Land Survey - Project Manager

BKF Engineers; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Paid time off packages

Flexible schedules

Education reimbursement

Job summary

BKF Engineers, located in Redwood City, California, seeks a Project Manager for their surveying projects. Responsibilities include developing project scopes, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with quality standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in surveying, notably with an active California PLS license, and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.

BKF offers competitive salaries, generous benefits, and a collaborative work environment. The typical salary range for this role is between $130,000 and $185,000 annually, contingent on experience and location.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of professional surveying experience.
• Experience managing large or complex projects.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and a positive management style.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope and support proposal development.
• Develop and manage project schedules and budgets.
• Monitor project performance for quality and compliance.

Skills

Active California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license

Proficiency with modern surveying instruments

Strong understanding of project management principles

Experience coordinating technical teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Surveying and Mapping, Civil Engineering, or related field

Tools

Electronic data collection systems

Surveying instruments

Job description

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction management, environmental, planning, and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.

At BKF, you will find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope and support proposal development with the Survey Director or Principal-in-Charge, including technical qualifications and presentations.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and work plans; lead project execution and chair progress and review meetings.
• Monitor project performance to ensure quality, schedule adherence, contract compliance, and budget control.
• Maintain regular communication with the Director, PIC, and clients to report progress, resolve issues, and ensure client satisfaction.
• Prepare monthly progress reports and billing; review billing with the Director or PIC prior to client submittal.
• Direct projects through successful completion; review all plans, maps, and deliverables prior to client submittal.
• Identify scope changes and additional services; obtain authorization for extra work prior to execution.
• Prepare final project reports for review and filing by the Director or PIC.
• Plan staff work assignments, contribute to performance reviews, and support staff training and professional development.
• Ensure compliance with office standards and procedures in coordination with the Office Survey Supervisor.
• Participate in technical and management training, seminars, and professional conferences to maintain and expand expertise.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Surveying and Mapping, Civil Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited program, plus appropriate continuing education.
• Active California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license required.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional-level surveying experience, including at least 2 years of responsible charge of field survey work.
• 10 years of experience strongly preferred; 15+ years for Senior Project Manager level.
• Without a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 10 years of professional surveying experience is required.
• Experience must demonstrate progressively increasing responsibility, particularly on large, complex, or technically challenging projects.
• Thorough knowledge of all phases of land surveying, including boundary law, subdivisions, California State Plane Coordinate System, applicable statutes, control and geodetic surveys, photogrammetry, and construction staking.
• Proficiency with modern surveying instruments, electronic data collection systems, and office computing tools.
• Strong understanding of contract administration, project management principles, scheduling, reporting, proposal development, and budget control.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a high-level management role.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a positive, professional management style.
• Experience coordinating technical teams on long-duration, high-value, or complex projects.
• Ability to deliver formal presentations to firm leadership, clients, and public agencies.
• Reports to the Survey Group Director, Principal-in-Charge, and Office Manager regarding quality, schedule, staffing, standards compliance, and financial performance.
• Performance evaluated by firm leadership and clients based on technical quality, schedule adherence, and overall project success.

Physical Demands

Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.

Work Conditions

Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high‑stress, fast‑paced, deadline‑oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $130,000.00 – $185,000.00 annualized, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
• Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401(k).
• Generous paid time off packages.
• 9 paid holidays.
• Flexible schedules.
• Education reimbursement and paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award‑winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.

BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.