About the Department

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Real Estate
HOURS: Full-time
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $73,515 - $91,894
SALARY RANGE: $73,515 - $114,868/ (grade 108)
LOCATION: Western Service Center, Apple Valley
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 pm on Monday, July 6, 2026

What You'll Do
The Real Estate Specialist is responsible for performing a wide variety of duties related to acquiring right of way for County purposes, including transportation, greenways, parks, and conservation. The Specialists work closely with landowners, County staff and project partners to complete the acquisition process, including: acquisition needs easements and types, determining the value of property interests, conducting negotiations, preparing and finalizing documents, coordinating and completing closings, and filing necessary documents.

Who We Are
Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence in public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

Position Duties

• Bachelor's Degree AND two (2) years of experience in real property acquisition and appraisals.
OR
• Associate's Degree or Paralegal Certificate AND four (4) years of experience in real property acquisition and appraisals.
OR
• An equivalent combination of education and direct work experience in real property acquisition and appraisals totaling six (6) years.
AND
• Valid Minnesota driver's license

Preferred license(s) beyond minimum qualifications
• Notary Public Commission
• Certification by the International Right of Way Association (IRWA)
• Completed degree in business administration, economics, education, engineering, finance, geography, planning, public administration, real estate, or appraisals.
• Experience with transportation right-of-way acquisition for a government agency.

Minimum Qualifications

The following examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification.

1. Prepare real estate-related information for County staff, utility companies, real estate agents/brokers, general public, other governmental entities, and organizations as requested.
2. Works with interdisciplinary teams as properties are identified for County acquisition to provide real estate-related information and maintains communications with property owners; relevant County staff, project partners, and other entities throughout the acquisition process.
3. Develop and distribute Requests for Proposal for appraisals and appraisal reviews, selects contractor and provides a wide variety of information needed to complete the reports to determine real estate value and options.
4. Facilitate necessary due diligence, including by obtaining and reviewing, Preliminary Title Commitments, Mortgage Consents/Releases, and Environmental Assessments, etc.
5. Serve as the primary County contact in negotiations and providing offers and settlements to property owners when acquiring right of way.
6. Coordinates with the County Attorney's Office to provide required information and serve as an expert in Eminent Domain proceedings.
7. Coordinate the drafting and execution of forms, agreements and other required documents with terms acceptable to the property owner, County, project partners, funding entities, closing company, and other associated parties.
8. Coordinate real estate closings with all parties and ensuring all appropriate documents are filed in a timely and accurate manner.
9. Prepare basic real estate acquisition information needed for County Board action.
10. Provide information and assists in maintaining/updating the County’s Real Estate and GIS databases.
11. Complete annual monitoring of County agricultural, buffer, greenway natural area, park, and trail easements.
12. Monitor and negotiate existing County leases and assists in the development of new County leases, as assigned.
13. Performs other acquisition and program-related activities in consultation with or as assigned by the Real Estate Manager, Real Estate Supervisor, Lead Real Estate Specialist and/or Project Managers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Items 1-8 listed above are essential functions of this position.

Other Qualifications

General knowledge of current practices and trends in agriculture; commercial, residential and industrial development; natural resources; outdoor recreation; transportation; and water.
Knowledge about County's Land Conservation Plan, Park and Greenway and Transportation System Plans.
Knowledge of federal, state and local, laws, policies, regulations, and procedures pertaining to real estate and zoning, as well as laws and sensitivity regarding private property owners.
Knowledge of federal, state and regional programs and grants and associated with funding requirements.
Knowledge and ability to read and understand a variety of GIS, legal, planning, and technical documents.
Knowledge of appraisal methodologies and ability to explain valuation techniques, acquisition needs, laws, and procedures to property owners.
General knowledge of land surveying, legal descriptions, conservation easements, and Phase I and II Environmental Assessments.
Knowledge of general contract processes.
General knowledge of what right of way is and various easement types used to acquire right of way.
Knowledge of real estate closing processes and document recording.
Skills in effectively applying this general knowledge to diverse and unique real estate acquisition projects.
Skills in utilizing and applying technology for increased efficiency.
Skills in relating to and negotiating with individual property owners to mutually meet their and the County’s needs and desired outcomes.
Ability to meet deadlines and efficiently organize time to complete assigned responsibilities.
Ability to maintain complex records and prepare detailed reports.
Ability to employ strong organizational and project/time management skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and effectively communicate with property owners, co-workers, contractors, partners, public officials, and the general public.
Ability to employ sound judgment in exercising this discretion, including determination at the appropriate points in which to involve management staff in decision-making.

