Real Estate Services Program Manager

Job Description:

Real Estate Services Program Manager

Description

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles - Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Austin Project Connect (APC) and Austin Financial Services (AFS)-Real Estate are seeking a skilled Real Estate Services Program Manager to join our collaborative team in Austin, Texas. This position within APC will work directly with AFS-Real Estate Services to support the planning, coordination, and execution of capital projects related to Project Connect including light rail and associated facilities.

Job Description:

Purpose:

This position is responsible for providing program oversight, planning, and recommendations for Council action for real estate acquisitions, dispositions, conveyances, exchanges of property, leasing, and/or appraisals in support of City of Austin’s real estate transactions.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Participates in short- and long- range planning activities for real estate programs, serves as an advisor in support of department initiatives.
  
• Oversees, develops, and monitors City real estate programs; and plans the scope, criteria, and timelines for those programs.
  
• Develops and implements strategies through grants and alternative funding sources.
  
• Manages the purchasing procurement process; monitors contract services to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
  
• Develops training materials, oversees, and facilitates training for departmental programs and initiatives.
  
• Establishes and implements communication strategies to improve access to City-sponsored programs.
  
• Evaluates program effectiveness and efficiency to meet departmental business goals.
  
• Assists and coordinates the preparation of legal documents, presents comprehensive and detailed reports by compiling, reviewing, and analyzing data; provides written and/or oral reports.
  
• Acts as liaison and represents the department to City Council, City departments, boards and commissions, citizens and other stakeholders.
  
• Responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints, and issues from both internal and external sources.
  
• Conducts research and provides data results to other departments, agencies or specific groups.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures pertaining to the acquisition, management, appraisal, and land use of real property for public purposes.
  
• Knowledge of Local real estate market.
  
• Knowledge of business strategies, objectives, departmental goals, and initiatives.
  
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
  
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
  
• Knowledge of research techniques.
  
• Knowledge of municipal government operations and applicable regulations.
  
• Skill in interpreting real estate law and legal contracts.
  
• Skill in negotiating real estate transactions such as leases, acquisitions, easements, and other properties to accomplish objectives.
  
• Skill in interpreting legal descriptions of leases, real estate, easements, and similar properties.
  
• Skill in interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating assignments.
  
• Skill in coaching and developing subordinates at all levels.
  
• Skill in oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all public dealings.
  
• Ability to train others.
  
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  
• Ability to think strategically while maintaining an appreciation and understanding of past practices.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with stakeholders, boards and commissions, elected officials, City employees, and the public.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, Real Estate, or in a field related to the job, plus six (6) years of experience in real estate activities, including three (3) years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.
  
• Experience may substitute for education up to four (4) years.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience successfully negotiating and acquiring easements and fee land rights, by voluntary means and/or through the eminent domain process.
  
• Experience successfully facilitating title curative issues and real estate closings.
  
• Experience preparing easements, contracts, deeds, eminent domain petitions, inter-local agreements, license agreements, encroachment agreements, and other legal documents necessary for conveyance or agreements regarding real property rights.
  
• Experience working on utility infrastructure project teams to develop & design project alignments, and identify issues with regard to real estate and developing estimates for land rights acquisitions.
  
• Experience providing a high level of customer service to a variety of diverse internal and external customers both one-on-one and a group basis.
  
• Experience reading and interpreting site plans, survey illustrations and legal descriptions, construction plans, and experience with the City of Austin Land Development processes.
  

Notes to Candidate:

The Real Estate Program Manager will serve as the primary liaison between APC and AFS-Real Estate Services, ensuring seamless coordination and communication for real estate transactions. This position provides oversight of highly complex real estate transactions resulting from interlocal agreements with the Austin Transit Partnership in support of the Austin Light Rail project as part of Project Connect. These transactions include: acquisitions, dispositions, exchanges of property, land leases, review of legal documents, and construction plan/design support with respect to the City of Austin's real estate needs. This position serves as a liaison representing the City's real estate interests when interfacing with other governmental agencies such as Austin Transit Partnership, Travis County, Cap Metro, the Federal Transit Administration, the Texas Department of Transportation and various other State agencies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the main point of contact between Austin Project Connect, Austin Financial Services and Austin Transit Partnership, facilitating communication and collaboration to support Project Connect’s goals.
  
• Participate, coordinate and act as an advisor in both short and long term planning activities with City Departments on upcoming contracts with Austin Transit Partnership, TXDOT, CTRMA, Cap Metro and Travis County that involve a real estate component.
  
• Provide a leadership role when representing the City’s interest as a stakeholder with respect to real estate matters for Project Connect light rail.
  
• Serve as an advisor to City-owned utilities with respect to real estate interest to ensure that the various utilities' needs are addressed. Interact with developers and engineers to cultivate creative ideas on potential solutions to competing needs.
  
• Serve as the City’s representative to coordinate site inspections to conduct appraisal and/or surveying work to ensure the associated scope of work and criteria is conducted within established timelines.
  
• Coordinate with City utilities on possible utility conflicts during the Subsurface Utility Engineering Report through Level D-easement records including GIS records, Level B-utility/construction records, and Level A-pot hole reports
  
• Track and monitor the City’s financial contribution under Texas Government Code, Chapter 791 with respect to real estate transactions, generated as a result of the interlocal agreements. These ILAs address the relocation or removal of City utilities through Utility Reimbursement Agreements as provided under Texas Transportation code sections 203.092 and 203.0935. These tasks involves reviewing utility plans and easement documentation for reimbursable expenses, non-reimbursable expenses, betterments and critical infrastructure requirements. It also involves providing information on past utility relocations on ATP right-of-way projects and assembling easement documentation required for reimbursement eligibility adjustments.
  

Essential Employee:

This position is considered an “Essential” role and is essential to the operations of the City based on the preparation, response, and recovery phase of extraordinary situations or emergency conditions. As an employee that has been designated as “Essential” the expectation will be to work at a designated work site during declared extraordinary situations or emergency conditions to serve the community. Essential Employees during emergencies play a role in ensuring the public health, safety, and welfare of our community and ensuring City operations continue.

Pay Rate: $91,080.00 - $117,000.00

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Hours may vary depending on departmental needs and initiatives.

Work Location:

Watch for the video linked below to learn more about Austin Transportation and Public Works and its role in the region's mobility landscape. https://youtu.be/cova-Ufl2bM

Working for the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities, and more. For more information on City of Austin Benefits click here!

A Cover Letter and Resume are required for this position. Please be sure to upload these documents for consideration.

Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

Applicant: READ THIS STATEMENT Regarding your Application:

A detailed and complete employment application is required to help us better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Please list your complete employment history (to include all job duties responsibilities and employment dates) on your online application. The application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered (e.g., "see resume" or "see Linked In Profile"). Resumes will not be used to qualify for the position and will not be used to recommend salary.

Close Job Posting:

Department may close the job posting at any time after 7 days.

90-Day Provision for Additional Vacancy: This posting may be used to fill other vacancies in other sections within the Division. Decisions on assigned section will be made at the time of hire based on business needs.

Office Location Notes: Office location is subject to change based on department needs and programs.

PLEASE NOTE: Austin Project Connect positions are not at 100% remote operation.

Video Conferencing Software Technology:

Austin Project Connect uses the communication platform, Microsoft Teams, to conduct virtual interviews.

A Cover Letter and Resume are required for this position. Please be sure to upload these documents for consideration.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-02-06