Senior Survey Manager

Kier & Wright•Irvine, CA

1d•$170,000 - $200,000

About The Position

The Senior Land Survey Manager serves as the highest-level technical and operational leader within the Survey/Mapping department. This role oversees multiple project teams, manages a substantial portfolio of work, and acts as the Surveyor of Record for the firm. The Senior Land Survey Manager provides strategic direction, ensures technical excellence, drives quality assurance/quality control, and strengthens client relationships. This position requires deep expertise in all facets of land surveying, proven leadership experience, and the professional judgment necessary to guide department-level decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in Land Surveying
15+ years’ relevant experience in Land Surveying
Professional Land Surveyor License (LS) in California
Experience managing staff
Experience with Project Management
General knowledge of computers, Microsoft office, Adobe, Internet, Bluebeam, etc.
Proficient knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D
Proven ability to manage workload, staffing, and resource allocation.

Responsibilities

Lead multiple, concurrent survey projects with full responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, and performance metrics (KPIs).
Oversee and enforce project management standards across all Survey/Mapping teams.
Direct and review work on high-complexity deliverables, including boundary surveys, ALTA/NSPS surveys, topographic mapping, subdivision maps, legal descriptions, and Records of Survey.
Expert level knowledge and experience in all phases of project management. Oversee project initiation, planning, staffing, schedule development, and project closeout.
Ensure compliance with state and local laws, agency standards, professional practice guidelines, and internal quality procedures.
Serve as technical escalation point for boundary disputes, high-risk surveys, or nonstandard conditions.
Manages a large book of business - in excess of 1.5 million
Serve as the Surveyor of Record responsible for signing and sealing survey documents.
Apply advanced methods for control network adjustment, GPS processing, coordinate transformations, and geodetic evaluation.
Develop and maintain department-wide technical standards and QA/QC procedures.
Oversee the integration of new technologies, equipment, and workflows.
Ensure technical accuracy of all deliverables produced by the department.
Serve as primary point of contact for key clients, municipalities, public agencies, and major development partners.
Respond to complex client questions and provide expert guidance on survey requirements and best practices.
Ensure consistent, proactive communication from project start through delivery.
Strengthen client trust and maintain longstanding relationships.
Lead and manage Survey/Mapping staff, including Project Surveyors, Senior Survey Technicians, and Drafting Technicians.
Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, feedback, and professional development plans.
Support succession planning by identifying skill gaps and creating development pathways.
Provide training and mentorship on boundary law, advanced computation, mapping standards, and professional practice.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented team culture.
Manage a significant book of business (typically exceeding $1.5M annually).
Identify new opportunities, add-on services, and long-term clients.
Prepare proposals, scopes, project approaches, fee estimates, and staffing plans.
Participate in interviews, industry events, and strategic marketing initiatives.
Contribute to departmental and firm-wide operational planning.
Other duties as assigned.