The Department of Natural Resources, Mental Health Trust Land Office, is recruiting for a Senior Project Manager in Anchorage, Alaska.

General Description

This position oversees the statewide subdivision development program, including supervision of a Project Manager. The position manages land development projects across Alaska and completes other assignments related to land or resource development to maximize revenue generation from Alaska Mental Health Trust (Trust) lands. As a member of the TLO team, this position is responsible, by law, for maximizing revenue generation from Trust lands solely in the best interests of, and for the maximum benefit to, the Trust and all its beneficiaries statewide. The position requires effective, independent, and defensible decision-making skills; the Senior Project Manager possesses analytical judgment, leadership, and communication skills, as well as the self-directed ability to act with initiative. This position also requires the ability to perform financial analysis, planning, and reporting activities.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Senior Project Manager is a professional position that reports directly to the Deputy Director and, on specific projects, to the Executive Director, and whose duties are performed under minimal supervision. This position requires a high level of initiative and independence. The primary role centers around responsibility for the statewide subdivision development program, resource development project management, salesmanship, entrepreneurship, exceptional negotiating skills, and development of the Trust’s surface estate. The position is responsible for managing all aspects of the TLO’s statewide subdivision development program and land development projects, including planning, analysis, budgeting, risk evaluation, project selection, reporting, marketing, execution, and supervision of the Project Manager. The Senior Project Manager may present regular updates to the Board of Trustees.

This position seeks, encourages, and completes development of subdivision and real estate projects on Trust land that are in the Trust’s best interest, and engages with the individuals, developers, brokers, real estate agents, organizations, communities, businesses, and governments to market and generate revenue on Trust lands, while inspiring and leading the project manager, who it supervises, to do the same. This position participates in or leads complex negotiations and the development and implementation of innovative problem-solving approaches to overcome barriers and reach various types of agreements.

This position is responsible for planning, budgeting, and leading projects, and overseeing them from ideation through completion, for any noncash assets that the TLO is contractually obligated to manage. This position requires independent initiative, high-functioning, productive interaction with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and the ability to manage several moving parts simultaneously. Managing complex projects requires this position to communicate consistently and concisely with TLO leadership and project stakeholders, and to ensure projects move forward while staying within budget and defending the Trust's best interests.

Typical development responsibilities include adjudicating Trust land for subdivision design and development by understanding local markets, land sale trends, platting authority requirements, and economic, topographic, geologic, and time constraints affecting project completion. The Senior Project Manager ensures survey, title, platting, and recordation are completed within scope, scale, and budget. The development of Trust land requires this position to understand local community needs, opportunities, and industry potential. The Senior Project Manager seeks out business opportunities and carries the projects through to completion. The position may meet with outside parties to achieve desired outcomes and must represent the TLO professionally. This position typically interacts with:

Professionals to include: developers, brokers, appraisers, architects, attorneys, bankers, engineers, consultants, and title representatives.
Purchasers and sellers.
Local, state, and federal government agencies.
Senior and mid-managers from various companies.
Members of the public and business communities.

This position may be reassigned to a project-specific need at the Executive Director's discretion.

