Right of Way Program Manager

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Operations & Policy Analyst 4 – Right of Way Program Manager
Oregon Department of Transportation
Interstate Bridge Replacement Program
Portland, Oregon | Vancouver, Washington

This position is open for recruitment and fully funded following the 2025 Special Legislative Session.

The role: 

Leave your mark on history. Join the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program to help build a replacement Interstate Bridge that will span generations. You will also be part of a team that is modernizing the Interstate 5 corridor for travelers of today and tomorrow.

Join this historic effort by supporting its design and construction. We are currently seeking a right of way program manager. In this role as a chief advisor to program management on right of way matters, you will also lead our Right of Way Unit for the Oregon bridge components.

The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program is a mega infrastructure program with national significance led jointly by the states of Oregon and Washington. Its purpose is to address regional safety and mobility challenges facing the Interstate 5 highway system by replacing the aging bridge over the Columbia River between Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are working together to develop solutions that improve seismic resiliency, bolster safety, reduce congestion, provide reliable public and active transportation, and facilitate better freight movement.  The program has received more than $2 billion in federal grant funding and continues to seek further federal funding to build a bridge that keeps people and our economy moving into the future. The two states have also committed a billion dollars each to bring these improvements to fruition.

Join the IBR program for a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the local community and region that will reverberate for decades.

This position will be a State of Oregon employee based in Portland and work out of the program’s joint office in Vancouver. This is a hybrid remote position with expectation of in-office work two days a week, on average, or as business needs demand to collaborate with cross-discipline colleagues and program leadership.

We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive. We encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply for our positions.

Before applying, visit our applicant information website to learn more about our process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday profile.

A day in the life:

• Provide comprehensive right of way policy, technical expertise, coordination, analysis and advice in all phases of real estate appraisals, negotiations/acquisitions, relocations, property management, sales, final reports, agreements and conveyance documents.

• Identify, evaluate, develop and implement statewide right of way improvement processes in all program areas including policy and information management systems. 

• Conduct real property acquisition negotiation activities.

• Develop long-range goals and initiatives in cooperation with federal agencies, affected jurisdictions and partners.

• Research, interpret and provide direction on how to apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and practices, and/or determine a course of action.

• Advise senior level managers, facilitate meetings, and draft proposals for policy or legislative changes needed to support the program right of way operations.

• Prepare reports and other data to explain decisions and ensure reports, records and documents are clear and conform to policy.

• Guide and mentor right of way staff.

• Conduct efficiency, cost and performance factor evaluations.

• Administer project contracts and monitor/evaluate contractor performance.

• Ensure program wide consistency in applying local, state, and federal laws/regulations.

• Meet with property owners, their attorney or representatives, local public agencies, interest groups and the public to explain project plans and procedures and respond to questions.

• Work in an office environment with flexible hybrid work options available with two days/week in the Vancouver office or as needed.

• Travel required between ODOT and WSDOT project and/or headquarters offices, and around project work sites.

• To request a copy of the position description, which includes all duties and working conditions, please email ODOTRecruitment@odot.oregon.gov.

What’s in it for you:

• Build a bridge to the future: You get to help build a bridge, transit network and active transportation facilities that will last a lifetime with a team of engineers, technical experts, transportation professionals and more with national and international experience.

• Make a lasting impact: As a member of the Interstate Bridge Replacement program, you have the chance to better the lives of community members who rely on the I-5 corridor in Portland and Vancouver and national and international freight haulers.

• Set your course: Joining a program with international and national significance such as the Interstate Bridge Replacement program can launch or advance your career.

• Program location: The program area spans through the Portland-Vancouver metro area. The project office is located in downtown Vancouver, Wash. providing lifestyle and recreation opportunities on both sides of the Columbia River.

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, paid leave and so much more. Learn more about working at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the benefits we offer.

• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying. 

• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!

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Minimum qualifications:

Any combination of experience and education equivalent to eight years of experience that typically supports the knowledge and skills for the classification related to right of way acquisition for federally funded transportation projects.

OR

A bachelor's degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, finance, political science or any degree demonstrating the capacity for the knowledge and skills; and five years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work related to right of way acquisition for federally funded transportation projects.

Special qualifications:

Driving is an essential function of this position. You must have a valid US driver license and an acceptable driving record. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks on our final candidate(s). Your license does not have to be issued in Oregon to be considered.

What we’d like to see:

If you have these attributes, let us know in your application materials! It's how we will choose whom to move forward! You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience and education to help us decide who will move forward.

• Experience managing a right of way program or large portfolio of right of way projects in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Act and ODOT Right of Way Manual.

• Experience developing and leading a team of right of way professionals including evaluating their performance.

• Knowledge of access management and railroad components of the project delivery process and the policies and procedures that guide them.

• Experience successfully managing complex interest holder relationships.

• Experience interpreting policy to inform the development and implementation of procedures.

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:

  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter under the ‘Need help?’ section if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer.

  • Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section above.

    • Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.

    • Please address your cover letter to Kat Halpenny, Right of Way Program Manager.

    • Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.

    • You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application.

  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.

• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.

• If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

Need help?

• For questions, call 971-273-8687 or email ODOTRecruitmentEM@odot.oregon.gov.

Additional information:

• We do not offer visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. We are not an E-Verify participating employer, and we are unable to proceed if E-Verify participation is required [e.g., STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension].

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.

• We may use this recruitment to fill multiple or future vacancies.

• We will conduct name-based criminal background checks on final candidates, including current ODOT employees. All applicants may be subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as driver license, LEDS (Law Enforcement Data System), and/or education verification as required for the position.

• You will become part of the state's management team.

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding EEO/AA/ADA, contact 1-877-336-6368 (1-877-EEO-ODOT). This information can be made available in an alternative format by contacting ODOT Recruitment at 503-986-3700. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

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Right of Way, Access Management, Policy Analyst, Government Jobs