Exam Bulletin - Supervising Right of Way Agent

CA High Speed Rail Authority

Exam Code: EX-2854

Examination Plans Included:

  • SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT: $9,946.00 - $11,293.00 per Month

View the SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2854

For SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02854

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104961 - SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT

Either 1

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Right of Way Agent.

Or 2

Experience: Five years of progressively responsible experience involving all major phases of the acquisition of rights of way for governmental or public utility use, two years of which must have been in a full supervisory or administrative capacity. (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least two years performing the duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than Senior Right of Way Agent.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Position Description

00104961 - SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT

Under general direction, either (1) plans, organizes and directs all right of way work in a district and acts as the District Director's principal assistant; or (2) in large urban districts, supervises a major subdivision of the Right of Way Program and acts as the principal assistant to the Deputy District Director, Right of Way; or (3) in the Division of Right of Way, manages a major phase of the statewide Right of Way Program; acts as a departmental representative, or a staff specialist or consultant in a specific task force, complex project or research study.

Special Personal Characteristics
 
Require an interest in and aptitude for real property negotiations and appraisal work, sales ability and the ability to make effective oral presentations before the public, willingness to work at odd hours, and to travel throughout the State.

Must demonstrate effective administrative ability.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Analytical methods and information sources which will be used to perform tasks such as appraisal report formulation and preparation.
  2. Basic arithmetic.
  3. Basic algebra.
  4. Basic geometry. 
  5. The development of replacement housing.
  6. Organization and procedures of the Department of Transportation and transportation facilities construction and maintenance as related to rights of way.
  7. Land development and investment practices.
  8. Federal Highway Administration policies and procedures relative to right of way activities.
  9. Laws, policies and procedures involving the concepts of transportation facilities and their impact on the community and the environment. 
  10. Property values and the effect of economic trends upon value and price and on the cost of construction of the improvements with particular reference to metropolitan areas.
  11. Principles of public administration, including personnel management, budgeting, and supervision.
  12. Goals, objectives, policies, organization and procedures of the Department of Transportation as related to right of way in transportation facility construction and maintenance.
  13. The social and economic impact of public improvements.
  14. The Department's safety, health, affirmative action and labor relations program objectives.
  15. A supervisor's role in safety, health, affirmative action and labor relations and the processes available to meet these program objectives.  
  16. Principles of public administration including capital program, personnel management, program development, budgeting, and supervision.
  17. Goals, objectives, policies, organization and procedures of the Department of Transportation as related to right of way activities.
  18. General management principles and practices.
  19. Management problem-solving methods.
  20. Principles of policy development and formulation of principles and practices of disseminating public information.
Ability to:
  1. Speak and write English clearly and effectively.
  2. Read and understand English including engineering terminology and the quasi-legal terminology found, for example, in statutes relating to the California Department of Transportation and in the laws, policies, rules and regulations relating to the appraisal and acquisition of property for public purposes.
  3. Common methods of describing real property.
  4. State and Federal relocation assistance requirements.
  5. Assemble and analyze data and be able to understand, for example, the factors involved in appraising property and the principles underlying the appraisal process.
  6. The effect on property values of deed and tract restrictions, zoning ordinances, setbacks, tax and improvement assessments, easements, and encroachments.
  7. Make accurate mathematical computations and calculations.
  8. Reason quickly, logically, and creatively in unique and stressful situations.
  9. Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with individuals contacted in the course of their work, an example of which is the ability to conduct successful right of way negotiations with the public and with representatives of other governmental organizations.
  10. Follow directions.
  11. Organize workload. 
  12. Lead and direct the work of others.
  13. Make accurate real property appraisals, including the appraisal of complex parcels involving severance damages and benefits.
  14. Manage, operate, maintain and coordinate clearance of rental properties acquired by the State.
  15. Effectively coordinate and apply community and environmental concepts and guidelines to the Right of Way Program.
  16. Conduct private and public sales, conduct complex negotiations, confer with attorneys.
  17. Develop and prepare capital and support budgets.
  18. Monitor project scheduling.
  19. Coordinate right of way certification.
  20. Prepare route estimates.
  21. Develop and implement EDP systems.
  22. Coordinate staff training and development activities.
  23. Analyze complex situations accurately and adopt or recommend an effective course of action. 
  24. Plan, organize, direct and make decisions involving the work of a right of way staff.
  25. Effectively contribute to the Department's safety, health, affirmative action and labor relations program objectives. 
  26. Plan, organize, and direct or make decisions involving the work of a large Right of Way staff.
  27. Develop program direction and concepts.
  28. Establish and maintain liaison, communication, and a cooperative relationship on interdepartmental levels.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SUPERVISING RIGHT OF WAY AGENT Classification will be established for:

  • CA High Speed Rail Authority

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Supervising Right of Way Agent Training and Exam Preview

Instructions  

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.  

 

Respond to each of the following task statements by indicating how the statement applies to you.  You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples.  Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.  

 

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.  

 

PLEASE NOTE:  This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position.  Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience.  All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.  

 

Tasks  

  1. Planning, supervising, delegating, and overseeing the work activities of employees to ensure project deadlines and organizational goals are being met.  
  2. Reviewing and reconciling Right of Way engineering and land survey appraisal maps and acquisition documents.  
  3. Reviewing appraisal reports to ensure such reports meet Federal and State rules and regulations and industry standards.  
  4. Managing Right of Way consultants and their Right of Way project delivery activities.  
  5. Negotiating with Right of Way consultants and service providers over delivery dates, price, and the resolution of problems.  
  6. Monitoring work of employees and provide coaching to improve performance and productivity.  
  7. Reviewing and approving acquisition packages for accuracy and compliance.  
  8. Reviewing and approving relocation assistance claim forms for accuracy and compliance.  
  9. Reviewing and approving resolutions of necessity for accuracy and compliance.  
  10. Reviewing and approving lease agreements for accuracy and compliance.  
  11. Reviewing and approving excess land sales packages for accuracy and compliance.  
  12. Reviewing and approving acquisition work plans for project management purposes.  
  13. Facilitating project status meetings for project management purposes.  
  14. Reviewing and approving Right of Way Capital Budget for project management purposes.

Testing Departments

  • CA High Speed Rail Authority

Contact Information

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

CA High Speed Rail Authority
Human Resources
770 L Street, Suite 620, MS 4
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 669-6606

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@Calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

CA High Speed Rail Authority reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)