Assistant County Surveyor

Leon County Government; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Leon County Government seeks a Supervising Surveyor to oversee the Survey Section within the Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department. The role directs field crews, prepares maps, deeds, and legal descriptions, and ensures compliance with Florida statutes and county regulations.

You will review performance, supervise staff, coordinate with property owners, and provide expert testimony when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Surveying and Mapping or related field with five years of related experience; two years supervisory.
• Valid Florida driver's license with favorable driving record.
• Professional Surveyor and Mapper Certificate required.
• Ability to supervise staff and coordinate field crews.

Responsibilities

• Supervises Survey Section staff, plans workload, and evaluates performance.
• Directs field crew tasks, assigns projects, and ensures technical standards.
• Prepares legal descriptions, maps, and survey documents for PSM certification.
• Researches deed records and property ownership; coordinates with Clerk's Office and other agencies.
• Reviews plats for compliance with laws; prepares agendas and reports.
• Provides expert testimony and supports legal proceedings when required.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Surveying knowledge

Coordinate geometry

Field data interpretation

Legal descriptions understanding

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Surveying and Mapping or related field

Tools

Civil 3D

Carlson Coordinate Geometry

Trimble Survey Software

Theodolites

Total Stations

Job description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of this position is to supervise and oversee the Survey Section within the Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department.

NOTE

The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The Job Description Questionnaire (JDQ) reflects a more detailed description of the position. Neither the job description nor the JDQ constitutes an employment agreement. Both are subject to change as the needs of the County and requirements of the job change.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Supervises the staff in the Survey Section: plans and schedules the workload of the employees in the section; prepares and/or reviews the performance evaluations of the employees assigned to the section; makes recommendations for hiring, transfers, promotions, or disciplinary evaluations of the employees; approves travel requests and job training related courses for continuing education; approves time sheets and leave forms; supervises the survey field crew; meets with the field crew to assign new tasks, review ongoing tasks, and offer assistance and instructions involving projects or personal problems; provides training when changes have occurred in technical standards, field equipment, etc.; supervises the Survey CAD Technicians; meets with the technicians to assign new tasks and to review ongoing tasks; provides assistance and instructions for utilizing coordinate geometry, researching records, interpreting and assembling field data, developing acceptable legal descriptions, interpreting and assembling public record documents, etc.; provides direct supervision in the preparation of surveys, maps, or documents requiring PSM certification.ws performance evaluations. Makes recommendations for personnel actions. Approves time sheets and leave requests. Develops and trains survey field crews in specific areas.

Directs and controls the operation of the Survey Section: schedules and monitors tasks assigned to the staff; conveys project status information to the Program Chiefs and the Director of Engineering Services; meets with the property owners to discuss or to answer questions regarding the survey projects; makes recommendations for the budget items; directs the maintenance of the County Road List. Directly supervise field crew when necessary.

Researches and compiles deed records, existing survey records, legal descriptions, and other available information required to conduct survey projects: researches available records in the Clerk's Office, Property Appraisers' Office, Department of Transportation, and Division of Archives; compiles records into one file for determining ownership, overlaps and/or gaps in ownership; assists the staff in the Real Estate Division with interpreting maps, plats, and legal description for compiling reports on various property ownerships for the Board of County Commissioners and other divisions in Leon County.

Researches and compiles deed records, existing survey records, legal descriptions, and other available information required to conduct survey projects. Researches records. Compiles records into one file for determining ownership, overlaps and/or gaps in ownership. Assists Real Estate Division staff in interpreting maps, plats, legal descriptions, etc. for compiling reports on various property ownerships for the Board and other divisions of Leon County.

Performs complex survey calculations and operations, reviews surveys and survey notes, and assists with interpreting and reducing field notes: reviews field data and notes for completeness and accuracy; completes field data and research data; sorts and makes decisions for the location of property lines and data accurately reflected in the recorded deeds and instruments; rotates and translates data into one database; adjusts data to accurately reflect the locations of property boundaries as they exist in the field.

