Survey Technician

Job Summary:

The Survey Technician performs and conducts field surveys, manages, performs and provides technical support in the design and plan preparation for County projects, and manages, performs and oversees the plat review process.The duties and responsibilities of this position involves the performance of complex land survey duties which are performed with latitude for independent judgment and action based on job experience, knowledge of duties and responsibilities, County policies, and department procedures and guidelines.  Work results are reviewed periodically by the supervisor and are carried out under the direction of the Senior Survey Technician or County Surveyor in accordance with overall Department objectives. The Survey Technician provides work direction to inexperienced technicians, seasonal staff, and/or an assigned project team.

Duties:

• Performs and conducts field surveys.
  • Performs PLSS maintenance, removal, and reset. Compiles and maintains survey information on coordinates, pictures, angles and distances for PLSS corners;
  • Performs staking of County Highway Right of Way Plat boundaries, County Parks, and County Property boundaries;
  • Performs and sets vertical control for County lakes (No Wake Zone Ordinance);
  • Performs mathematical survey computations and surveys land to locate and establish reference points and stake boundary lines and survey corners;
  • Inspects, locates and paints targets for Aerial Photography;
  • Independently sets up work zone traffic safety systems for various survey projects to ensure the safety of survey personnel, equipment, and the public;
  • Performs set up and operation of Survey Instruments including GPS Receivers, Total Station and Base Stations along with various hand tools and power equipment including Coring Machine, Jack Hammer and Generator;
  • Responsible for supplies, materials and equipment necessary to perform daily survey field work.  Tests survey equipment to assure accuracy and reliability.  Conducts preventive maintenance; cleans and performs repairs and/or adjustments to survey equipment and various tools;
  • Performs download, processing and analysis of survey field data;
  • Serves as Survey Crew Leader on field survey projects;
  • Researches and stays current on new surveying technology used by the Survey Department.
• Manages, performs and provides technical support in the design and plan preparation for County projects.
  • Serves as lead in CAD map preparation, ensures that proper mapping procedure, symbols, supplies and equipment are used for the project;
  • Researches, recommends and develops methods, techniques and procedures for CAD standards;
  • Conducts research including reviewing government documents, abstracts, deeds and prior surveys, and checks plats for accuracy; analyzes and resolves problems;
  • Plans, manages, designs and constructs CAD and GIS drawings (Certificate of Survey, Right of Way Plats, and Certificate of Location maps) for County projects;
  • Performs survey computations for boundary surveys;
  • Manages, maintains, retrieves and exchanges automated mapping data information;
  • Collaborates with the Right of Way Agent and Highway Design team on County projects to research existing parcels, layout of proposed and existing rights of way; determines areas for acquisition and vacation and aids in resolving alignment issues.
• Manages, performs and oversees the plat review process
  • Creates and manages files for reviewed plat projects;
  • Operates large format scanners to create digital copy and files incoming plats accordingly for County wide internal access;
  • Reviews and evaluates documents to ensure all appropriate documentation is included with the submitted plats;
  • Reviews subdivision plats, Common Interest Community (CIC) and Registered Land Survey (RLS) for mathematical accuracy and compliance with State Statute, County Policy, and the Subdivision and CIC Plat Manuals;
  • Performs quality control/assurance according to established procedure to ensure a complete and accurate Mylar product for recording;
  • Reviews subdivision plats with supervisor to ensure minimum standards are met;
  • Prepares reports and notifies Surveyor or Survey Firm of required and/or recommended revisions;
  • Registers events and dates in the Plat Tracking System in a timely manner.
• Performs Survey Department support activities.
  • Responds to in-person and telephone inquiries on GIS and survey-related questions;
  • Performs calculations of land parcel lines to generate County coordinates and line work which is implemented into the County GIS maps and helps resolve possible conflicts with land descriptions;
  • Sells maps, plat books and aerial photos to the general public;
  • Types documents, runs reports and makes copies of materials;
  • Receives, manages and maintains local Certificate of Surveys and Plats, scans and files digital documents for county wide access and maintains an office filing and records retention system;
  • Maintains an office filing and records retention system for historical paper copies of local Certificate of Surveys, Plats and County Surveyor records;
  • Tracks and monitors supply inventory and arranges for replenishment of items as necessary.
• Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
• Interacts with others in the work unit, other County Departments, Federal and State agencies, survey/engineering firms, real estate professionals, and the general public to provide information relating to work assignments and progress of work or to convey information about conditions or work related needs.
• Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
  • Knows and follows Department and County rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
  • Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
  • When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Qualifications:

The job requires a two year post-secondary degree in civil engineering, land surveying or related field and 3 years of experience in technical land surveying or related surveying work or an equivalent combination of education and experience.  A valid State of Minnesota’s driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required.  Experience with survey related software such as CAD, GIS and GPS processing is preferred.

Knowledge, skills and ability include:

• Knowledge of State and Federal laws, principles and practices of land surveying and ability to apply to survey projects for implementation;
• Knowledge of the procedures involved in land record registration and filing;
• Knowledge of the practices, equipment and techniques of drafting and map preparation;
• Knowledge of and skill in the use of CAD and GIS software;
• Knowledge of mathematics and its application to field surveying and survey computations;
• Knowledge of or ability to learn County government work flows and processes;
• Knowledge of and ability to operate office equipment, including computer and micro-computer and software programs including survey applications;
• Knowledge of and ability to use various hand tools, jackhammer, coring machine, paint sprayer, County UTV, County work truck and various materials;
• Knowledge of surveying procedures and ability to use land surveying equipment; GPS, Total Station, Data Collector and Level;
• Knowledge of traffic control procedures and practices;
• Knowledge of engineering maps and records;
• Ability to perform, compute and check difficult technical survey computations;
• Knowledge of local subdivision platting regulation;
• Knowledge of and ability to perform plat checking, computations and review for State and local compliance;
• Knowledge of and ability to use a survey field data collector in office and field applications;
• Knowledge of and ability to prepare drawings from field notes, boundary descriptions and survey data furnished by others;
• Attention to detail and ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing circumstances;
• Verbal and written communication skills sufficient to effectively draft and present technical information, such as plats and certificates, and respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences, and reading comprehension skills sufficient to understand and interpret legal descriptions, survey records and maps, and complex technical documents;
• Interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange and or convey information, receive work direction, and maintain effective working relationships.

Apply online at link included