Title Insurance Searcher/Examiner
Are you ready to advance your career with a respected agricultural lending institution and make a positive impact on Missouri communities? If you’re proactive, friendly, detail-oriented, and passionate about customer service, this opportunity could be a great fit for you!
About Us: At FCS Financial, part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, we take pride in our commitment to agriculture and our members. We provide a supportive work environment that encourages both personal and professional growth.
The Role: We’re seeking a detail‑oriented Title Insurance Searcher to support our title insurance operations for agricultural, commercial, and residential real estate transactions. Title examination experience is preferred but not required This role combines title search and examination, documentation preparation, and customer service.
What We offer:
- Competitive Salary: $52,000 – $85,000 based on qualifications and experience, outstanding incentive opportunities linked to Association performance.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a highly competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Work Environment: We are committed to your personal and professional development with on-the-job training. Meaningful work across a diverse ag portfolio.
- Flexible Work Environment: Hybrid work environment will be considered for our Chillicothe Branch!
What You’ll Do
- Review deeds, mortgages, liens, and legal documents to identify title issues and confirm ownership.
- Prepare title commitments and policies.
- Perform title updates, process incoming files, and maintain accurate records.
- Resolve title defects by obtaining corrective documents and working with external parties.
- Provide excellent customer service by explaining title findings and responding to inquiries.
What You Need:
- Experience: High School diploma or equivalent, title search and/or examination or land title/escrow preferred (1+ years search or 3+ years exam).
- Licensing: Missouri Title Agent License or willing to obtain one within 3 months (existing license is a plus).
- Knowledge: Strong understanding of real estate and mortgage documentation.
- Skills: Exceptional attention to detail, communication skills, ability to multitask, and proficient with Microsoft Office, Softpro/Salesforce experience a plus.
- Valid Missouri driver’s license, some paid in state travel required.
This position is open until filled.
This position is primarily located in Chillicothe, Missouri. Flexible work environment will be considered after the initial training period is complete and based off the candidates’ qualifications and needs.
This position is classified as Non-Exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Job Functions*
Percentage
Job Functions
45%
Title Services Documentation & Reporting:
- Examine public records, deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, and other legal documents to verify property ownership and identify encumbrances.
- Research and interpret legal descriptions, surveys, and property boundary information.
- Prepare title commitments, preliminary title reports, and final title policies.
- Determine insurability of titles and identifies potential risks or defects
- Document findings clearly and accurately for internal staff and external customers.
- Compile and maintain complete and accurate title files and examination notes.
- Ensure all documents comply with state and federal regulations and company underwriting requirements.
- Ensure adherence to state and federal regulations, as well as company and underwriting guidelines
40%
Risk Assessment & Issue Resolution
- Determine whether title defects can be resolved, require curative action, or should be excepted from coverage.
- Request, review, and evaluate corrective documents such as releases, affidavits, satisfactions, subordination agreements, or corrective deeds.
- Communicate with attorneys, lenders, surveyors, abstractors, and county offices to resolve title problems.
- Assess underwriting risks and apply title insurance underwriting guidelines.
- Work directly with legal counsel on escalated issues.
10%
Customer Service
- Explain title findings and requirements to internal teams, loan officers, or members.
- Provide guidance on how to cure title issues prior to closing.
- Answers the phones and emails to assist customers by assessing and interpreting customer needs.
- Responds to customer request and/or identifies staff members who should respond to customer request.
5%
Continuing Education
Attends meetings, conferences and training sessions to understand changes to the title insurance regulations, processes and procedures and to attain and maintain a title insurance producer license
Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the organization.
* Essential Functions for this position consist of all items listed under any category that make up 5% or more of the job duties. This job description is subject to change without notice.
Minimum Qualifications
- High School diploma or equivalent
- 3 years of experience in title insurance, title examination in the land title industry
- A Missouri Title Agent License is preferred, or ability to obtain a Missouri license within 3 months of hiring
- Valid Missouri driver’s license
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job
Required Knowledge and Skills
- Strong Knowledge of real estate transactions, title insurance law
- Strong Knowledge of legal descriptions, including ability to map complex metes and bounds legal descriptions
- Skill in performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature
- Attentive to detail
- Communication skills sufficient to discuss a variety of job-related topics, and to effectively communicate complex issues
- Skill in utilizing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook to increase efficiency and/or effectiveness. Knowledge of SoftPro and Salesforce software a plus
- Skill in processing complex, detailed information in an accurate and thorough verbal and written communication skills, sufficient to share and exchange information effectively with peers, subordinates, supervisor and both internal and external customers
- Skill in setting priorities to reflect the importance of job responsibilities
- Must be detail-oriented, organized, self-motivated and able to work independently.
- Expert customer service skills, including the ability to communicate complicated information, deliver bad news effectively, and exceed customer expectations
- Responsible to appropriately protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the Association’s systems and data and clients’ data
