Senior Survey Manager/Associate

SENIOR SURVEY MANAGER / ASSOCIATE - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? 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. What you will do Project Management - 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. Technical - 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. Coordination & Communication - 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. Leadership & Mentoring - 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.   Business Development & Marketing - 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. What you have Education + Experience - 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. Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions This role requires a combination of office-based work and occasional travel to field locations. - Ability to sit or stand for extended periods at a desk and operate a computer. - Manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment, including computers, phones, printers, and scanners. - Visual ability to read documents, spreadsheets, and computer screens. - Ability to occasionally walk or stand on uneven or unpaved surfaces, including construction zones and undeveloped land. - Ability to occasionally stoop, kneel, bend, or climb during site visits or inspections. - Ability to lift and carry equipment or documents weighing up to 25 pounds. - Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, over the phone, and via digital platforms. - Ability to drive to project sites and spend time outdoors in various weather conditions. - Ability to visually observe site features and interpret plans, diagrams, and environmental conditions. - Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as required by the job. Why Join Us? - Great culture – Team Collaboration, Innovative problem solving, Responsive to clients, Passionate about work - Competitive Pay ($170,000 - $200,00 DOE + location) - Paid Holidays - Free office snacks - Much more! We welcome the opportunity to partner with recruitment agencies when additional support is needed. To ensure a consistent hiring process, all inquiries, including partnership opportunities and candidate submissions, must be directed to [email protected]. In addition, Kier + Wright does not accept unsolicited candidate submissions from agencies that do not have an executed agreement in place or have not been specifically engaged for a particular search. Any unsolicited candidate information submitted outside of this process may be considered the property of Kier + Wright, and no placement fee or other financial obligation will be incurred. Privacy Notice_2025.pdf