Real Estate Officer

Do you have experience in Real Estate and related services? If so, bring your knowledge of appraisals, expropriation, negotiations and land management to the Ministry of Transportation's Design and Engineering Branch, Property Section. Our office is responsible for obtaining property for the construction and maintenance of Provincial Highways in the East Region, as well as providing interim land management and/or disposal of land.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role, you will:

• Negotiate with property owners and/or their legal representative for the acquisition of property required by the ministry and prepare recommendations for appropriate compensation settlements.
• Prepare written recommendations regarding opinion with respect to valuation of property including partial takings, compensation due impact of the acquisition such as crop damage, business loss, injurious affection to reach a settlement.
• Make recommendations concerning acquisitions, depositions, expropriation, land management and other transactions.
• Recommend and implement expropriation proceedings according to applicable legislation and ministry policy.
• Carry out property management activities including disposing surplus land, leasing and coordinating property maintenance repairs.
• Prepare and/or review detailed property appraisal reports for various types of land uses, including partial takings, property impact studies of highway construction and route planning, estimating compensation for property rights being acquired
• Work in a team environment including engineering staff, legal services, consultants, and supervisor to ensure deadlines are met for the acquisition and management of property
• Procure and manage consultants and contractors to carry out services on behalf of the ministry

Note: Flexible work arrangements including flexible hours may be considered.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• This position requires the successful candidates to have a valid G driver's license or equivalent. The offer of employment is conditional upon the successful candidates providing proof of a valid driver's license, upon being hired.

Real Estate Knowledge

• You have knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of property appraisal reports, agreements, negotiations, disposal and land management activities.
• You have experience in acquiring, managing and disposing property rights for public purposes.
• You have expertise in Real Estate matters of a technical nature including, review and interpret land use planning, legal agreements, engineering drawings, surveys, plans, appraisal reports and negotiations skills and other related documentation.
• You can interpret and apply the Expropriations Act, and have knowledge of other relevant statues and regulations (i.e., Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, Planning Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Environmental Protection Act, Landlord and Tenant Act, Registry Act, Land Titles Act, Surveys Act).

Communication, Negotiation, and Interpersonal Skills

• You can negotiate with property owners and/or their legal representatives.
• You have written and oral communicate skills necessary to explain owner's/their legal representative's and MTO's position regarding compensation for property rights acquired, recommend resolutions in the form of discussions, reports, agreements, letters and other correspondence.
• You use your problem-solving and analytical skills to resolve contentious issues.
• You are able to build and maintain effective working relationships.
• You can communicate effectively to discuss and explain agreement of purchase and sale, to produce detailed reports, provide recommendations to resolve negotiation issues and land management.

Business Skills

• You have the ability to read and interpret legal descriptions, survey plans and engineering drawings.
• You can review and prepare property appraisal reports, agreements and other related documentation.
• You can prepare detailed reports and other correspondence to recommend settlements, resolve acquisition issues, communicate with property owners, their legal representatives, external clients and other ministry staff including manager and supervisor.
• You have experience with consultant hiring, monitoring and evaluation.
• You have arithmetic skills to adjust comparable sales properties and calculate claims and appropriate compensation.

Computer Skills

• You are proficient with Microsoft Office and database applications.