Project Manager-Real Estate-26357509RE

These positions may have a teleworking and/or flexible schedule available after an initial training period. 

Interviews will take place the week of November 2nd, 2026 and job offers will be made shortly after all interviews are complete.

About The Department of General Services (DGS):

The Department of General Services (DGS) is an internal service department within the County of San Diego. DGS ensures that other County departments have the necessary workspaces, services and vehicles to accomplish their own business objectives. These services range from real estate leasing and acquisition support to capital improvement and architectural planning; from facility maintenance and repair services to security management; from vehicle acquisition and maintenance to refueling services, and for delivering County mail. DGS is also a committed leader in energy and sustainability and has been recognized for its efforts in conserving energy resources while promoting expansion of renewable sources of energy in the County.

About the Real Estate Division:

The Real Estate Division (RED) is responsible for developing the County’s five-year capital plan and overseeing the purchase, leasing, space management, appraisal, surveying and mapping, and sale of County property. It provides real property agreement services for County owned assets, excluding leases and licenses at County airports, and serves as the lease administrator for properties the County leases from others. RED also maintains records of County landownership and leasing and supplies mapping and deed information to County departments and partner agencies.

About the Project Manager-Real Estate Role:

The Department of General Services is seeking a Project Manager in the Real Estate Division. The Project Manager will be responsible for planning, managing and coordinating complex acquisition-related efforts including easements and rights of way. The Project Manager supervises Real Property Agents within the division and manages and oversees the performance of contracted work. 

The ideal candidate for the Project Manager will be a highly motivated self-starter who demonstrates strong initiative, communicates effectively, identifies challenges and recommends practical solutions, and consistently sets and achieves goals. This individual will excel at building trusting relationships across internal teams, external partners, and community stakeholders. They will model leadership through clear communication, coaching, support, and mentoring of staff.

The ideal candidate will possess technical expertise to:

• Interpret regulations from other governmental agencies as they apply to County real property acquisition, such as Caltrans requirements; 
• Coordinate the activities of a diverse project team that may include County clients, attorneys, consultants (brokers, appraisers, planners, A/E, etc.), external stakeholders, and internal Subject Matter Experts;
• Negotiate and prepare an array of agreements and real property contracts;
• Handle complex real estate efforts such as large commercial or Right of Way (ROW) acquisitions; 
• Plan, manage, and coordinate the professional activities of a section within the Real Estate Division, to include distributing work assignments and evaluating and developing staff; 
• Perform complex fiscal and other pertinent analyses and make recommendations to Department executives and clients; 
• Understand associated project inputs such as real property appraisals, land survey documents and exhibits; and,
• Preparation of acquisition materials, such as Board letters, presentations, policies, processes, and executive briefing materials.

This position requires a candidate to have strong analytical and communication skills, oral and written, and fully developed soft skills, including political acumen, ability to build consensus within both small and large team environments, a willingness to initiate process improvements, and commitment to improving performance and client service.

Additional Information on the Department of General Services. 

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in real estate, business administration, public administration, economics, urban planning or a closely related field, and, two (2) years of professional lead-level experience in real property acquisition, commercial property acquisition, commercial property leasing, property management, relocation assistance, appraisal, and real property development in a public or quasi-public agency which exercises power of eminent domain, OR
2. Six (6) years of professional-level experience in real property acquisition, commercial property leasing, property management, relocation assistance, appraisal and real property development in a public or quasi-public agency which exercises the power of eminent domain, with at least two (2) years of such experience having been obtained at the level equivalent to that of a Senior Real Property Agent in County service. 

Notes: 

• Possession of one or more of the following designations is highly desirable: Senior Right-of-Way Agent (SR/WA), Member of Appraisal Institute (MAI), Certified Property Manager (CPM), Real Property Administrator (RPA), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Registered/Licensed Architect, Civil Engineer, Interior Designer, Landscape Architect or Land Surveyor.
• Licensed Engineer Premium: This employees with this certification shall receive additional compensation of approximately five percent (5%) above the employee’s base pay if employee is registered with the state of California as a Professional Engineer. 

Blind Applicant Screening
The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all new recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Conditions of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying. 

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy 
The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information. 

Military Skills Translator
Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool. 

 

 

Strategic Plan

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov) 

Disaster Service Worker
Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

Diversity & Inclusion
The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.