Land Manager, Land Services

Land Manager

At Jacobs, we challenge what is accepted today so we can deliver more connected, sustainable, and innovative solutions tomorrow. As part of our Land Services team, you'll help clients secure the land rights they need to build and maintain critical infrastructure—empowering communities to focus on what matters most. We are currently seeking a Land Manager to support active Department of Transportation (DOT) projects, as well as other infrastructure (water, rail/transit, energy) clients across the U.S. This hybrid role can be based out of one of our targeted markets — Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Columbus, Indianapolis, or Atlanta — with the potential for periodic travel to project sites or client offices. In this role, you will manage and perform land acquisition and right-of-way (ROW) activities, collaborating closely with project teams from initiation through closeout. We welcome candidates from a variety of backgrounds — including transportation, title, federal, energy, utilities, or any sector requiring complex land rights acquisition.

What You'll Do

• Conduct negotiations with property owners and representatives for acquisition of ROW, easements, or other land rights.
• Support DOT and non-DOT projects by ensuring all ROW activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local guidelines.
• Investigate and research title history through courthouse records and publicly available documentation to confirm land ownership and encumbrances.
• Review and interpret legal descriptions, plats, survey drawings, and related documentation.
• Draft and prepare approved land rights documents for acquisition activities.
• Record executed documents at appropriate county or municipal offices.
• Support resolution of property damage claims related to construction or maintenance activities.
• Maintain accurate and organized project files, maps, progress reports, and documentation in client and Jacobs systems.
• Participate in project meetings and collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams, including engineers, surveyors, environmental specialists, and construction contractors.
• Support development of scopes, cost estimates, and schedules for land services tasks.
• Follow client procedures and technical requirements for ROW and land acquisition.
• Participate in change management processes and track project performance against the Project Execution Plan (PEP).
• Assist in condemnation preparation, as needed, and serve as a witness when appropriate.
• Contribute to internal process improvement initiatives within the Land Services group.

Bring your team-focus, adaptability, and commitment to excellence, and we'll help you grow what drives you - and deliver the world's most challenging and impactful projects, together.

Two (2) or more years of experience in land acquisition, ROW, title research, or related property/real estate work (experience may come from public sector, DOT, title companies, utilities, energy, transportation, or similar industries).

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).

General understanding of land acquisition principles, ROW processes, or real estate regulations.

Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

Ability to occasionally work outside standard business hours to meet project demands across multiple time zones.

Willingness to travel for project or client needs.

Ideally, you'll also have

• Experience supporting State DOT, federal transportation, or large infrastructure programs (Tennessee DOT or Georgia DOT)
• Active state Real Estate License.
• IRWA membership (or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire).
• Active Notary (or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire).

Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.