Aerial Mapping Acquisition Manager at McKim & Creed

At McKim & Creed, we are an employee-owned firm with more than 950 employees in offices throughout the U.S.  including NC, SC, FL, VA, GA, TX, LA and PA. With a culture centered around “People Helping People” grounded by our core values (1) respect for people, (2) customer satisfaction, (3) continuous improvement, (4) safety and (5) ownership, which drives our mission to deliver exceptional engineering and geomatics solutions, we are a leading top 150 ENR-ranked firm.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a REMOTE Aerial Mapping Acquisition Manager.
If you want to work at a company that will help improve the future of the communities where we live work and play, we're glad you found McKim & Creed.

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Job Summary:

The Aerial Mapping Acquisition Manager involves planning, coordinating, and overseeing aerial mapping missions using aircraft equipped with specialized sensors and cameras. This role requires a strong understanding of aviation regulations, mission planning, weather analysis, and data acquisition techniques. The position is also responsible for troubleshooting data and workflow problems while also contributing to new developments in workflows, software, manuals, and training.

WHAT TO EXPECT DAY-TO-DAY:

• Create and maintain a network of trusted flight partners.
• Manage logistics ensuring support for sensors, aircraft, and crew along with overseeing maintenance and operations of aerial mapping equipment.
• Ensure all flights adhere to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and maintain required documentation.
• Develop flight plans and ensure accurate and efficient collection of data during flights along with proposal development and cost estimation.
• Prepares, manages, and updates project schedule and activity tracking including project timeline estimation and task assignments.
• Troubleshoots and diagnoses problems with datasets and workflows.
• Supports field operations to assess or diagnose potential quality concerns.
• Reviews and revises quality control processes to meet customer expectations.
• Develops standard processes and documentation required for project executions.
• Maintains complete and accurate documentation of project tasks, progress, scope changes and communication internally and externally.
• Supports and tracks change management activities in project scope, and cost recovery tracking of sensor usage.
• Coordinates with business units to support key company objectives.
• Optimizes and prioritizes resources to exceed key KPI’s for project success.
• Responsible for analyzing costs, developing cost containment methods, efficiency monitoring, and overseeing the departmental budget.
• Ensures proper usage with staff and overall administration of aerial acquisition systems, software systems, equipment, and identifies enhancement opportunities.
• Proactively delivers a high degree of professionalism and enthusiasm to effectively mentor, motivate, and supervise staff and to maintain good working relationships with outside vendors, and external clients as appropriate.
• Develops or revises standard operational and working practices and ensures department staff adhere to internal and external compliance and quality standards.
• Analyzes and identifies new technology to enhance production processes, lower costs, improve efficiency, and improve product delivery.
• Provides information, reporting, and recommended actions to management in resolving issues, identifying enhancement opportunities, cost control, recordkeeping, and staff performance needs.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge through educational workshops, professional publications, networking, and professional affiliations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Applied Geography, GIS, or equivalent is required.

Required & Preferred Experience:

• 10 years’ experience in aerial acquisition and production with product generation consistent with Geospatial industry or related required.
• Must have the ability to supervise a group of technical non-exempt and exempt employees, maintaining a high degree of motivation and focus on department goals.
• Requires excellent people skills and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Requires a good business sense and high levels of persuasiveness and social skills when dealing with clients.
• Successful candidates are demonstrated to be more results-oriented, decisive, direct, and aggressive than process-oriented and cautious.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook required.
• The ability to balance multiple work assignments on multiple projects at the same time is required.
• The ability to work alone but also effectively as part of a team is required.
• Requires strong organizational and technical skills.
• The ability to complete work consistently, with moderate flexibility to accommodate varying demands is required.
• Candidates are required to have a valid driver's license and an acceptable motor vehicle and criminal record as determined by McKim & Creed.
• Candidates are required to pass a pre-employment drug screening.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Join a company that puts its employees first.
Ranked as one of the Best Firms to Work For, here are just some of the reasons to become part of the McKim & Creed team:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): All employees are owners & benefit from profits earned
• Competitive pay paid holidays, bereavement and parental, medical, and military leave
• Multiple office locations to work from: Stick close to home or travel for a change of scenery
• Growth opportunities & training: Grow confidently in your career with our mentoring & training options
• Professional development: Tuition reimbursement, early career professional program, online courses & more
• Work that makes a difference: See the direct impact your work has on our communities
• Collaborative, supportive team: People to help you solve problems, cheer successes & encourage you along the way

McKim & Creed is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and VEVRAA Federal Contractor and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability status and maintains a Drug Free Workplace.