Survey Party Chief - Field/Office Central NY

About the Role

Lead survey crews and perform office-based survey production for projects across Upstate New York, including areas from Syracuse to Albany and Binghamton to Watertown. The position involves safe and accurate field operations as well as survey calculations, data processing, field-package preparation, CAD support, quality review, and coordination between field and office teams. The allocation of field and office work will vary according to project schedules and operational needs.

Responsibilities

Field Leadership & Crew Oversight

• Lead and supervise a two- or three-person survey crew on boundary, topographic, right-of-way, as-built, utility, control, and construction layout surveys.
• Review assigned scopes, plans, control information, and project requirements before beginning fieldwork.
• Assign daily tasks, monitor productivity, and ensure field activities are completed safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Train and mentor Instrument Persons, Rod Persons, and other junior crew members in field methods, equipment use, documentation, and safety.
• Coordinate with survey managers, project managers, and office staff regarding schedules, site access, field conditions, conflicts, and required clarifications.
• Maintain accountability for the completeness and accuracy of field measurements, notes, sketches, photographs, and daily reports.

Survey Operations & Data Collection

• Set up, operate, and oversee robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS receivers, digital levels, data collectors, terrestrial laser scanners, drones, and related survey equipment.
• Verify equipment setup, leveling, calibration, configuration, and proper use before and during field operations.
• Establish, verify, and maintain accurate horizontal and vertical control through the life of projects.
• Perform field calculations, construction staking, grade staking, offsets, elevations, traverses, leveling, and other advanced measurements.
• Read and interpret survey plans, construction drawings, utility maps, deeds, easements, record maps, and legal descriptions.
• Identify discrepancies, missing information, or potential conflicts and promptly communicate them for resolution.
• Review field data before leaving the site and at the end of each workday to confirm accuracy, completeness, and compliance with project requirements.
• Download, name, organize, back up, and transfer field data in accordance with company procedures.
• Prepare Daily Job Reports for each project visited in the field.

Safety & Compliance

• Lead daily tailgate talks, job hazard assessments, and safety briefings.
• Follow company safety policies, OSHA requirements, traffic-control procedures, client rules, and project-specific safety plans.
• Ensure required personal protective equipment is properly used.
• Ensure field vehicles, tools, and survey equipment are maintained in safe working condition.
• Maintain situational awareness around roadways, rail corridors, heavy equipment, utilities, active construction, and changing site conditions.
• Immediately report hazards, incidents, near misses, injuries, property damage, and equipment malfunctions.
• Maintain required field records, site documentation, permits, and access credentials.
• Be prepared for random drug testing.

Office Production & Technical Support

• Process, organize, and review raw field data, field notes, sketches, photographs, and electronic files for completeness and accuracy.
• Perform survey calculations for traverses, control networks, coordinates, elevations, construction layout, earthwork, and as-built verification.
• Prepare field packages, point files, stakeout information, control summaries, sketches, and supporting documentation for upcoming assignments.
• Assist with the preparation and revision of boundary, topographic, right-of-way, utility, construction layout, and as-built drawings.
• Use applicable survey, CAD, and data-processing software, including MicroStation, OpenRoads, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Topo DOT, or comparable platforms.
• Conduct deed, easement, record-map, utility, control, and project-document research as assigned.
• Perform quality-control reviews of field files, calculations, coding, linework, notes, and preliminary deliverables before submission.
• Document assumptions, discrepancies, and unresolved items and coordinate timely resolution with the project team.

Project Coordination & Staff Development

• Coordinate with survey managers and project managers to plan field assignments, staffing, equipment, travel, site access, and deliverable priorities.
• Support the assignment and scheduling of field crews based on workload and project requirements.
• Communicate field-to-office handoffs clearly so data can be processed without unnecessary delay or rework.
• Assist with progress tracking, daily reports, quantity information, and other project documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and training to field and junior office staff on survey procedures, calculations, data standards, and CAD workflows.
• Shift between field leadership and office production as workload and project priorities require.