to assignment

• A minimum of 5 years contract-based research experience

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Current, valid state-issued driver's license

• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

Benefits:

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans

• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years

• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans

• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly

• Deferred compensation plan

• 10 paid holidays per year

• Wellness plans

• Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Retirement:

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

• Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute

• Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

• The current contribution rate is 12.27%

Contact Us:

• If you have trouble applying for this position, please email HRIShelpdesk@azdoa.gov for assistance

• Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting ASLD Human Resources at 602-542-2629, requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation

• Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer

Apply