Assistant Surveyor en Butte County, CA

About the Department

Note: A training and experience evaluation may be utilized to determine an applicant's ranking among qualified candidates. Based upon information provided in this application including responses to supplemental questions, an applicant's education, training and experience (full-time equivalent) may be evaluated. Applicants should provide thoughtful and thorough responses to supplemental questions as they play an important role in this recruitment process. All qualifying work experience that is described or included in responses to supplemental questions MUST also be included and detailed in the "Work Experience" section of this application. "See Resume" is not an acceptable response for any supplemental question. 

FLSA: Non-Exempt

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, performs professional work in the review, approval, and processing of maps and records for compliance with applicable codes and regulations; prepares legal descriptions of property; performs field survey, including preliminary set up work; provides technical and administrative support to departmental operations; and performs related duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the County Surveyor. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.  

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS 

This is the entry-level classification in the Surveyor series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn and perform routine field and office survey work related to highway, bridge, and drainage facility design, construction, and maintenance of Record of Survey, subdivision maps, and other County maps. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and complex; close supervision and frequent review of work lessen as an incumbent demonstrates skill to perform the work independently. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise.

Position Duties

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Typical functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics.  The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Performs surveying work such as land surveying and construction staking; locates and identifies monuments, benchmarks, property markers, and other reference points for survey control.
• Reviews subdivision maps, parcel maps, improvement plans, records of surveys, deeds, descriptions, preliminary title reports, and other private land surveyor data for compliance with design criteria, special conditions, and state, federal, and local laws, and ordinances, recommends modifications as needed.
• Researches maps, deeds, files, and plans to obtain information; analyzes survey data and correlates with official records; prepares legal descriptions for real property and right-of-way, certificates of compliance, and easements for review and approval.
• Maintains survey records, maps, and other documents; conducts research to obtain necessary data for the survey and review process.
• Utilizes Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software to draft and modify plot plans, topographic maps, improvement plans, and illustrative graphics, such as charts, illustrations, and graphs for reports, drawings for design manuals, and other projects; prepares or checks engineering reports, specifications, and contract documents.
• Sets and locates ground control points; follows FAA regulations; conducts flight planning, transfers data, and maintains and pilot drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
• Responds to inquiries and requests from professionals, the public, and other agencies related to survey issues and county requirements and practices; provides information and interpretations related to survey and boundary determinations.
• Makes onsite inspections of construction projects to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, and standards.
• Prepares and maintains records and reports of survey work, including instrument readings, landmarks, reference points, land descriptions, sketches, computations, and construction data; prepares periodic and special reports.
• May serve as Survey Party Chief on projects requiring a larger crew.
• Provides technical information and instruction regarding applicable procedures and methods; interprets and explains rules, regulations, and procedures; answers questions and resolves concerns.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of land surveying, right-of-way, and engineering; research emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to County needs.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.
• Principles, practices, and equipment of land surveying related to property and construction staking, and topographic, boundary surveying, and photogrammetric surveying.  
• Basic engineering concepts, procedures, and techniques, including public works construction methods.
• Principles and practices of mathematics and plane trigonometry, and their applications to land surveying and right-of-way engineering.
• Safety practices pertaining to field survey work.  
• Methods and techniques of plotting and mapping survey data.
• Techniques for survey instrument use, adjustment, and preventive maintenance.  
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability To:

• Examine, read, and interpret maps, plans, and other documents for conformance to legal requirements.
• Prepare legal descriptions of property in accordance with applicable laws and codes.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and concise field notes, records, reports and sketches.  
• Analyze field surveying problems, evaluate alternatives, and reach conclusions.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow-up on assignments.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training, experience and educational degrees that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Substitutions will be made on a year for year basis. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Associate’s degree in surveying, engineering, or a closely related field; and

Two (2) years of experience in land surveying or construction.

Certifications and Licenses:

• A position assigned to this class may require possession of a valid California Driver's License.
• Possession of a California Land Surveyor in training (LSIT) certificate is preferred.

Other Qualifications

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

When assigned to an office environment: 

• Mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and visit various County sites; primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information; ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 15 pounds.
• Vision and color vision to read printed materials, a computer screen, flagging equipment, and discern paint colors. 
• Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. 
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.

When assigned to field inspection:

• Mobility to work in changing site conditions; to sit, stand and walk on level, uneven or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various County sites.
• Strength and stamina to perform light to medium physical work; lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 40 pounds, or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff.
• Vision to inspect site conditions and work in progress. 
• Fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards, with exposure to hazardous materials in some site locations. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. 
• Also includes field work with exposure to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, biologic and infectious agents, dust, fumes, and allergens, vermin, insects, and parasites, hazardous/moving equipment, heights, and hazardous physical substances and fumes.
• Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS UTILIZED

• Equipment utilized includes personal computer, fax machine, standard office equipment, survey equipment, County vehicle, power tools, hand tools, and drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).

Disaster Service Worker

All Butte County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.