State of Maryland

An Acquisition Agent I is the intermediate level of technical work in all phases of the acquisition of real property, the acquisition and management of leased space, and in relocation assistance to persons and businesses displaced as a result of land acquisition. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions but may provide guidance and advice to others in specific assignments.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from the Acquisition Agent Supervisor or other designated official. The work requires travel to property locations and land records offices to perform research and inspection of properties. The work requires extensive contact with private landowners, real estate agents, building managers, lawyers, and mortgage companies.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Acquisition Agent I and the Acquisition Agent II levels are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over the employees. The Acquisition Agent I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed; the Acquisition Agent II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Researches State and local land records in order to identify specific land parcels and the owners;

Locates landowners through title examinations in order to advise them of the State's need for the property and to obtain permission for an appraisal to be conducted;

Conducts negotiations with property owners or their agents for the purpose of acquiring parcels of land and acquiring leased space;

Prepares leasing contracts specifying terms and conditions as they apply to both lessor and lessee;

Compiles real estate sales data and data concerning the cost of leased space on a regional basis;

Inspects properties and buildings to ascertain suitability for State use or occupancy and assure compliance with State standards;

Prepares inspection reports and prepares correspondence concerning leasing property;

Prepares option contracts specifying the terms and conditions of the acquisition;

Prepares contract specifications for renovations to state owned and leased space;

Conducts renovation cost analyses in order to determine cost efficiency of renovation versus acquisition of new space;

Assists in space analysis and assignment of state owned space;

Reviews real estate contracts for compliance with specifications and suitability for occupation of using agency;

Assists in the relocation of businesses and persons displaced by land acquisition;

Assists in the preparation of forms and exhibits in connection with acquisitions to be submitted to the Board of Public Works for approval;

Manages State-owned rental properties in the place of private lessers who have defaulted their contracts;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of property appraisal techniques and practices;

Knowledge of the practices and procedures used in office planning and space analysis;

Knowledge of the preparation an analysis of contract specifications describing facilities;

Ability to interpret real estate maps and plats and architectural/engineering designs and layouts;

Ability to inspect property and buildings for suitability;

Ability to calculate costs relating to real estate sales and leased space;

Ability to communicate effectively with property owners, lawyers, real estate dealers, building managers and mortgage companies.

Education:    Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience negotiating the acquisition, disposal, development, management or leasing of real property.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B, Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.     

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions    Article, Section 8-305.  

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.