Branch Chief, R/W Engineering

Caltrans: California Department of Transportation; Florida; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Caltrans: California Department of Transportation is seeking a Branch Chief, R/W Engineering in Santa Ana to lead a team of Professional Land Surveyors in right‑of‑way engineering. You will manage resources, coordinate with stakeholders, and represent the District RW Engineering Office in statewide meetings.

The role requires a California Land Surveyor license or qualified engineer, plus a valid California driver’s license, and may involve travel and outdoor work.

Qualifications

• Supervise professional land surveyor staff delivering RW engineering projects.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure project alignment.
• Represent the RW Engineering Office in statewide meetings and discussions.
• Assess resources and adapt to meet project deadlines and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of Professional Land Surveyors performing RW Engineering functions.
• Manage resources and coordinate with stakeholders; represent the district in statewide meetings.
• Act as liaison with other units and agencies; ensure compliance with laws and policies.
• Travel may be required; telework may be available at department discretion.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder coordination

Communication

Liaison with agencies

Education

California Professional Land Surveyor License

California driver’s license

Job description

Branch Chief, R/W Engineering

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Office Chief of Right of Way (RW) & Right of Way Engineering (RWE), the Senior Transportation Surveyor oversees a team of Professional Land Surveyors performing RW Engineering functions. The role includes managing resources, coordinating with stakeholders, and representing the District RW Engineering Office in statewide meetings. Acts as liaison with other units and agencies. A valid California Land Surveyor’s license and a valid California driver’s license are required.

PARF# 12-6-171 / JC-502768

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the SENIOR TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR (CALTRANS) exam. For those who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions. To apply for the exam, please click here and search by typing in the classification title.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Position located at Santa Ana CA, Orange County.

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

Will use a keyboard, video monitor, laptop and telephone, possibly for long periods. May also be required to travel and work outdoors and may be exposed to dirt, noise, uneven surfaces and/or extreme heat or cold.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR (CALTRANS)

Special Requirements

• Appointment to Range D requires a valid California Professional Land Surveying License issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land surveyors and Geologists. For all other ranges, this is not required.
• Incumbent must possess a valid California Professional Land Surveyor License or be a Registered Engineer qualified to practice Land Surveying in the State of California.
• Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of an education, a Land Surveyor (LS) certificate must include a copy of your degree/transcripts, LS certificate along with your State application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position.
• Statement of qualifications (SOQ) required.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a State owned or leased vehicle.

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Please follow the instructions below; failure to include and complete the SOQ as instructed may result in the SOQ not being considered and in disqualification from the interview. Resumes and cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.

1. Describe your experience supervising professional staff in the delivery of right of way engineering projects. Include examples of how you planned, directed, and reviewed work to ensure compliance with legal requirements, policies, and specifications. Include how you analyzed the issue and what actions you took to resolve it?
2. Describe your approach to managing employee performance and development. How do you set expectations, provide feedback, and address performance issues?
3. Explain how you have managed complex or politically sensitive situations involving multiple internal and external stakeholders (e.g., local agencies, attorneys, or public meetings). Highlight your approach to conflict resolution, communication, and maintaining professional relationships.
4. Provide an example of a time you collaborated with executive-level staff or participated in strategic planning activities. Explain your role, the nature of the collaboration, and how your contributions supported organizational goals or influenced decision-making.

Desirable Qualifications

The incumbent should have knowledge of Caltrans Right of Way Engineering (RWE), Surveys, Construction and Design Policies and Procedures; Land Surveyor's Act, Subdivision Map Act and the Public Resources Code; Principles of boundary control, legal principles, evidence and procedures for boundary location; Effective communication and supervision skills.

The incumbent should have the ability to: Supervise staff engaged in various office surveying activities including, but not limited to, design surveys, land net surveys, construction surveys, photogrammetric surveys, geographic information systems, records management and oversight of consultant surveys. Effectively schedule resources to meet the department's needs. Communicate effectively with the public and other Caltrans staff. Effectively integrate new technology and procedures into the surveying program. Learn and utilize new and various software applications for managing resources and projects.

The incumbent should demonstrate the following analytical requirements: Analyze project schedules to ensure timely delivery of RWE data in order to meet the department's commitments. Analyze staffing and equipment needs and plan accordingly. Analyze and advise staff on complex RWE problems. Monitor and analyze employee performance.

Benefits

Click HERE to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.