Survey Manager

W3Global; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

W3Global seeks an experienced Survey Manager to lead all survey operations, including field and office staff, technical standards, and project management. You will drive quality control, ensure on-time delivery, and manage departmental administration.

The ideal candidate will be a Missouri and Kansas licensed PLS with at least five years of professional experience and the ability to lead a multidisciplinary team. You will also contribute to business development and client relations.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional surveying experience.
• PLS license in Missouri and Kansas.
• Bachelor’s degree in surveying or related field from ABET-accredited program preferred.
• Strong knowledge of surveying tools, technology, and software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and managerial skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of project budgets, schedules, contracts, and resource planning.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, contractors, engineers, officials, and senior leadership.
• Membership in a professional or technical society is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the administrator and technical leader of the survey department.
• Supervise surveyors, survey technicians, and technical support staff, ensuring projects are completed accurately, on schedule, and within budget.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, procedures, and guidelines for survey operations.
• Manage and oversee the department's quality control and quality assurance programs.
• Provide direct support to the Director of Design Support/Program Manager.
• Manage project objectives, requirements, schedules, budgets, staffing, and resource needs.
• Oversee the technical, legal, and financial aspects of survey projects.
• Review, develop, and negotiate project contracts and related agreements.
• Identify and help resolve complex or unprecedented technical and operational challenges.
• Assist with business development, technical proposals, marketing initiatives, and client development.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, customers, engineers, contractors, public officials, and other key stakeholders.
• Assist with recruiting, onboarding, orientation, training, professional development, and performance evaluations.
• Represent the organization at professional meetings, industry conferences, and other important functions.
• Conduct presentations and represent the organization professionally when interacting with external stakeholders.
• Negotiate critical project and technical issues with managers, executives, and representatives of other organizations.
• Establish priorities and reconcile competing organizational requirements and objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance and direction to survey staff and project teams.

Skills

PLS license MO+KS

Leadership

Team leadership

Budget & scheduling

Client communication

MS Office

Project management

Contract negotiation

Strategic planning

Education

ABET-accredited surveying program

Tools

Surveying tools & software

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Survey Manager to lead and oversee all survey operations, including field and office staff, technical standards, project development and management, quality control, and departmental administration. The Survey Manager will provide technical and managerial leadership across the survey department while ensuring projects are completed to a high standard, on schedule, and within budget. This role requires a strong combination of surveying expertise, leadership, project management, business development, and client relationship skills. The ideal candidate will be a Missouri and Kansas licensed Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) with at least five years of professional experience and the ability to make sound decisions, manage competing priorities, and lead a multidisciplinary team.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the administrator and technical leader of the survey department.
• Supervise surveyors, survey technicians, and technical support staff, ensuring projects are completed accurately, on schedule, and within budget.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, procedures, and guidelines for survey operations.
• Manage and oversee the department's quality control and quality assurance programs.
• Provide direct support to the Director of Design Support/Program Manager.
• Manage project objectives, requirements, schedules, budgets, staffing, and resource needs.
• Oversee the technical, legal, and financial aspects of survey projects.
• Review, develop, and negotiate project contracts and related agreements.
• Identify and help resolve complex or unprecedented technical and operational challenges.
• Assist with business development, technical proposals, marketing initiatives, and client development.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, customers, engineers, contractors, public officials, and other key stakeholders.
• Assist with recruiting, onboarding, orientation, training, professional development, and performance evaluations.
• Represent the organization at professional meetings, industry conferences, and other important functions.
• Conduct presentations and represent the organization professionally when interacting with external stakeholders.
• Negotiate critical project and technical issues with managers, executives, and representatives of other organizations.
• Establish priorities and reconcile competing organizational requirements and objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance and direction to survey staff and project teams.

Required Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional surveying experience.
• Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license in both Missouri and Kansas.
• Bachelor's degree in surveying or a related field from an ABET-accredited program preferred.
• Strong knowledge of surveying tools, technology, and software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and managerial skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of project budgets, schedules, contracts, and resource planning.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, contractors, engineers, officials, and senior leadership.
• Membership in a professional or technical society is preferred.

The Successful Candidate Should Demonstrate

• Sound judgment and the ability to make authoritative decisions with broad organizational impact.
• Creativity, foresight, and mature judgment when addressing complex or unprecedented problems.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to establish priorities and manage competing interests.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and team-development capabilities.
• Professionalism and confidence when representing the organization with clients, partners, and industry professionals.