City Land Surveyor

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Plan, schedule, and supervise surveys such as right-of-way, topographic, boundary, construction, geodetic control and public land survey system retracement

Advise City staff, consultants, developers and citizens on surveying and mapping issues.

Read, review, interpret, write and certify legal descriptions for annexations, road vacations, easements, and other City documents

Handle difficult technical problems encountered by survey staff

Research, collect, and evaluate boundary evidence to perform calculations to assist with determining the location of property lines, public rights of way, and easements

Prepare, Stamp, sign, and seal legal descriptions, records of survey, and various map documents as required by state law and according to current departmental procedures

Research right-of-way conflicts and recommend solutions

Review land use applications such as plats, short plats, and lot line adjustments for compliance with City Code and State Law when necessary

Interview, train, and hire employees; plan, assist, direct, and evaluate work in progress and upon completion; appraise performance; recommend promotion and disciplinary actions; address complaints; resolve problems; approve/schedule sick leave and vacation time; and recommend terminations as appropriate.

Represent the City as an expert witness

Maintain the Survey Control Network design and adjustment processes

Create, Maintain, and update Cadastral Layers for City Geographic Information System (GIS) 

Verify field survey information from field crew(s). Process, analyze, and identify errors in daily work through current office drafting and survey software

Read, interpret, and provide peer review for engineering construction plans, maps, and specifications

Develop and oversee consultant contracts for professional and technical services as assigned

Coordinate, develop, present, and monitor the Survey Section budget

Research and procure equipment and supplies for Survey Section

Assist with preparing an annual business plan

Administer the City’s obligation to safeguard the Public Land Survey System monuments as mandated by state and federal law

Actively support the vision, mission, values, and goals of the department and the City.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Act as Survey/GIS Engineering Manager as needed and work independently

Train and/or direct others in proper surveying techniques to ensure the job is performed per the applicable City of Kent requirements while meeting the desired results

Develop Staff Professionally

Perform related duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles and practices of surveying, drafting, engineering design, and construction

• Principles and practices of remote sensing applications

• Drone technology

• State Plane Coordinate Systems and map projections

• GNSS survey techniques, terminology, software and equipment

• Public land Survey system retracement and subdivision rules

• State and federal boundary law and judicial decisions

• Principles of trigonometry, geometry, and algebra

• Principles and practices of research and analysis

• Recordkeeping techniques

• Current AutoDesk and ESRI software

• GIS System Design

• Relational Database Management Systems design

• Municipal Land development Processes

• Supervisory principles and practices

• Budget preparation and administration

• Proper use of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary as it pertains to the job

SKILLED IN:

• COGO, CAD, GIS and GPS/GNSS software

• Computer hardware and operating systems

• Algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and statistical analysis

• Reading and interpreting design plans

• Mentoring, training, and motivating others

• Organizing and prioritizing work for self and others

• Written and oral communication

• Responding to frequently changing work responsibilities

• Working effectively with the general public

• Working effectively as part of a team

• Ability to understand and execute instructions

ABILITY TO:

• Read, interpret, and work from engineering, construction, shop, and architectural  drawings, maps, and sketches

• Prepare accurate and legible field notes, sketches, and reports

• Perform professional and sub-professional field survey work

• Maintain accurate records

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected officials, managers, employees, and the public

• Observe legal and defensive driving practices

• Perform effectively as a team member

• Compose, proofread, and edit work-related documents

• Read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, legal documents, operating and procedure manuals, general business periodicals, professional journals, government regulations, etc.

• Speak effectively and present information in one-on-one and small group situations to the public and other employees of the organization

• Apply basic and advanced mathematical concepts including, but not limited to, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, computation of fractions, ratios, percentages, proportions; draw and interpret graphs and charts; work with mathematical concepts such as fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry; apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations

• Interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and work with several abstract and concrete variables

• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; apply common sense understanding to solve practical problems

SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS:

Education:  Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Land Surveying or related field, and

Experience: Eight (8) or more years of progressively responsible experience in Land Surveying

LICENSES AND OTHER INFORMATION:

• Washington State Professional Land Surveyor License required

• Valid Washington State driver’s license, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment

• Must be able to successfully pass the City’s pre-employment driver’s record check; successfully complete the City’s Defensive Driving course; and maintain an excellent driving record

• First Aid Certification or ability to obtain within six (6) months from hire date

• Flagger’s Certification or ability to obtain within six (6) months from hire date

• New employees must successfully pass the City's pre-employment substance abuse screening

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Typical business office machinery and equipment used include, but are not limited to, personal computer including technical, drafting, engineering applications, Microsoft Office applications, GIS, GPS, and AutoCad programs, printers, telephone, fax and copy machine.

Standard and specialized hand and power machines, tools, and equipment used in surveying including, but not limited to levels, electronic measuring equipment, theodolites, total stations, data collectors, rods, plotters, levels, GPS systems, and calculators.

The incumbent may also be required to operate a city vehicle to drive from site to site.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear normally with or without mechanical assistance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds or more with assistance. The incumbent may occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in an indoor environment and an outdoor field environment; subject to driving from site to site; may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile; and noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in the office and loud in the field.