County of Santa Clara

Senior Real Property Agent

County of Santa Clara$143K — $174K *
Real Estate & Construction
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.
  • Minimum of four years in real property negotiations and management.
  • Knowledge of public land acquisition laws and local ordinances.
  • Experience drafting legal documents related to property transactions.
  • Ability to conduct complex property negotiations and resolve disputes.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise real property staff in acquisition and management tasks.
  • Plan and direct negotiations for purchasing, leasing, and selling property.
  • Review appraisals and recommend negotiation amounts.
  • Consult with attorneys on property-related legal matters.
  • Draft legal documents for property transactions and management.
  • Prepare property management budgets and financial reports.
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders through presentations and correspondence.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with no deductibles.
  • Generous paid time off including significant vacation and holidays.
  • Robust retirement plans, including CalPERS and a deferred compensation plan.
  • Health Flexible Spending Account for tax-free healthcare contributions.
  • Dependent Care Assistance Program for managing dependent care expenses.
  • Employee Assistance Program for mental health support and counseling.
  • Education reimbursement for ongoing professional development.
Full Job Description
Salary : $143,332.80 - $174,224.96 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-C72-A
Department: Facilities Department
Opening Date: 08/04/2026
Closing Date: 8/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 92

Description
Under direction, to supervise real property staff engaged in a program for the acquisition, management, lease, or disposal of real property, and performs duties that require a higher level of responsibility.

Typical Tasks
The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.
  • Plans, schedules, and directs assigned personnel in the performance of negotiations, title and escrow work, and other phases necessary in the purchasing, leasing, and selling of real property for public use;

  • Conducts or assists with complex property, lease and/or license negotiations or other phases as necessary to effect acquisition of properties or entry rights by purchase, donation, condemnation, exchange or disposition;

  • Reviews appraisals and recommends amounts for negotiations and settlements in accordance with policy limitations of the department;

  • Consults with and provides attorneys with market appraisals and other information necessary to resolve boundary disputes, property settlements, and condemnation suits;

  • Drafts legal documents for acquisition, property management, and other agreements as required for legal counsel review;

  • Hires real property appraisers and other professional consultants, and directly or indirectly supervises their activities related to assigned work;

  • Prepares budget for area of responsibility and provides supervisor with the status of financial expenditures and account balances;

  • Delivers or reviews presentations;

  • Communicates orally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders;

  • May engage with commercial landlords to provide maintenance, repairs, and other services to County occupying departments, including working with the landlord, property managers, County Building Operations, and direct procurement;

  • May serve as a liaison between the County and its tenants, and may be responsible for managing various aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship;

  • May be responsible for the resale of properties acquired by the County;

  • May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;

  • Performs other related duties, as required.


Employment Standards
Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:
Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's degree. Relevant analytical, administrative, lead, supervisory, or management experience that includes interpreting rules and regulations, gathering data and formulating recommendations, and report writing can substitute for education on a year-for-year basis;
and
Four years of full-time experience in negotiations for the acquisition and disposition of real property, including the management of real property for commercial real property and/or public use.
Special Requirements
  • Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

Knowledge of:
  • Federal, State, and local laws and regulations pertaining to:
    • Public land acquisition
    • Environmental impact requirements
    • Relocation assistance programs
    • Land disposal;

  • Principles and practices of real property transactions and real property management;

  • Legal documents and procedures governing acquisition of property for public use;

  • Local building ordinances and land development procedures;

  • Commercial real property, complex commercial office leases, terminology, advanced property management issues, and the process of completing extensive tenant improvements;

  • Costs of construction and improvements;

  • Property values and effect of economic trends on value and price;

  • Principles of supervision, training, and lead responsibilities;

  • English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;

  • Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:
  • Plan and supervise the work of others;

  • Understand and apply laws relating to public acquisition of real property;

  • Conduct difficult and complex negotiations;

  • Review for compliance and prepare comprehensive environmental impact reports;

  • Identify and resolve issues related to property maintenance, repairs, or service delivery promptly and effectively, ensuring minimal disruption to County operations;

  • Review and prepare commercial office leases and tenant improvements;

  • Deliver presentations;

  • Research and evaluate real property market opinions;

  • Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;

  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.


Physical Requirements
  • Work under adverse weather conditions; outdoors, in remote areas, on uneven and/or slippery ground or surfaces, and on moderately steep slopes or terrain;

  • Work in environments that are noisy or are subject to sudden changes and/or extremes in air temperature, pressure, or humidity;

  • Lift, push, and pull objects that weight 50 pounds or more;

  • Walk, stand, or sit for extended periods.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format for EACH employer referenced, in each answer:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
Do you understand the requirement to provide complete answers in order to determine relevant experience for each area in question?
  • Yes
  • No

02

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
  • High School or GED equivalent
  • College (1 to 29 semester units / 1 to 44 quarter units)
  • College (30 to 59 semester units / 45 to 89 quarter units)
  • College (60 to 89 semester units / 90 to 134 quarter units)
  • College (90 to 119 semester units / 135 to 179 quarter units)
  • College (120 or more semester units / 180 or more quarter units)
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree
  • Doctoral Degree
  • None of the above

03

Describe your real estate-related training, coursework, and professional certifications (e.g., property management, real estate, appraisal and related credentials). Please attach all certifications/licenses to this application If none, indicate "N/A."
04

How many years of experience do you have performing analytical, administrative, lead, supervisory or management duties? Relevant experience includes interpreting rules and regulations, gathering data, formulating recommendations, and report writing.
  • No experience
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six years or more

05

Describe your analytical, administrative, lead, supervisory, and/or management work experience. Relevant experience includes interpreting rules and regulations, gathering data, formulating recommendations, and preparing reports. Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format: a) Employer name(s) b) Job title(s) c) Start/end dates of employment d) Total hours worked per week e) Description of task(s) performed If no experience, please type N/A.
06

How many years of experience do you possess in negotiating the acquisition and disposition of real property?
  • No experience
  • Less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight to less than nine years
  • Nine years or more

07

Describe your experience in negotiating the acquisition and disposition of real property. Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format: a) Employer name(s) b) Job title(s) c) Start/end dates of employment d) Total hours worked per week e) Description of task(s) performed If no experience, please type N/A.
08

How many years of experience do you possess in commercial real estate acquisitions, commercial real estate leasing and property rights?
  • No experience
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five years or more

09

Describe your experience in commercial real e

About County of Santa Clara

The County of Santa Clara is located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay and encompasses 1,312 square miles. It has one of the highest median family incomes in the country, and a wide diversity of cultures, backgrounds and talents. The County of Santa Clara continues to attract people from all over the world. With more than 70 agencies/departments and 22,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, provides quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health protection, environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need. The County's population of nearly 1.9 million is one of the largest in the state, and the largest of the nine Bay Area counties. Its population constitutes about one fourth of the Bay Area's total population. There are 15 cities including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale ranging from Palo Alto to the north, to Gilroy in the south. San Jose is the largest city in the County, with a population of 1.035 million, and is the administrative site of County Government. A significant portion of the county's land area is unincorporated ranch and farmland. Nearly 92% of the population lives in cities. The County of Santa Clara operates 27 parks covering more than 50,000 acres including scenic lakes, streams, and miles of hiking and biking trails.
Learn more about County of Santa Clara

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