Chief, Survey and Geomatics Unit, MIII

Montgomery County • 100 Edison Park Dr Gaithersburg MD 20878 USA, MD

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) mission is to move people and connect places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County. MCDOT supports its residents, commuters, and visitors with transit options and infrastructure that provide seamless public transportation. MCDOT is seeking an experienced Professional Land Surveyor and manager to serve as Chief of the Survey and Geomatics Unit, with a focus on directing the County's comprehensive land surveying operations. This includes overseeing subordinate supervisors who direct field survey parties, managing external consultants, and evaluating and certifying complex survey work for right-of-way design and construction. The Chief hires, trains, and manages staff in technical and professional positions in the Division of Transportation Engineering (DTE). The selected candidate is: Detail-oriented, organized, timely, and reliable. Highly motivated, self-sufficient, and a problem solver. Professional, can convey information efficiently, and work well with people at all job levels from field personnel to executive management. Effective in communicating complex technical surveying data to project managers, engineers, and non-technical stakeholders. A collaborator who excels at developing partnerships and can manage survey projects and tasks professionally, effectively, and equitably with managers, staff, consultants, and stakeholders. The County's highest-level technical expert in land surveying, responsible for the ultimate accuracy of baselines and right-of-way lines to avoid excess expenditures for the County. Responsible for the executive review, approval, and certification of complex plats, deeds, and legal descriptions prepared for right-of-way acquisitions. Proficient in advanced CAD systems and GIS systems, and knowledgeable with modern remote scanning technology (such as LiDAR and 3D laser scanning) to keep abreast of new technologies and improve operational efficiency. Required to hold and maintain an active certification as a Professional Land Surveyor by the State of Maryland.

Requirements

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in land surveying and survey management supporting capital infrastructure and right-of-way projects.
• Experience must include directing comprehensive survey operations, resolving complex boundary and right-of-way issues, reviewing and certifying plats and legal descriptions, and implementing advanced surveying technologies (including CAD, GIS, and remote scanning/LiDAR systems).
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.
• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence.

Nice To Haves

• An active certification as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) by the State of Maryland
• A Bachelor's Degree in Land Surveying, Geomatics, Civil Engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or a closely related technical discipline.
• Experience in comprehensive land surveying and geomatics disciplines supporting transportation capital projects, including right-of-way acquisition, boundary resolution, topographic mapping, and the preparation and review of complex plats and legal descriptions.
• Experience providing strategic leadership, mentorship, and supervision of professional surveying staff, including subordinate survey supervisors, technicians, and field crews.
• Demonstrated understanding of advanced surveying technologies and data management, including the integration of CAD systems, GIS databases, and remote scanning technology (e.g., LiDAR and 3D laser scanning) to optimize survey operations.
• Project leadership that demonstrates profound knowledge of relevant Federal, State, and County laws, regulations, and statutes pertaining to land surveying, property boundaries, and right-of-way engineering.
• Experience ensuring the accomplishment of a survey unit's annual work program by developing project schedules, reviewing the progress of major survey milestones, and taking decisive action to resolve complex boundary, property, or operational issues that impede project delivery.
• Development, implementation, and maintenance of surveying standards, CAD drafting protocols, geospatial data management, and industry best practices.
• Experience communicating highly technical survey information effectively, both orally and in writing, to advise Project Managers, Section Chiefs, Division Chiefs, and inter-agency partners to resolve complex survey and property-related issues.
• Licensed Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in the State of Maryland, and/or the ability to obtain by reciprocity within 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and management of subordinate land survey supervisors, survey crews, and technical staff executing complex land surveys for Capital Improvement Program (CIP) transportation projects.
• Responsible for hiring, directing, mentoring, and reviewing the performance of Professional Land Surveyors, Survey Supervisors, CAD/GIS Technicians, and union/non-union field crew personnel.
• Managing the Division’s Survey Unit by scheduling workloads, directing daily operations, and prioritizing project demands.
• Responsible for staffing, advanced technical training, and the procurement of highly technical survey equipment, including remote scanning technology (such as LiDAR and 3D laser scanners), GPS/GNSS systems, and specialized vehicles for the Survey Unit.
• Overseeing the implementation and standardization of advanced CAD systems and surveying software across the unit.
• Responsible for the management and integration of survey data into the County's GIS systems; managing the activities of the Survey Unit and consultants to develop, enhance, and maintain accurate geospatial databases.
• Serving as the ultimate technical authority in reviewing, approving, and certifying complex plats, metes and bounds, deeds, and legal descriptions for right-of-way acquisitions.
• Developing the scope, budget, and schedule for the comprehensive survey phases of various transportation and right-of-way projects.
• Procuring and directing the activities of consultant survey teams and mapping professionals.
• Negotiating task orders and processing procurement actions related to contracts for advanced surveying, remote scanning, and mapping services, ensuring all legal and technical requirements are met.
• Managing the operational budget for the Survey Unit and the survey-specific Capital budget, ensuring CIP survey phases are delivered within schedule, scope, and budget.
• Responsible for the review and processing of consultant invoices.
• Working collaboratively with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies, other County Departments, MCDOT’s other divisions, utility companies, and developers to resolve complex boundary issues or property disputes.
• Preparing and providing expert presentations for the M-NCPPC Planning Board, Council’s Transportation and Environment committee, and the public regarding land acquisition, property impacts, and survey data.
• Participating in public meetings and hearings (in person and/or virtually) to provide expert testimony and technical explanations regarding property lines and right-of-way acquisitions.
• Guiding community and stakeholder engagement as it pertains to property impacts for infrastructure plans, projects, and programs.
• Preparing and reviewing complex written correspondence, executive reports, and technical survey documents.

Benefits

• The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $98,662 to $167,857, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager