Professional Land Surveyor
About The Position
The Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) plans and oversees topographical, boundary, and land surveys for municipal, state, and county agencies, as well as private clients in Wisconsin. The role includes designing surveys, conducting stakeouts and scanning, preparing ALTA/NSPS title surveys, easement plats, plats of survey, and base drawings, and using data collected with CAD software and field instruments. The PLS has supervisory responsibility for surveying functions and personnel, independently handles technical surveying matters, and coordinates project work with engineering, right-of-way, utility coordination personnel, clients, and others. The position determines project scope, objectives, and man-hour budgets in coordination with project managers and supervisors; plans and schedules surveying projects; develops survey methods and procedures; and prepares or oversees survey proposals and related data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents. The PLS also evaluates staff progress and project results, recommends changes, and serves as a technical specialist or advisor to management and staff. Work is performed in the field or office, typically during normal business hours. The role requires travel and driving to job sites, and may involve long periods of standing or walking outdoors, varying weather and noise conditions, and land-surveying hazards. Office work may involve extended periods sitting at a computer. Required personal protective equipment must be worn in the field. A valid license is required.
Requirements
- Minimum two-year degree in surveying, civil engineering, or a related field preferred.
- Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) certification in Wisconsin required.
- Typically 10–12 years of relevant supervisory experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Intermediate knowledge of local government agency standards, including WISDOT and other agencies’ CAD standards and deliverables.
- Ability to work with probability, statistical inference, plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry, and apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Ability to communicate effectively on complex and technical issues, including with clients.
- Ability to motivate a team, foster collaboration, delegate effectively, and understand team dynamics and individual strengths and weaknesses.
- Ability to build constructive, cooperative working relationships with stakeholders.
- Ability to sit, walk, stand, reach, stoop or kneel, climb or balance, talk or hear, and use fingers and hands to feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Must possess a valid license for required driving to job sites.
- Must wear required personal protective equipment while performing field work.
Responsibilities
- Plan and oversee topographical, boundary, and land surveys for public agencies and private clients in Wisconsin.
- Design surveys, conduct stakeouts and scanning, and prepare ALTA/NSPS title surveys, easement plats, plats of survey, and base drawings.
- Independently apply surveying principles and practices to complete assignments and make decisions on surveying problems and methods.
- Supervise surveying functions and personnel, advise on personnel management, and oversee lower-level field surveyors and technicians.
- Coordinate survey findings and project work with engineering, right-of-way, and utility coordination personnel, clients, and other stakeholders.
- Determine project scope, objectives, and man-hour budgets in coordination with project managers and supervisors.
- Research survey evidence, maps, deeds, physical evidence, and other records to obtain survey data.
- Represent the organization in conferences and meetings to resolve important questions and coordinate work.
- Plan and develop surveying projects involving unique or controversial problems affecting major firm projects.
- Analyze survey objectives and specifications to prepare or direct the preparation of survey proposals.
- Schedule, assign, and direct surveying projects within the firm.
- Prepare and supervise preparation of survey data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents.
- Develop criteria for survey methods and procedures.
- Evaluate staff progress and results, and recommend major changes to achieve overall results.
- Develop new techniques or improved processes, materials, or projects.
- Analyze on-site issues and propose solutions; assist management and staff as a technical specialist or advisor.
- Complete state-required competency and attend job-related seminars and workshops.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