Examples of Duties

Work with the Administrative section on existing authorizations, contracts, and other agreements on Trust lands.
Perform field work to evaluate the status of Trust land that includes, but is not limited to, drone photography, authorization compliance, environmental hazards assessment, trespass, improper use, and general stewardship activities.
Develop subdivision projects, platting actions, joint ventures, exchanges, negotiated disposals, or other agreements to generate revenue.
Prepare pro forma analysis, budgets, and reports for specific projects on developments that generate strong returns.
Prepare required transactional documents including, but not limited to, white papers, briefing documents, Trust Authority consultations, best interest decisions, decisions to proceed, and public notices.
Complete consultations and statewide subdivision development program updates with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority at quarterly committee and full board meetings at the request of the Executive Director or Deputy Director.
Participate in planning for asset management, land sales programs, and land and resource development strategies across Alaskan communities, with the Deputy Director and other staff.
Identify potential land sale and land development markets and work with the Leasing & Land Sales Manager to create an inventory of new subdivisions to be incorporated into the land sale programs.
Coordinate necessary surveys, appraisals, website updates, comprehensive management plans, feasibility studies, and land administration system database updates.
Manage projects and programs aligned with short- and long-term land resource objectives. This includes leading project planning, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring deadlines are met, developing and maintaining relationships, managing contracts, overseeing all incoming and outgoing project documentation, mitigating risk, conducting project reviews, providing reports to TLO leadership, and defending the Trust's position.
Supervise the Project Manager and oversee all aspects in its management of existing and new subdivision development projects and other land development projects across Alaska. Establish and ensure that the Project Manager meets deadlines, completes projects on time and within budget, meets annual goals as described in the annual project manager position evaluation, and provides mentorship and coaching.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Leadership skills (including competence, judgement, vision, and action) and mentorship skills to create an environment that inspires the project manager to achieve their full potential.
Analytical and verbal skills necessary to assist or represent the Executive or Deputy Director in negotiating and evaluating the implications of various actions on Trust land.
Ability to prepare electronic standard accounting/financial documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Ability to utilize GIS, mapping software, and GPS units for gathering parcel attribute data.
Understanding of settlements, statutes, regulations, and resource management strategy that guide procedures and practices at the TLO.
Familiarity with the State of Alaska procurement process.
Flexibility to adapt to multiple and changing priorities. TLO priorities may be determined by the TLO Executive or Deputy Director, requiring prompt revision of the daily schedule.
Entrepreneurial skills to develop land resources and generate revenues on potential new business opportunities to fulfill TLO fiduciary responsibility from beginning to project completion.
Ability to work effectively with and manage a wide variety of professionals involved in land management and their associated work products including attorneys, architects, engineers, real estate consultants, developers, investors, contractors, purchasers and sellers, as well as management, staff, and public officials in various levels of government with varying skills, including prioritizing their efforts for the benefit of the TLO.
Strong project management skills for complex land development, construction project management, and contract administration.
Excellent written, verbal, and technical skills appropriate for professional communications with legal, financial, technical, and managerial professionals, and a wide range of third-party professionals.

General business background to prepare pro forma analysis, budgets, and reports for specific projects on developments.
Ability to quickly assimilate new industry and regulatory practices and apply such practices to assignments.
Analytical and verbal skills necessary to assist other Trust Resource Managers in negotiating and evaluating the implications of various actions on Trust land.
Negotiating skills to generate revenues to fulfill TLO fiduciary responsibility from the beginning of a project, sale, or development through completion.
High level of initiative and the ability to manage multiple authorizations or projects at once.
Excellent written, verbal, and technical skills appropriate for professional communications.
Capacity to handle high-stress situations, leadership skills, big-picture thinking, attention to detail, conflict resolution skills, and multitasking skills.
Ability to work independently to coordinate and complete projects on time, within budget, and within scope.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in business management, accounting, finance, real estate, planning, or a related field; master’s degree preferred but not required;

AND

Five years of progressively responsible recent experience in real estate development, land development, planning, property management, asset management, project management, construction management, financing, valuation, or related areas.

Additional Required Information

Travel

The position requires statewide travel throughout Alaska year-round, occasionally up to 50% of a work month (75 hours) during field season.

Contact Information

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please email Dean Robinson at Dean.Robinson@alaska.gov and include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Inquiries are confidential. The position will remain open until filled.

The State of Alaska is an equal employment opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity. Individuals requiring accommodation should call 1-800-587-0430 V/1-800-770-8973 TTY/TDD (Relay Alaska).

Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
  - AVTEC
  - Confidential
  - Correctional Officers
  - Marine Engineers
  - Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
  - Supervisory
  - Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
  - Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
- The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
  - General Government
  - Labor, Trades and Crafts
  - Public Safety Employees Association
  - Masters, Mates & Pilots
Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

Group-based insurance premiums for
- Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
- Supplemental Survivor Benefits
Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

See https://drb.alaska.gov/retiree/ for additional information

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
Twelve (12) paid holidays a year

State of Alaska

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