Senior Title Examiner

Overview

The Orange County Real Estate Management Division is responsible for all aspects of real estate for Orange County including acquisition, valuation, disposition, leasing, and asset management. To accomplish these responsibilities, the Division has four teams: Right of Way, Appraisal, Development and Asset Management. Each team supports the Division's overall operations through their respective roles, as well as their collaboration with the other teams. The Division is committed to providing a work culture that emphasizes mutual respect, trust, career development, and a collaborative work environment that recognizes individual achievements.

The Division is seeking a Senior Title Examiner to be a part of the Right-of-Way Team. Together this team supports Orange County's needs by managing all real estate functions necessary to facilitate roadway, drainage, and other infrastructure improvements. This team regularly interfaces with the public. In this endeavor, this team collaborates with other Orange County divisions such as Public Works Engineering, Public Works Roads and Drainage, and the County Attorney's Office. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in real estate land title search and examination (including searches from earliest public records, plotting metes and bounds legal descriptions, TIITF reservations, and familiarity with statutory requirements for various types of land conveyances) and be able to work both independently and in a team environment. As part of the Right of Way Team, a Senior Title Examiner will examine searches, prepare the required documents for conveyance of the necessary interests to Orange County and determine any title clearance actions needed to ensure the legal possession of required property rights on behalf of the County. Title examiners are an integral part of the workflow and provide the information and documents necessary for the completion of work assignments by the Division's acquisition and appraisal staff. The ideal candidate will meet the qualifications, have demonstrated success in real estate search and examination.

Representative Duties

• Reviews and examines title, conducts research from multiple sources, identifies title defects, determines information necessary to clear title and provides explanation of title information to title examiners, acquisition agents, property owners, attorneys, and developers.

• Resolves problems in acquiring property interests by using sound judgment, knowledge of real estate practice, acquisition procedures, local, state, and federal codes.

• Collaborates and builds relationships with County and Division managers, staff, title examiners, and attorneys, as well as outside consultants, property owners, and vendors.

• Prepares and secures documents necessary to provide clear title.

• Prepares offer, counteroffers, board agenda, and ordinance packages.

• Tracks all assigned projects through the Division's computer tracking system.

• Understands and has experience reviewing appraisals, title reports, and legal documents.

• Represents the Division in a professional, courteous, and competent manner.

• Research and responds to property inquiries from other County agencies, constitutional officers, and the public.

• Reviews and examines title, conducts research from multiple sources, identifies title defects, determines information necessary to clear title and provides explanation of title information to title examiners, acquisition agents, property owners, attorneys, and developers.

• Prepares and reviews instruments of conveyance and related documents for proper form, accuracy, and completeness.

• Uses advanced technical and analytical skills to retrieve information to locate owners of property who are not of record or who do not know that they may have any interest in property cited for acquisition.

• Reviews items submitted for real property acquisitions for completeness and accuracy and processes them for approval as Board of County Commissioners agenda items or under Ordinance.

• Coordinates closings with title companies and/or attorneys.

• Provides assistance as needed in complex transactional matters and special research projects.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and five years of professional experience in title research and examination of real estate or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

OR

An equivalent combination of relevant education or experience on a year for year basis.

Preferences

• Project management skills.

• Detail oriented, ability to plan, organize and coordinate work projects.

• Confident working alongside an attorney and/or real estate agent.

• In-depth understanding of contract law and basic real estate transactions.

• Ability to read, interpret and analyze governmental regulations.

• Strong communication skills written and verbal.

• Any of the following Licenses/Certifications: Certified Title Examiner, Certified Planner, Paralegal, and/or Attorney, IRWA certification/training.

• Experience in title research and examination and/or preparation and review of legal documents in advance of real property litigation, such as eminent domain, foreclosure, eviction, quiet title, etc.

• Experience reading plotting and evaluating the accuracy of legal descriptions.

• Experience in preparation or review of legal documents.

• Experience researching and retrieving information from multiple sources, such as from: public records, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk of the Court, Vital Statistics, court files, Orange County Law Library, Federal Bankruptcy Laws, Florida Statutes, Code of Civil Procedure, Florida Real Property Law, Probate Law, Title Law and Florida Constitutional Law.

• Knowledge of and experience with word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation software including, but not limited to: Microsoft Office Suit (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams), Adobe Acrobat Pro, Deed Plotter/GIS, ATIDS and scanning software.

• Must possess strong and effective oral and written communications skills.

Notes

Resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed online application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide detailed and relevant work experience, which would qualify them for the position. Please enter all periods of employment, including your current position, duties, hours worked and educational background. Failure to provide complete information will result in your application being disqualified.

Must possess the ability to obtain a notary license within six months of hire.

All applicants selected for hire with Orange County Government must successfully complete a Criminaland Background check.

Orange County Employment and Benefits Information:

http://www.ocfl.net/careers/#incentives

Application Deadline

Posting Date: 4/10/2024

Closing Date: 4/30/2024 (Posting is subject to close without notice)

Salary

$27.37 - $35.58 (Based on experience)

Veterans Preference

If you are claiming Veterans' Preference, you are responsible for providing the required eligibility documentation by the close date of the posting. Please submit a cover letter and copies of documents, not originals, to Orange County Human Resources Division, PO Box 1393, Orlando, FL 32801-1393 or fax to (407) 836-0098 (only Veterans' Preference documentation will be accepted by fax). Your cover letter should include the position posting number you are applying for, the title of the position and the last 4 digits of your social security number.

Educational Requirements

If your education was obtained in the United States, the County recognizes degrees or diplomas which are accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If you have obtained education from a country other than the United States, your degree or diploma must be evaluated to determine the United States equivalency by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluations (AICE) at your expense.#LI-OC1#INDHP