Director of Surveys

Position Overview

The Director of Surveys will lead and grow the surveying department, ensuring delivery of accurate, compliant, and timely land, topographic, and boundary surveys. This role combines technical oversight, project and crew management, client relationship development, and business development to support company goals for quality, safety, and profitability. The Director of Surveys will establish standards and workflows, manage project budgets and schedules, mentor staff, and represent the firm on technical and contractual matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the surveying group, setting priorities, standards, and performance goals.
• Oversee planning, execution, and QA/QC of land, topographic, and boundary surveys to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Manage, mentor, and schedule survey crews and technicians; recruit and develop talent to build a high-performing team.
• Review and approve survey deliverables, drawings, maps, and reports; ensure consistency and adherence to industry standards.
• Coordinate preparation and review of ALTA/NSPS surveys, legal descriptions, and boundary plats in collaboration with engineering and legal teams.
• Lead business development efforts for surveying services, including proposal preparation, estimating, and client presentations.
• Negotiate and manage survey contracts, scopes of work, budgets, and schedules; track project profitability and take corrective action as needed.
• Maintain client relationships with municipal, private sector, and development stakeholders; act as technical liaison for complex projects (residential, commercial, mixed-use).
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and safety practices; maintain licensing requirements across the team.
• Implement and optimize surveying workflows and technology (CADD/MicroStation workflows, field data collection, GPS/total station practices).
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, planners, and GIS staff to integrate surveying work into broader project deliverables.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations and internal training; promote continuous improvement and adoption of best practices.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in land surveying with demonstrated expertise in land, topographic, and boundary surveys.
• Bachelors degree in surveying, geomatics, civil engineering, or related field preferred not required.
• 10+ years of progressive surveying experience
• 4+ years in a leadership or supervisory role managing survey crews and projects.
• Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license.
• Strong technical proficiency with field equipment (GPS, total stations) and familiarity with MicroStation and/or CADD workflows.
• Experience preparing ALTA/NSPS surveys and professional legal descriptions.
• Track record of successful proposal development, contract negotiation, and business development within land development, municipal, residential, commercial, or mixed-use markets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience interfacing directly with clients, municipal agencies, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, and quality control processes; strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to safety, ethical practice, and professional development; ability to train and mentor junior staff.

Benefits

• Vacation/PTO
• Medical - Dental - Vision
• 401k - Company match 50% up to 6% of contribution
• Bonus - Discretionary
• Professional Memberships - company pays for 1 professional membership per year.