Real Property Specialist

Real Property Specialist

East Bay Regional Park District

Salary: $120,685.50 - $136,500.00 Annually

Job Type: Full-time (37.5 hrs)

Job Number: 25-LL-06

Location: Oakland, CA

Department: LAND ACQUISITION DEPT

Closing: 8/6/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

The Position

The East Bay Regional Park District is currently recruiting for a Real Property Specialist. This position is a 37.5-hour work week and is located at the Administrative Headquarters at 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA. The hiring pools established as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy and any future vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.

Department

The Land Acquisition Department within the Acquisition, Stewardship and Development Division is at the forefront of the Park District's efforts to expand this park system by acquiring property and securing rights to preserve the unique and special landscapes of the region and provide an array of recreational and environmental education opportunities for all East Bay communities. We have a great opportunity to join a dynamic team and are seeking a highly motivated individual with experience in real estate transactional work to join our team.

What You'll Be Doing:The Real Property Specialist performs a variety of work in all phases of conservation real estate transactions involving the acquisition of land and other real property rights through purchase, dedication, easement, exchange, lease, license and other means for public park, recreational trail, and open space preservation purposes. This position is also involved in supporting the Park District through negotiating appropriate agreements to facilitate habitat restoration, public access, and park infrastructure development projects.

Ideal Candidate:

• Is conversant in all aspects of real estate transactions, including negotiating and drafting transaction agreements and conveyance documents, commissioning and reviewing complex property appraisals, performing title review and other due diligence functions, and coordinating the Park District's role in the escrow and closing process.
• Is self-directed and able to manage several projects concurrently and move them forward to completion.
• Has strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to exercise initiative, tact, and good judgment.
• Has experience working with public agencies or land trust organizations in real property acquisition and/or land conservation.

Candidate screening: Week of 8/11/2025

Panel Interviews: Week of 8/18/2025

Selection interviews: Early September

ABOUT US:

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres; 1,250 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. Learn about our https://www.ebparks.org/about/mission-visionhttps://www.ebparks.org/history and our contributions to the https://www.ebparks.org/public-info/awards/un-global-citizen

OUR MISSION:

EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

• Respect - We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.

• Resilience - We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.

• Relationships - Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.

• Responsiveness - We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.

• Transparency - We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.

• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/EBRPD-Benefits-Matrix.pdf https://get.adobe.com/reader/ for details regarding additional benefits.

• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.

• Free on-site parking.

• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)

• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

Essential Functions

• Under direction, assume primary responsibility for project management including identifying, researching, and executing all phases of projects from initial outreach and landowner negotiations through coordination with attorneys and supervision of appraisals, surveyors, and other consultants; conducting necessary due diligence for transactions; managing projects budgets and timelines; and seeking internal approvals.

• Negotiates the acquisition of land and other real property rights through purchase, exchange, donation, dedication, lease, license and other methods.

• Oversees the property appraisal process including scoping, obtaining and interpreting appraisal reports prepared by independent appraisers.

• Selects applicable work sequences and methods for completing project assignments including consulting or contracting with internal or external experts.

• Obtains, examines and interprets title reports.

• Prepares option and purchase agreements, exchange agreements, easements, leases, licenses and other instruments necessary to purchase or acquire land and other real property rights.

• Prepares escrow instructions and coordinates the closing of escrow to complete real property transactions; Investigates, develops recommendations, and negotiates to resolve encroachment issues.

• Coordinates the use of consultants providing property appraisal, land survey, environmental site assessment, historical resources assessment, title search, and other services.

• Assists with eminent domain (condemnation) actions in coordination with supervisor and Park District attorneys.

• Assists in preparing and submitting grant applications to fund land acquisition projects; Researches and responds to internal and external inquiries regarding Park District property rights; Prepares and presents reports to the Board of Directors.

• Develops trust-based relationship with conservation partners representing a diversity of interests including local and regional land trust, public funders, and private landowners.

• In consultation with Management, develops, maintains, and assumes primary responsibility for a portfolio of projects.

• Maintains current awareness of the land conservation techniques, opportunities, and issues by reading periodicals and other related documents, attending public forums, and identifying and participating in training opportunities.

• And performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in real estate, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field such as conservation planning, ecology, geography, environmental studies, or other natural resources.

AND

Experience: Two years of experience in real estate negotiations and/or appraisal for the acquisition of land and other real property rights involving project management in land conservation, preferably with a public agency or nonprofit land trust, land management group, or similar organization; experience working as project lead capacity is highly desirable.

AND

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.

Additional Information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties

Knowledge of:

• Demonstrated understanding of basic real property principles, practices, and methods of real estate transactions for the acquisition or conveyance of land and other real property rights through purchase, exchange, donation, dedication, lease, license and other methods.

• Real estate law and land transaction procedures and instruments.

• Real property valuation and appraisal methods

• Principles and practices of negotiation styles and approaches.

• The effect of various encumbrances and interests in real property upon title, and the procedures required to clear title.

• Methods used to carry out the transfer of real property interests or ownership through escrow.

• Eminent domain and condemnation procedures.

• Principles of land surveying and engineering mapping.

• Principles of basic budget management for project funding and accounts.

• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

• Familiarity with public agency real estate departments.

• Able to negotiate successful real estate transactions.

• Able to work on complex projects with moderate level of supervision.

Ability to:

• Project manage less complex real property projects (for example, less complex real property projects may include projects that involve up to two parties in addition to EBRPD, are not politically sensitive and/or have limited to no public engagement and may contain a limited number of simple transaction documents and/or involve simple board materials), including contractors and other internal teams, while meeting internal and external timelines.

• Conduct negotiations with property owners and other stakeholders involved in land acquisition projects.

• Obtain, read, and interpret land valuation appraisals.

• Prepare and interpret land transaction instruments.

• Read and interpret real property legal descriptions and maps.

• Direct the work of others.

• Write clear and concise correspondence, keep records, and make oral and written reports.

• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

• Working knowledge of the process for obtaining public funding for conservation land acquisition.

• Able to combine sound business sense and judgment to commitment to land preservation.

• Participate as a valued contributor in staff meetings, planning sessions, budget preparation, and project strategy discussions.

• Complete associated administrative tasks required for a well-managed agency, including post-project follow-up with project and funding partners.

• Work well in a team environment, as well as independently.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to pass a Level 1 background

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License is a condition of initial and continued employment.

UNION AFFILIATION:

AFSCME: East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park District and Local 2428. The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months.

Internal Promotions: Placement shall be made at the first step in the salary range for the new position (Step A) unless the salary rate at Step A of the new position is less than a 5% increase. In such instances, the employee will be placed at a step in the new salary range that ensures at least a 5% increase.

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

• A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online and

• Completed supplemental questions

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system. If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or oral examination/interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.

Equal Opportunity Employer:The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

To apply, please visit https://apptrkr.com/6382775

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• East Bay Regional Park District