Senior Right-of-Way Agent

Project:  A major natural gas pipeline project in the Permian Basin, Texas 

Reports to:  Project Manager and/or ROW Supervisor 

Classification:  Full-time 

Location:  Permian Basin, Texas — on-site; travel across the project area as assigned 

Purpose 

The Senior Right-of-Way Agent owns the full acquisition lifecycle for assigned projects — from title research and landowner contact through negotiation and executed agreement. Working with significant autonomy in the field, this role secures surface agreements, easements, and rights-of-way while maintaining strong landowner relationships and clean, defensible documentation. 

Core Responsibilities 

•  Negotiate surface use agreements, easements, and pipeline or utility rights-of-way; settle surface damages and secure necessary access to client assets. 

•  Establish and maintain good relationships with surface owners, local government officials, and agencies. 

•  Conduct internal and courthouse (external) title research independently. 

•  Interpret drawings and redline as needed — alignment drawings, certified property plats, permit drawings, temporary workspace drawings, and construction access drawings. 

•  Apply the Gray Hawk Proactive Standard: after first contact, actively pursue landowners rather than waiting; voicemail-and-wait is acceptable only on the first attempt. 

•  Use mapping software (GIS, Google Earth), plot deeds, and learn client internal mapping systems. 

•  Navigate multiple client databases and conduct online research. 

•  De-escalate tense situations and represent the client and Gray Hawk with professionalism and integrity. 

•  Document every landowner contact, negotiation and agreement status in the project’s land-management database the day it happens. 

•  Follow Gray Hawk’s Field Safety Manual; acknowledge it and complete the Safety Training with the supervisor. 

Success Metrics 

•  Operating to the Gray Hawk Proactive Standard with consistent, documented follow-up. 

•  Managing an independent caseload with consistent documentation standards. 

•  No unresolved escalations aging beyond 3 days without documented status. 

•  Zero material documentation errors on executed agreements. 

•  Recognized by the project manager and client as a reliable, independent field lead. 

Required Qualifications 

•  Minimum three (3) years of experience in the right-of-way industry, primarily negotiating easements for pipeline projects. 

•  Texas pipeline right-of-way experience. 

•  Thorough understanding of surface use agreements, easements, ROW, surface title, and government laws and regulations related to ROW operations. 

•  Ability to conduct internal and courthouse title research with no supervision. 

•  Ability to interpret and redline alignment drawings, certified property plats, and permit and workspace drawings. 

•  Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel). 

•  Experience with land-management databases (such as Irth Land Management or comparable) and the ability to learn new client databases quickly. 

•  Mapping-software experience (GIS, Google Earth; deed plotting). 

•  Self-starter able to work with little to no supervision. 

•  Must supply their own mobile phone that can receive email, and a computer capable of doing the job effectively. 

•  High school diploma or equivalent required; a bachelor’s degree or IRWA certification is a plus. 

•  Available to start within weeks of an offer and to work on-site in the Permian Basin. 

Preferred Qualifications 

•  Experience on FERC-regulated natural gas pipeline projects. 

•  IRWA certification (SR/WA or RW/AC). 

•  Experience across multiple asset types (pipeline, electric transmission, renewables). 

•  Experience with Texas eminent domain and condemnation proceedings. 

Don’t meet every requirement? If you have strong pipeline right-of-way experience but not in Texas, we still want to hear from you.