Party Chief

Office of the County Engineer; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Flexible spending accounts

457 deferred compensation plans

Transportation assistance

Disability and life insurance

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

A local county engineering office in Houston, Texas, is looking for a Survey Field Party leader to conduct field surveys and lead a team. The ideal candidate should have at least 2 years of experience in boundary and topographic surveying, along with operational skills in various surveying instruments. Responsibilities include overseeing field work, ensuring accuracy in measurements, and maintaining effective communication with team members. The position offers benefits such as medical and dental insurance and a full-time work schedule, with commensurate salary based on experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience as an Instrument Person in boundary and topographic surveying.
• Experience with field instrumentation including conventional levels and GNSS rovers.
• Ability to lead a survey crew effectively.
• Ability to conduct field surveys and lead a survey crew.
• Skill in using surveying instruments and equipment.
• Basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation for clear communication.
• Knowledge of surveying principles, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Physical capability to work in challenging field conditions and lift up to 25 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Leads a survey field party and provides direction to others.
• Conducts field surveys and verifies survey accuracy.
• Calculates terrain characteristics and communicates with crew members.
• Interprets maps, drawings, and land documents to perform surveys.
• Calculates terrain characteristics such as heights, depths, and property lines.
• Communicates with crew to complete projects accurately and on time.
• Observes safety guidelines around traffic and construction sites.
• Maintains relationships with co-workers, supervisors, clients, and the public.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Surveying

Field measurements

Operating surveying instruments

Communication

Team leadership

Measurement & plotting

Safety compliance

Team coordination

Mathematical knowledge

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Two-year college coursework in land surveying or civil engineering

Tools

Total stations

GNSS equipment

Levels

Data collectors

Levels

Job description

Performs moderately complex (journey-level) surveying work. Work involves planning and conducting field surveys; conducting inspections; taking field measurements; and preparing field notes, drawings, and calculations. Works under general supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Job Duties:

• Leads a survey field party, under the delegated responsible charge of a registered professional land surveyor, providing direction to others within the survey field party.
• Conducts field surveys, verifies survey accuracy, and composes field notes.
• Collects field survey data and plots survey lines using various instruments, hand-held calculators, computers, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment.
• Interprets maps, construction drawings, and legal land documents to accurately perform various types of surveys.
• Calculates data such as heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.
• Communicate and coordinate effectively with other crew members to facilitate the timely and accurate completion of assigned projects
• Observe all safety guidelines and procedures, particularly when working around traffic or on construction sites
• Respect the property rights of the owners of property on which the field work is being performed
• Maintain harmonious relationships and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, clients, and the general public
• Perform other duties assigned.

Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience as an Instrument Person working on boundary and topographic surveying projects, with experience in other types of surveying. Must have verifiable experience in operating field instrumentation and equipment, including but not limited to conventional levels, total stations, GNSS rovers and receivers, and data collectors.
• Progressive experience in surveying field crew, from but not necessarily limited to Rod Person to Instrument Person, being efficient and productive in all roles.
• Must possess the skills to work effectively and efficiently within and as a leader of a team. Ability to conduct field surveys.
• Skill in the use of surveying instruments and equipment.
• Basic knowledge of grammar, spelling, and punctuation so as to communicate effectively.
• Knowledge of professional surveying principles, techniques, and procedures; of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Must have the physical strength and stamina to work as a member of a survey crew, which includes but may not be limited to measuring with a survey chain, chopping brush and trees, driving wooden stakes with a sledgehammer, holding prism poles and level rods for long periods of time, and lifting cast-iron manhole covers and inlet grates.
• Must walk and carry equipment over rough terrain, to the top of bridge piers and caps, and through occasional water-filled ditches and gullies.

Emergency Deployment & Continuity of Operations Requirement:

In accordance with Harris County’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Policy, this position is subject to emergency response and deployment protocols.

The employee may be designated as supporting a Mission Essential Function (MEF) and must:

• Participate in the classification process of departmental staff based on MEF responsibilities.
• Be available for temporary deployment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergency events.
• Confirm work assignments with their supervisor prior to reporting to any worksite during such events.
• Remain flexible in assuming alternative duties as directed to support County operations continuity.

Preferences

Education

• Graduation from an accredited two-year college with major coursework in land surveying, geomatics, or civil engineering is beneficial. Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

Experience

• Currently working as a Survey Party Chief.
• Experience in construction surveying, along with the use of other utilized field equipment.
• Strong, progressive experience with an understanding of the use of field instrumentation (Trimble and Leica), GNSS, robotic total stations, total stations, data collectors, levels, and other equipment.

General Information

Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:

Full-Time | Regular | 40 hours per week.

Subject to early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays at times, depending upon the project or workload.

Salary:

Commensurate experience, based on 26 pay periods.

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure

This position requires bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 lbs., frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, ascending/descending stairs, ascending/descending channel slopes, and walking across uneven terrain.

Subjected to outdoor environment situations and inclement weather conditions on a daily basis.

This position supports diverse work efforts and functions across the department by applying surveying techniques and procedures.

FEATURED BENEFITS

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 457 deferred compensation plans.
• Transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program).
• Disability and life insurance.
• Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).