Work Environment
The work is generally sedentary, usually accomplished while comfortably seated (or standing) at a desk in a County office building or teleworking from home or some other site during normal work hours. Must have the physical ability to work outside as the Specialist may be exposed to discomfort due to weather, natural vegetation, rugged terrain, and other outdoor conditions as there will be times when the Specialist meets with property owners on their property to inspecting or discuss the property during non-regular work hours. Items carried typically are light objects such as notebooks, and laptop computer. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds may be needed on an occasional basis. Travel and occasional evening and weekend meetings will be required.

Office attendance will be according to the approved Physical Development Division’s Policies and Real Estate Supervisor’s approved work schedule, and as necessary for the successful completion of acquisition projects.

Benefits

Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
Excellent work-life balance
Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
Eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday each year
Pension with a generous employer contribution
Ability to work from home some of the time using County equipment

Selection Process

You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
We assign you a score based on your qualifications
Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer
We extend an offer and conduct background checks

Benefits

: Visit our Benefits site for more information.

Supplemental Questions

*******Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials.

It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions.

Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.

Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a background check including but not limited to criminal, employment, driving, and educational check may be conducted upon acceptance of a position.

Please select the highest level of education completed or Degree held. (Degree must be held by the closing date of this recruitment)

High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalent
Professional/Technical Certificate equivalent to 1 year of full-time post secondary education
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or higher

Identify the field of study of your completed degree:

Business Administration
Economics/Finance
Engineering
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Paralegal
Planning
Public Administration
Real Estate/Appraisal
Another closely related degree
None of the above

Identify your years of full-time work experience in real property acquisitions and appraisals. This experience must be listed on your application.

Convert any part-time experience to full years (i.e. 20 hours week for 2 years equals 1 year full time). Do not round up years of experience (i.e. 2 yrs. 9 mos. would equal 2 years). Apply this formula to all questions regarding number of years of full-time equivalent experience.

Less than 1 year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
6+ years
No experience

Do they have experience acquiring transportation right of way for a government agency?

Do you have experience acquiring easements or licenses in the public or private sector?

Identify the licenses or certifications that you possess: (check all that apply)

Certification by the International Right of Way Association (IRWA)
Notary Public Commission
Minnesota Certified General Real Property Appraiser's license
Minnesota Certified Real Estate Broker's license
Minnesota Certified Real Estate Sale's license
Valid driver's license

Identify if you have full-time work experience with the following duties & responsibilities: (check all that apply)

Perform, direct, and coordinate property research with Title and Abstract companies.
Prepare and direct preparation of supporting material for the Offer of Settlement.
Serve as the contact in providing offers, negotiations, and settlements.
Serve as Transportation Expert in Eminent Domain proceedings.
Provide administrative management of the right of way acquisition process.
Assess and monitor agricultural, buffer, greenway, natural area, park, and trail easements
Develop and/or manage contracts
None of the above

The full salary range for this position is $73,515 - $114,868 and preferred hiring range is $73,515 - $91,894 annually. The amount that is offered is depended on the candidate's overall skills, education, experience and internal equity. The offer would also include the County's benefits package.

Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary you'd accept if selected for the position?

Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.

Facebook
Friend, Family or Colleague
InDeed
Job Fair or Dakota County Event
Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
JobsInMinneapolis/StPaul
League of Minnesota Cities
LinkedIn
Minneapolis Diversity.com
Minnesota Diversity.com
Minnesota Works Website
Minnesota Jobs Network.com
Minnesota Association of Counties
Monster
Professional Association Website
Referred by a Dakota County Employee
St Paul Diversity.com
College Website, Instructor, Career Services
Dakota County Website
Other

If you selected Other, please indicate where you heard about this opportunity with Dakota County.

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer: Dakota County
Address: Administration Center

1590 Highway 55

Hastings, Minnesota, 55033-2372
Phone: 651.438.4435
Website: http://www.dakotacounty.us