Survey Party Chief

Career Collective; Kansas; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Collective is seeking an experienced Survey Party Chief to lead field survey crews on boundary, topographic, construction, ALTA/NSPS, and route projects. The ideal candidate has 8 years of hands-on field experience, strong leadership, and deep knowledge of modern survey instrumentation and data collection methods.

The role emphasizes accuracy, efficiency, and safety of all field operations, with daily communication to the Survey Manager and project teams.

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive field surveying experience, including 2–3 years as Party Chief
• Proficiency with robotic total stations and GPS/GNSS RTK systems
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, legal descriptions, plats and deeds
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and traverse uneven terrain
• Ability to lift and carry survey equipment up to 50 lbs

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a field survey crew on a daily basis, assigning tasks and ensuring project schedules are met
• Perform boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, construction staking, and control surveys
• Operate and maintain GPS/GNSS receivers, robotic total stations, data collectors, and levels
• Interpret legal descriptions, deeds, plats, and construction plans to execute survey work accurately
• Perform field calculations and resolve discrepancies between field data and design plans
• Ensure all field data is collected accurately and downloaded/processed correctly for office staff
• Communicate daily with the Survey Manager and/or Project Manager regarding progress, issues, and scheduling
• Maintain and calibrate survey equipment; troubleshoot instrument and technology issues in the field
• Identify and resolve boundary conflicts, easements, and right‑of‑way issues in coordination with the licensed surveyor
• Enforce and maintain strict jobsite safety standards (traffic control, utility awareness, PPE compliance)
• Train, mentor, and evaluate junior crew members (instrument operators, rodmen/chainmen)
• Coordinate site access, utility locates, and landowner/client communication as needed
• Maintain accurate field notes, sketches, and daily reports

Skills

Leadership

Field surveying

Data collection

Education

Associate/Bachelor in Surveying/Geomatics

Tools

Trimble Access

Carlson SurveyGNSS

Leica Captivate

GPS/GNSS RTK systems

Job description

We do not offer H-1B or other visa sponsorship for this position.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Survey Party Chief to lead field survey crews on a variety of projects, including boundary, topographic, construction, ALTA/NSPS, and route surveys. The ideal candidate brings 8 years of hands‑on field experience, strong leadership skills, and deep technical knowledge of modern survey instrumentation and data collection methods. This role is responsible for the accuracy, efficiency, and safety of all field operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise a field survey crew on a daily basis, assigning tasks and ensuring project schedules are met
• Perform boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, construction staking, and control surveys
• Operate and maintain GPS/GNSS receivers, robotic total stations, data collectors, and levels
• Interpret legal descriptions, deeds, plats, and construction plans to execute survey work accurately
• Perform field calculations and resolve discrepancies between field data and design plans
• Ensure all field data is collected accurately and downloaded/processed correctly for office staff
• Communicate daily with the Survey Manager and/or Project Manager regarding progress, issues, and scheduling
• Maintain and calibrate survey equipment; troubleshoot instrument and technology issues in the fieldli>
• Identify and resolve boundary conflicts, easements, and right‑of‑way issues in coordination with the licensed surveyor
• Enforce and maintain strict jobsite safety standards (traffic control, utility awareness, PPE compliance)
• Train, mentor, and evaluate junior crew members (instrument operators, rodmen/chainmen)
• Coordinate site access, utility locates, and landowner/client communication as needed
• Maintain accurate field notes, sketches, and daily reports

Required Qualifications:

• 8 years of progressive field surveying experience, including at least 2–3 years as a Party Chief or crew lead
• Proficiency with robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS RTK systems, and digital levels
• Strong working knowledge of data collectors and survey software (e.g., Trimble Access, Carlson SurveyGNSS, Leica Captivate, or similar)
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, legal descriptions, plats, and deeds
• Solid understanding of coordinate geometry (COGO), state plane coordinate systems, and datum/geoid models
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and traverse uneven/rugged terrain
• Ability to lift and carry survey equipment (up to 50 lbs)
• Strong communication and leadership skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Land Surveyor in Training (LSIT) certification or actively pursuing licensure
• Experience with drone/UAS mapping and LiDAR data collection
• OSHA 10/30 certification
• Experience with construction staking on heavy civil, utility, or transportation projects
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Surveying, Geomatics, or related field (not required with equivalent experience)