Project: A major natural gas pipeline project in the Permian Basin, Texas
Reports to: Project Manager (or the Director of Right-of-Way where no Project Manager is assigned)
Classification: Full-time
Location: Permian Basin, Texas - on-site; travel across the project area as assigned
Purpose
The Right-of-Way Supervisor leads a team of right-of-way agents and field personnel on assigned project spreads - setting daily direction, holding the team to Gray Hawk's standards, and making sure acquisitions move on schedule, on budget and with clean, defensible documentation. This role is the field link between the agents and the Project Manager, and represents the client, Gray Hawk and the team with professionalism and integrity.
Core Responsibilities
• Supervise and lead the right-of-way agents, land negotiators, field personnel and third-party contractors assigned to the project spread - assign work, set expectations and review results.
• Hold the team to the Gray Hawk Proactive Standard: after first contact, agents actively pursue landowners rather than waiting; voicemail-and-wait is acceptable only on the first attempt.
• Make sure every landowner contact is documented in the project's land-management database the day it happens.
• Negotiate the more complex surface use agreements, easements and pipeline rights-of-way; settle surface damages and secure access to client assets.
• Review agents' agreements and documentation for accuracy before they go to the Project Manager or the client.
• Track timelines and budgets for the spread, prepare status reports, and coordinate directly with the Project Manager and the client.
• Establish and maintain good relationships with surface owners, local government officials and agencies; de-escalate tense situations quickly.
• Conduct or direct internal and courthouse title research; interpret and redline alignment drawings, certified property plats, permit drawings, temporary workspace drawings and construction access drawings.
• Lead the team's field safety: walk each new team member through the Field Safety Manual and Safety Training and complete the sign-off with them; hold the daily safety briefing and keep the Daily Safety Log.
• Coach and develop agents, and address performance issues promptly.
Success Metrics
• Every agent working under clear assignments and to the Gray Hawk Proactive Standard.
• Landowner contacts documented the same day, across the whole team.
• No unresolved escalations aging beyond 3 days without documented status.
• Acquisition milestones for the spread met on schedule.
• Zero material documentation errors on executed agreements.
• No team member working alone in the field before their Field Safety acknowledgment and Safety Training sign-off are complete.
Required Qualifications
• Minimum five (5) years of right-of-way experience, primarily negotiating easements for pipelines.
• Minimum three (3) years supervising right-of-way agents.
• Proven ability to lead a large team of agents and field personnel - setting direction, reviewing work and holding people to a standard.
• Leadership experience on FERC-regulated natural gas pipeline projects.
• Texas pipeline experience, including work with the Texas Railroad Commission.
• Working knowledge of Texas condemnation (eminent domain) law and procedure for pipelines.
• Thorough understanding of surface use agreements, easements, pipeline ROW, surface title, and the laws and regulations governing right-of-way work in Texas.
• Ability to conduct internal and courthouse title research without supervision.
• Mapping-software experience (GIS, Google Earth; deed plotting) and the ability to learn client mapping systems.
• Experience with land-management databases (such as Irth Land Management or comparable) and the ability to learn new client databases quickly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Valid driver's license.
• Must supply their own mobile phone that can receive email, and a computer capable of doing the job effectively.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent right-of-way experience or IRWA certification (SR/WA or RW/AC) accepted in its place.
• Available to start within weeks of an offer and to work on-site in the Permian Basin.
Preferred Qualifications
• IRWA certification (SR/WA or RW/AC).
• Experience with ESRI GIS software.
• Experience across multiple asset types (pipeline, electric transmission, renewables).
Pay and Benefits
Competitive pay, per diem, and full health, vision and dental benefits; details discussed during interviews.
Don't meet every requirement? If you have strong FERC pipeline leadership experience but not in Texas, we still want to hear from you.
