Survey Technician - Temporary Full Time

The Survey Technician is an experienced level position that works with minimal supervision under the direction of the Real Estate Supervisor. The position is essential in providing technical support for surveying and related activities that contribute to the successful delivery of projects. Responsibilities include right-of-way (ROW) research, preparing and reviewing legal descriptions, examining property deeds, easements and title reports, performing GIS data analysis, and verification of base-map ROW and utilities against recorded documents. This work is critical to the timely and accurate delivery of Development Services (DSD) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects.

While primarily office-based, the position may require occasional site visits to confirm and validate boundaries and description elements using modern survey instrumentation (e.g., GNSS/GPS, total stations, levels, and data collectors).

The position requires clear communication and coordination with CIP staff and DSD stakeholders, maintaining high standards of accuracy, documentation, and public service.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented surveying technician who thrives in an office setting and is comfortable and capable of conducting occasional field confirmations and site visits. They demonstrate proficiency interpreting surveys, plats, deeds, easements that are reflected in title commitments and ALTA surveys; reviewing legal descriptions; and verifying base-map right-of-way and utility information against recorded documents. They collaborate effectively with Capital Improvement Project and Development Services teams and communicate findings clearly to internal stakeholders. Strong technical skills with GIS and modern survey instrumentation are preferred, along with a familiarity with AutoCAD/Civil 3D or similar. The ideal candidate has at least three (3) years of land-survey experience more specifically in boundary and route surveying and a valid driver’s license; coursework or training in surveying/geometry/GIS/CAD is a plus.

At the City of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of Real Estate professionals that will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation. We believe that successful employees are those that possess six core values:  

Integrity - Initiative - Empathy - Optimism - Innovation - Adaptability

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Only a limited number of the most highly qualified applicants meeting the City's requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will include a panel Interview and may include a written assessment.

 All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as messages will come from a system generated source.

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position.  The following functions do not identify all duties performed by the incumbent. Other duties and responsibilities will be performed as assigned.

• Review legal descriptions for acquisitions and dedications that conform to City standards and Arizona practices.
• Review title commitment and ALTA survey exceptions and identify those that overlap the land rights to be secured for DSD and CIP projects.

• Research and reconcile plats, easements, deeds, and survey records to resolve boundary, title, and ROW questions

• Review project corridor plans to verify that the base map (row lines & utilities) is accurately depicted according to recorded documents.

• Develop survey/ROW exhibits and GIS layers to support DSD and CIP teams; assist with data conversion and mapping tasks

• Support construction staking or as-built verification, when required, by collaborating with field crews and reviewing plans for alignment with design intent

• Formal Education/Knowledge:  Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field.  Knowledge is normally acquired through applicable certification, trade school, apprenticeship, or equivalent.
• Experience:  Minimum three (3) years of experience in a related field (land surveying, GIS, civil engineering, or real estate/right-of-way).
• Certifications and Other Requirements:  Valid Driver’s License.
• Reading:   Ability to read and interpret plats, deeds, easements, legal descriptions, title commitments, ALTA surveys, survey records, and technical correspondence. Work requires the ability to read general correspondence, memorandums, letters, and various documents from other department, inter-agency and vendors, and interpret appraisals, real estate law, and escrow documents.
• Math:   Proficiency in geometry and trigonometry applicable to surveying; basic algebra; and calculations necessary for right-of-way and mapping tasks.
• Writing:   Work requires the ability to write correspondence, memorandums, letters, and reports; and produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Managerial:  Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others but may provide advice/direction to an employee with less experience/skill or tenure.
• Policy/Decision Making:  Significant - The employee normally performs the job by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies.   There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties.  More complex work as well as decisions with more significant impacts are typically reviewed prior to being finalized.
• Technical Skills:  Comprehensive Application - Work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a surveying field, with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills:  High - Interactions at this level usually impact the implementation of policies. Contacts may involve interpretation of how policies are implemented and may require discussion and the support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations.  During interactions on policy implementation, contacts may also involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions

First month of employment: 

1. Attend Goodyear Employee Orientation (GEO) and complete all assignments, trainings, and meetings associated with GEO.   
2. Become familiar with the city’s vision, mission, and core values.   
3. Become familiar with the real estate request system and file location and structure.
4. Attend and be an active member in the visual management board huddles

First 3 months of employment:  

1. Gain an understanding of the city's overall Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and development services projects and the priorities.
2. Meet with each of the CIP staff members and development services stakeholders to become familiar with the individual projects and the real estate needs.
3. Gain an understanding of the department strategic plan activities that are assigned to the real estate division.
4. Review and identify title conflicts that impact the acquisition transactions with management review.

 First 6 months of employment: 

1. Legal/Title Review (with limited guidance): Conduct routine accuracy checks on legal descriptions and review title commitment exceptions for potential conflicts affecting DSD/CIP acquisitions; document and elevate issues appropriately.
2. Recorded Document & Base Map Verification: Verify right-of-way lines and utilities depicted on project base maps against plats/easements/recorded documents; assist in corrections as needed.
3. GIS & Survey Records Research: Perform GIS-supported research of survey records, plats, easements, and deeds to resolve right-of-way questions; produce clear summaries for project teams.
4. Stakeholder Integration: Build effective working relationships with CIP staff and Development Services stakeholders to support project coordination and delivery.

First 12 months of employment:  

1. Independent Encumbrance & Conflict Identification: Independently identify existing encumbrances that overlap land rights to be acquired/dedicated and clearly communicate impacts and mitigation steps to project teams.
2. Survey Discrepancy Resolution: Independently identify construction conflicts resulting from survey discrepancies and recommend corrective actions (e.g., boundary clarifications, staking adjustments).
3. Legal Descriptions – Full Ownership: Lead review and interoperation of legal descriptions to ensure accuracy and conformity to City standards for CIP/DSD transactions.
4. Advanced Research & Field Confirmation: Conduct advanced research of property rights and historical survey records; perform limited field confirmations to validate right-of-way boundaries or description elements when necessary.
5. Standards & Continuous Improvement: Apply best practices (e.g., documented procedures, accurate field notes/data management) and contribute to process improvements within the Real Estate Division.
6. Workload Management & Core Values: Manage routine workload independently while meeting deadlines, maintaining quality, and modeling the City’s core values (Integrity, Initiative, Empathy, Optimism, Innovation, Adaptability).