Real Property Agent IV

Summary

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Real Property Agent IV career service vacancies within the Water and Land Resources Division or throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six months.

Are you passionate about land conservation and seeking a position that will have a lasting positive impact on current and future generations? This is an exciting opportunity to join King County’s Open Space Acquisitions Unit’s Acquisitions Team as a Real Property Agent IV. In this senior level position, you will work alongside experienced real estate professionals to permanently protect land through fee and easement acquisitions in furtherance of King County’s Land Conservation Initiative - an effort to protect more than 60,000 acres of land for public access, climate resilience, and habitat preservation within 30 years - and to support the Water and Land Resources Division’s growing number of capital improvement projects. This is a meaningful opportunity to apply your experience with government land acquisitions, project management, strategic thinking, and creative problem-solving in the service of a healthier future for King County’s residents. To date, the Acquisitions Team has successfully completed acquisitions permanently conserving more than 160,000 acres of floodplain, forestland, farmland, and other open space.

About the Role:

In this role, you will manage a significant portfolio of complex real estate transactions on behalf of the Water and Land Resources Division, Parks and Recreation Division, local jurisdictions, and non-profit partners, and you will serve as a senior level subject matter expert throughout the department and, specifically, for the River and Floodplain Management Section.

This position requires a detail-oriented and organized individual with experience in project management, developing acquisition strategies, a thorough understanding of government property acquisitions, and the ability to communicate clearly, calmly, and effectively with a wide range of audiences, including internal and external constituents, senior leadership, landowners, attorneys, and real estate agents.

In addition to demonstrating the technical expertise necessary to be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will consistently approach their work in an efficient manner with a sense of integrity, enthusiasm, and pride. They will be exceptionally dependable and proactive in accomplishing work assignments with minimal assistance, and possess the ability to ask questions, seek feedback, and learn from others.

This is a great opportunity to join our fast-paced and dynamic team to facilitate acquisitions for the purpose of removing people and property from flood hazard areas, advancing capital improvement projects, establishing regional trail connections, floodplain protection and restoration, and permanently protecting open space for future generations.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:

The Open Space Acquisitions Unit is part of the Rural and Regional Services Section, in the Water and Land Resources Division. The unit plays a central role in advancing the County’s ambitious Land Conservation Initiative by (1) awarding approximately $100 million annually for conservation acquisitions through the Conservation Futures Tax grant program; (2) acquiring land on behalf of King County partners within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks and external clients to permanently protect parks, open space, trail corridors, habitat/ecological areas, floodplains, forestland and farmland; and (3) operating the transfer of development rights program, compensatory mitigation programs, and supporting a Forest Carbon program - all of which are market-based conservation programs. Our staff bring expertise in government land acquisition, grant funding, policy development, and environmental markets, all driving creative solutions that maximize conservation outcomes.

Known for professionalism, attention to detail, and working at the pace of the private market, the Acquisitions Team is deeply respected within the King County enterprise and by external partners and clients, alike. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Real Property Agent, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

• Facilitate all aspects of complex, visible, and politically sensitive fee and easement acquisitions to achieve land conservation goals and to support the advancement of capital improvement projects in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and internal policies.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop acquisition strategies, including the preparation of cost estimates, and act as a subject matter expert within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
• Perform a variety of administrative tasks, including drafting internal offer routing packages and landowner correspondence, ordering maintenance cost estimates, providing accurate and timely updates to various tracking mechanisms, and managing of your own acquisition files.
• Develop and review consultant scopes, direct and manage consultant work, and track consultant progress.
• Attend site inspections on an as-needed basis and confirm the satisfaction of contract contingencies prior to closings.
• Collaborate with the environmental markets programs to maximize the conservation potential through the acquisition process.
• Understand the tenant relocation process and legal requirements. Manage relocation consultants, develop justification documentation, and facilitate the disbursement of relocation assistance to individuals and businesses displaced due to the acquisition of real property rights.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• At least 3 years conducting a broad range of government real estate transactions, including fee title, conservation easements, and temporary construction easements, with experience navigating matters related to negotiations, title and escrow, appraisal techniques, property segregation, and boundary line disputes.
• Demonstrated familiarity with federal state, and local laws and regulations governing real estate transactions conducted by governmental entities, including, but not limited to, the Uniform Relocation Act.
• Experience with drafting and/or interpreting transactional documents and property instruments in consultation with legal staff.
• Experience performing the administrative tasks necessary to successfully and efficiently advance real estate transactions.
• Experience successfully and efficiently managing a significant number of acquisitions with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Experience drafting scopes of work for consultants, directing their work, and tracking their deliverables.

Physical Requirements:

Occasional travel throughout King County is required to conduct physical site inspections of properties. Site inspections may include uneven terrain, overgrown vegetation, forested environments, and farms.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Required Licenses/Certifications:
NotaryValid Washington State driver’s license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position.
It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Five years or more experience conducting complex government real estate transactions on both a voluntary basis and within the condemnation framework.
• Familiarity with the process of segregating land to enable partial acquisitions.
• Advanced or highly specialized knowledge of negotiation, escrow, real estate, property management and appraisal techniques, procedures and legislation.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work. In-person work may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). The frequency of in-person presence is guided by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Employees must reside in Washington State and be within reasonable proximity to King County worksites to meet in-person work requirements. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Be sure to highlight your years of related experience, regulatory and legal knowledge, administrative experience, skill in prioritizing acquisitions with competing priorities and deadlines, and consultant management.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Morgan Knight Hermann at 206-477-9092 or mhermann@kingcounty.gov .
Discover More About the Division: Visit our website .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our webs ite , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 10/9/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

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