About the role
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.