Prepares legal descriptions and sketches, Right-of-Way and Maintenance Maps, as-built drawings, and various survey renderings: writes and reviews legal descriptions and sketches prepared by the staff for the use in various deed documents; supervises the maintenance of maps, drawings, and County survey records and deeds.

Reviews final plats prior to recording for adherence to legal requirements, corrects and completes information, control monumentation required easements, and the State and County Subdivision Regulations: receives and checks plat packages for completeness; sends notification letters to all divisions for review and responses; checks plats and field data for the compliance with 177 Florida Statutes and the County Code of Laws; maintains the agenda, plat, and other documents for BCC review and approval; records plat and other appropriate documents.

Prepares expert testimonies regarding survey matters and serves as an expert witness in court: reviews survey drawings, legal descriptions and sketches, construction plans, and other maps for the Public Works, County Attorney's Office, and other departments; meets with attorneys in preparing testimonies and provides support for the Attorney's Office; gives depositions and attends court hearings.

Prepares agenda items for the Board of County Commissioners, correspondence for citizens and professionals, and internal memos: prepares agenda items for plat acceptance and associated performances and maintenance agreements; responds to informational requests from the outside professionals and questions from citizens regarding survey information; corresponds, meets, and discusses with other County staff members regarding the status of survey projects and to ask and to answer questions.

OTHER IMPORTANT OR MARGINAL DUTIES

None.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of Federal, State, and County Laws Ordinances that affect land boundaries. Ability to interpret field evidence to determined property boundaries. Knowledge of court cases related to property boundaries. Knowledge of the principles and practices of boundary, route, topographic, hydrographic, and construction/control surveys. Thorough knowledge of trigonometry, geometry, and coordinate geometry as it relates to the field of surveying. Knowledge of various deed and easement documents used to convey real property. Ability to interpret field evidence to determine property boundaries. Ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds.

COMPLEXITY OF WORK

The employee must make independent judgments that will affect the accuracy of the finished survey project. The licensed surveyor must know County, State, and Federal rules and laws that govern property boundaries and how they apply to the project. The employee must adapt to changes in priorities and adjust his or her schedule accordingly. In order for the employee to successfully answer questions and concerns regarding the survey projects, he or she must possess problem solving skills. Difficult or creative thinking is also required when the employee has to interpret and analyze survey computations and physical evidence in order to determine property boundary location. Employee must make independent judgments that will affect the accuracy of the finished survey project. The licensed surveyor must know County, State, and federal rules and laws that govern property boundaries and how they apply to the project. The employee must adapt to changes in priorities and adjust schedule accordingly.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMER CONTACT

Frequent contacts are made at all levels of County Government and the public for the purpose of giving and receiving information. Contact is also made with various individuals for presentation of plats, interpretations, litigations, acquisition of property, and mediation.

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS USED

Equipment and tools used include a personal computer, word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, specialized software (i.e. Civil 3D, Carlson Coordinate Geometry Software, and Trimble Survey Software), fax machine, basic/scientific calculator, Theodolites, Total Stations, Robotic Total Stations, and vehicle. A computer and software such as, but not limited to: WordPerfect, Excel, Wild Soft Coordinate Geometry Program, and Eagle Point Coordinate Geometry Program.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed mainly indoors at a desk. Some stress related to dealing with multiple issues and deadlines. Exposed to various weather conditions and living things in an outdoor environment during visits to sites.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Requires graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Surveying and Mapping or a related field and five years of related experience, two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must possess a valid Florida Drivers License with a favorable driving record.

Must possess a Professional Survey and Mapper Certificate.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview, reference check, and drug testing.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt. Job responsibilities involve the performance of responsible administrative and supervisory work. Job requires exercising discretion and independent judgment.

REVISION HISTORY

January 19, 2000; May 28, 2003; September 16, 2014.