Senior Surveyor na 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: Exempt

DEFINITION 

Under general direction, plans, schedules, assigns, and reviews the work of surveyor staff involved in survey, right-of-way, and mapping duties; manages complex surveying work; coordinates project activities with other County departments and outside agencies; provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to management; and performs related duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the County Surveyor or designee.  Exercises direct supervision over professional and technical staff.  

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the full supervisory-level class in the professional surveyor series that exercises independent judgment on diverse and specialized surveying activities with accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work. Incumbents are responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, reviewing and evaluating the work of assigned staff and for managing complex surveying work. Incumbents are responsible for providing professional level support to management in a variety of areas. Performance of the work requires the use of independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines. This class is distinguished from County Surveyor in that the latter is the department head accountable for all County surveyor/geographical information systems functions.  

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.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of field and office surveying work related to the maintenance of accurate County parcel, subdivision and general land maps; trains staff in work procedures; evaluates employee performance, counsels employees, and effectively recommends initial disciplinary action; assists in selection and promotion.
• Coordinates a variety of administrative activities, including project budgeting, employee scheduling, payroll reporting, and report processing.
• Serves as the Project Manager for the surveying portion of County construction projects; works with professional survey staff and the project design team to assess surveying needs, requirements, and deadlines.
• Assesses the needs for the acquisition of private property for County right-of-way; reviews title reports, deeds, and easement documents to establish existing boundaries; directs the creation of right-of-way maps; reviews and approves deeds to the County for public roads and easements and legal descriptions for the abandonment of County right-of-way.
• Coordinates surveying, mapping, and right-of-way activities with other County departments.
• Confers with department heads and County project design teams to assess project-related surveying standards and requirements; establishes survey procedures, scope of work and timeframes.
• Works with property owners, title companies, utility and water companies in acquiring right-of-way.
• Directs staff in map checking for record of surveys, subdivision maps, and parcel maps; reviews subdivision and parcel maps for compliance with conditions of approval.
• Signs record of surveys, subdivision maps, and parcel maps on behalf of the County Surveyor.
• Confers with officials of other government agencies, professional land surveyors, professional engineers, landowners, developers, and representatives of other agencies and organizations on matters regarding surveying regulations, policies, and technical data.
• Creates and maintains files and indexes of County right-of-way maps, deeds, and other legal documents as matter of public records in accordance with state law; responds to requests from engineers, land surveyors, and the general public to retrieve maps and records as necessary.
• Determines needs and assesses priorities for the County survey monument preservation program.
• Performs the most complex phases of design, control, boundary, and right-of-way surveys as necessary.
• Monitors activities of the work unit; recommends improvements and modifications and prepares various reports on activities and projects; recommends and assists in the implementation of goals and objectives; implements policies and procedures.
• 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; researches emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to County needs.
• Ensures staff observe and comply with all County and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles and practices of leadership
• Principles and practices as related to land surveying and the review and preparation of parcel and subdivision maps including geodetic and photogrammetric surveying.  
• Methods and techniques of title searching to determine ownership.  
• Legal descriptions of real property.  
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including Professional Land Surveyors Act, Subdivision Map Act, Uniform Numbering System, Streets and Highways Code, administrative and department policies and procedures.
• Instruments, tools, and equipment used in survey work.  
• Principles and practices of project management.
• Principles and practices of budget and contract management. 
• Principles and practices in the design, construction, and maintenance of County projects.
• Safety practices pertaining to field survey work.  
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of the assigned functional area. 
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• 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:

• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, programs, and ordinances.
• Evaluate complex codes, regulations, and environmental problems, and develop effective courses of action.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Perform difficult land surveying work.
• Manage and monitor complex projects on-time and within budget.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, project specifications, legal descriptions, and other written materials.
• Convey technical ideas and information in a clear and concise manner.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures and standards relevant to work performed.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.
• 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: 

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in surveying, civil engineering, or a closely related field, and  

Six (6) years of experience in land surveying including two (2) years at a level equivalent to Associate Surveyor. 

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 registration.

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 50 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, County vehicle, power tools, hand tools, robotic total stations, GPS equipment, data controllers, and survey equipment.

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.