Survey Party Chief

Job Title: Survey Crew Chief

Job Description

The Survey Party Chief leads field survey crews and oversees a wide range of land surveying projects, including boundary, topographic, construction, and ALTA/ACSM Land Title surveys. This role combines hands-on field work, crew leadership, technical calculations, and equipment oversight to deliver accurate survey data safely and efficiently. The position is ideal for an experienced land surveyor who enjoys field-based work, mentoring others, and traveling to diverse project sites.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead survey crews in performing boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction surveys, ALTA/ACSM Land Title surveys, and other survey types in a professional and efficient manner.
• Research and analyze available information and data affecting proposed survey projects from a variety of sources, and organize the required field work to obtain additional necessary information.
• Review and understand the full scope of work before going to each work site to ensure proper planning, staffing, and equipment needs.
• Recognize and address problems that arise in the field, promptly notify the office, and clearly report conflicting issues as they occur.
• Debrief the Field Coordinator and office staff at the end of each workday, providing detailed updates on work completed, project status, and any issues encountered.
• Utilize robotic instruments, GPS equipment, and other survey tools to perform field work accurately and efficiently.
• Help train new field staff on the operation, use, and basic maintenance of survey equipment, including robotic instruments, GPS, and related tools.
• Assist in the maintenance, inventory, and organization of the field truck, survey equipment, and field supplies to ensure readiness for upcoming projects.
• Train survey crew members in technical survey methods, safety practices, and proper field techniques and procedures.
• Perform survey calculations before, during, and after survey projects to support accurate data collection and deliverables.
• Direct and implement appropriate work-site safety and traffic control procedures to protect survey crews and the public.
• Assign daily tasks and responsibilities to crew members and provide feedback on performance and work quality.
• Keep accurate notes, sketches, and records of work performed and data collected, using both manual logs and computer-based systems.
• Conduct land surveys on roads, bridges, and building sites, working comfortably in active transportation and construction environments.
• Maintain accurate field records and calculations both manually and electronically to support project documentation and deliverables.
• Travel extensively during the workweek to project sites throughout Virginia and surrounding states, and work overtime as needed to meet project schedules.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of land surveying experience, including topographic surveys, boundary surveys, ALTA surveys, as-builts, and construction surveying.
• Hands-on experience using surveying equipment such as Trimble instruments, total stations, data collectors, Leica equipment, and magnetic locators.
• Proficiency in performing survey calculations and maintaining accurate field records in both manual and electronic formats.
• Experience conducting land surveys of roads, bridges, and building sites, with comfort working in these environments.
• Strong ability to lead and supervise survey crews in the field, including assigning tasks and monitoring performance.
• Ability to recognize and resolve field-related issues and communicate conflicts or discrepancies to office staff promptly.
• Capability to train crew members in technical survey methods, equipment use, and safety procedures.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive to and between project sites.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively during the workweek and work overtime as required.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with ALTA/ACSM Land Title surveys and other specialized survey types.
• Familiarity with GPS and robotic survey systems and related software.
• Strong organizational skills for managing equipment inventory, field supplies, and vehicle readiness.
• Effective communication skills for daily debriefs with coordinators and office staff and for documenting project status.
• Attention to detail in keeping precise notes, sketches, and records for all survey work performed.
• Comfort with unexpected travel assignments, including temporary workshare projects for other offices that may require weekend stays.
• Interest in mentoring and developing junior field staff in both technical and safety practices.

Work Environment

This role is primarily field-based and requires extensive travel during the workweek, with most weekends spent at home. The Survey Party Chief works outdoors on a wide range of project sites, including roads, bridges, and building sites, often in active transportation and construction environments. The position involves regular use of advanced surveying technologies and equipment such as Trimble systems, total stations, GPS units, data collectors, Leica instruments, and magnetic locators. Workshare across offices may lead to temporary assignments on other teams’ projects, sometimes with short notice and occasional weekend stays. Overtime may be necessary to meet project deadlines. The organization offers a supportive, employee-centric culture with the feel of a close-knit team within a larger company. Team members enjoy regular company events and gatherings, including activities such as golf tournaments, cook-off competitions, and holiday celebrations, with travel provided for staff from other offices when needed. Benefits include free vision, dental, and life insurance; significant employer contribution toward healthcare coverage; an employer contribution to a Health Savings Account; a 401(k) plan with employer match; a yearly boot allowance through a dedicated account to cover steel-toed boots; and a take-home vehicle benefit for qualified crew chiefs.

This is a Permanent position based out of Virginia Beach, VA.

The pay range for this position is $56160.00 - $72000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

-Free Vision, dental, and life insurance -80% of health care insurance covered -$900 contribution to HSA -4% 401k match

This is a fully onsite position in Virginia Beach,VA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.