Relocation and Acquisition Specialist

Position Overview

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (Tollway) is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe and efficient system of highways while ensuring the highest possible level of service to our customers. Whether it's I-PASS, the Move Illinois Program, open road tolling or keeping you safe with our H.E.L.P. trucks, we are committed to delivering great benefits and services to customers.

The Tollway is a user-fee system – no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations. Operations are funded by toll and concession revenues.

Under the leadership of the Board of Directors and Executive Staff, the Tollway is committed to achieving the following goals: increase collaboration with regional transportation and planning agencies, promote the regional economy, maintain financial integrity, foster environmental responsibility and sustainability, maintain the safety and efficiency of the Tollway system, further transparency and accountability, enhance customer service, and maintain public trust.

In support of the Tollway’s vision, the Relocation and Acquisition Specialist (Specialist) is the primary point of contact for families and businesses that must be relocated to complete Tollway Engineering projects, as well as serve as a point of contact for local agencies affected by relocations.

Essential Job Functions

The Specialist is chiefly responsible for identifying and presenting relocation alternatives to the affected parties, coordinating the actual relocation needs of those parties and ensuring all relocation activities are within the guidelines of the Tollway and all applicable State and Federal regulations with special attention to 49 CFR 24, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act and its updates (Uniform Relocation Act).

The Relocation and Acquisition Specialist is the subject matter expert of Tollway relocation guidelines, policies and procedures and applicable State and Federal regulations as elsewhere described herein. The Specialist reports directly to the Land Acquisition Manager and indirectly to the Deputy Chief of Planning.

Responsibilities for this position include the following:

• Administration of the Tollway’s land acquisition relocation activities to ensure timely completion.
• Implementation and enforcement of the Uniform Relocation Act and its updates and changes, and the applicable provisions of the Fair Housing Act (as amended 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq) and the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5).
• Ability to present essential facts regarding Tollway relocation activities using a general knowledge of title, survey and highway plans and to communicate those facts in a manner understandable to impacted property owners.
• Analysis and evaluation of proposed land acquisition relocations which includes fair market value assessments of affected parcels and relocation alternatives.
• Assessment and calculation of compensation for expenses and other allowable payments to tenants, homeowners, businesses and other entities.
• Presentation of offers and negotiation of relocation agreements with displaced owners.
• Collaboration and outreach with local agencies and other stakeholders affected by relocations.
• Serve as primary point of contact for communications with displaced owners
• Coordinate and assist other departmental staff performing relocation activities.
• Respond to inquiries from the public concerning relocation activities.
• Obtain and compile any related secured debt information including mortgages.
• Receive and process relocation related incidental invoices.
• Documentation of activities and communications as required.
• Proficient utilization of Microsoft 365/Office, SharePoint, virtual meeting technologies (Zoom, Teams, Skype, Facetime) and other proprietary platforms.
• Maintain an even temperament in stressful and sensitive situations.
• Exhibit high degree of empathy toward others.
• Perform occasional non-relocation negotiation activities as needed.
• Commitment to equity and fairness for those affected by displacement.

Additional Responsibilities may include:

• Matters related to negotiations, real estate leases, excess parcel dispositions, outdoor advertising matters and asset management.
• Preparation of Relocation Plan as necessary for federal projects.
• Assisting with the scheduling and management of relocation schedules to ensure project implementation schedules are coordinated with those responsible for advancing the project to construction.
• Coordination with condemnation legal counsel to ensure that occupants vacate the property in a timely manner or arrange for extended occupation via a lease or other comparable arrangement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent professional job experience.
• Five (5) years of relevant real estate experience with background in residential and business transactions (commercial, industrial, agricultural).
• Knowledge of the Uniform Relocation Act and its updates and changes, and the applicable provisions of the Fair Housing Act (as amended 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq) and the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5).
• Necessary background, experience, ability, and enterprise to acquire real estate.
• Significant knowledge of land surveys, legal descriptions, real estate title objections and business and real estate conveyance documents.
• Strongly focused on the small components of a task, ensures accuracy and thoroughness for high-quality and error-free work, spots potential issues early, meticulously organized, and can work independently with a minimum of direct supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365/Office and virtual meeting technologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background job experience in one or more of the following: residential relocations; business relocations; farm and/or non-profit organization relocations.
• Illinois Real Estate Broker’s License or ability and willingness to obtain licensure within 6 months of hiring.
• Satisfactory completion certificates of two (2) recognized relocation assistance courses equivalent to those sponsored by the IRWA and/or the National Highway Institute. (Other comparable real estate relocation and/or degree courses may be acceptable at the discretion of the Tollway).
• Former relocation and/or land acquisition work experience as an employee of the Tollway, the Illinois Department of Transportation or similar agencies (may be considered in lieu of some qualifications at the discretion of the Tollway).
• Basic understanding of highway engineering plans.

The Illinois Tollway is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, disability, unfavorable discharge from military services, age, order of protection status, military status, sex or sexual orientation.