Assistant Survey Party Chief - Council Bluffs

State of Iowa; Council Bluffs (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

IPERS retirement

401A plan

Paid time off

Job summary

State of Iowa, through the Iowa Department of Transportation, seeks an Assistant Survey Party Chief to conduct field surveys for highway projects in Council Bluffs. The role emphasizes data collection using GPS/RTK, total stations, and digital levels while coordinating with landowners and utilities.

Responsibilities include ensuring accurate staking, data processing, and assisting in training staff, with travel as needed and a required pre-employment physical.

Qualifications

• Three years of full-time work experience in engineering survey, including operation of survey instruments.
• Education/experience equivalence: thirty semester hours in civil engineering/photogrammetry equals one year of experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes survey-related roles.
• Must have a valid Class C Non-Commercial Operator's License.
• Post-offer pre-employment physical verifying physical ability.
• Willingness to travel and stay away from home overnight when assigned.

Responsibilities

• Collect, record, and verify topographic, boundary, and construction survey data using GPS, RTK, total stations, digital levels, and data collectors.
• Perform construction and field surveys for roadway, bridge, drainage, and right-of-way projects, including staking and locating grades.
• Research land records, plats, corner certificates, and project plans for field readiness.
• Process survey data and support drafting of survey deliverables using CADD and survey computation software.
• Operate, maintain, and repair survey instruments, vehicles, tools, and field supplies.
• Coordinate with landowners, utilities, and the public; assist training and lead the crew when needed.

Skills

Field survey coordination

Landowner coordination

Staff training

Education

Three years of civil engineering coursework (or photogrammetry)

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

GPS/RTK equipment

Total stations

CADD software

Electronic data collectors

Job description

As our newest Assistant Survey Party Chief, you’ll spend your days outside doing whatever it takes to make Iowa highways safer while fulfilling our Mission - Making Lives Better Through Transportation. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Core Values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception alongside your IDOT teammates.

Location:

District 4 – Engineering and Operations Office in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Shift:

7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday hours may vary; occasional overnight travel

The Assistant Survey Party Chief assists with the following survey responsibilities:

• Collect, record, and verify topographic, boundary, and construction survey data using GPS, RTK, total stations, digital levels, and electronic data collectors.
• Perform construction and field surveys for roadway, bridge, drainage, and right-of-way projects, including staking, locating grades, and restoring control points and section corners.
• Research land records, plats, corner certificates, and project plans to prepare for field survey work and load required data for use in the field.
• Process survey data and support drafting of survey deliverables using CADD and survey computation software.
• Operate, maintain, and repair survey instruments, vehicles, tools, and field supplies to ensure safe and efficient field operations.
• Work with landowners, utilities, and the public to coordinate field access and provide information; assist in training new staff and lead the survey crew when needed.

Special requirements:

Valid driver’s license and a pre-employment physical verifying the physical ability to perform the duties described.

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment and costs can be reviewed here.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

Iowa DOT complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the EEO & ADA Officer at 515-689-1009 or via email at [e-mail].

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Three years of full-time work experience in engineering survey, which included the operation of survey instruments.
2. A total of three years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in civil engineering, construction engineering, or photogrammetry equals one year of full-time experience.
3. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes one year of full-time work in survey, construction, maintenance, or design as a Highway Technician Associate, Highway Technician, Highway Technician Senior, Construction Technician Assistant, Construction Technician, or Construction Technician Senior.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

• All positions are required to have and maintain a minimum of a valid Class C Non-Commercial Operator's License.
• Prior to starting employment, all persons are required to have a post offer pre-employment physical verifying the physical ability to perform the duties described.
• Employees must be able to travel and may be required to stay away from home overnight during assignments