Definition
Supervises and coordinates professional land survey activities within an organization.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Supervises the State Land Survey Unit for an agency; supervises a staff composed of professional land surveyors and survey technicians to provide land surveying and geospatial services within the organization. Act as the subject matter expert on General Land Office (GLO) retracement, subdivision of sections, aquatic land boundaries, legal descriptions, and the Geographic information system Cadastre layer, supervises and coordinates an office staff in survey calculations and the preparation of maps and plats; provides expert professional consultative advice and service relating to complex land survey problems.
Typical Work
As chief-of-parties for an agency; supervises, schedules, and coordinates several survey teams in the accomplishment of surveys to establish property lines and boundaries; establishes the standards and procedures for the agency’s land survey work; evaluates new procedures and equipment; trains personnel.
As the Supervisor of the Department of Natural Resources Public Land Survey Office; manages the acquisition and maintenance of statewide survey-related records that provide a means for the identification and preservation of survey points and land boundaries; provides administrative support for a five-member Survey Advisory Board; develops draft Washington Administrative Code rules related to surveying standards, issue permits for corner removal; supervises and coordinates the distribution of survey records and maps; advises the general public and surveying community on survey related issues; and development, justification, and management of the Public Land Survey program.
Performs other related work as required.
As the Supervisor of the Department of Natural Resources Public Land Survey Office; manages the acquisition and maintenance of statewide survey-related records that provide a means for the identification and preservation of survey points and land boundaries; provides administrative support for a five-member Survey Advisory Board; develops draft Washington Administrative Code rules related to surveying standards, issue permits for corner removal; supervises and coordinates the distribution of survey records and maps; advises the general public and surveying community on survey related issues; and development, justification, and management of the Public Land Survey program.
Performs other related work as required.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of land surveying and mapping principles, procedures, and practices; statutes, court decisions and other laws pertaining to locating and determining land boundaries; the platting and division of land; professional standards of land surveying; mathematics through plane and analytic trigonometry; mapping principles; plane coordinate systems; computer aided design drafting and surveying software; geographic information system software and data entry.
Ability to: effectively train and supervise personnel; accomplish complex land survey work; exercise sound independent judgment in solution of the most difficult land survey problems; write and speak clearly, concisely, accurately, and informatively.
Ability to: effectively train and supervise personnel; accomplish complex land survey work; exercise sound independent judgment in solution of the most difficult land survey problems; write and speak clearly, concisely, accurately, and informatively.
Legal Requirement(s)
Licensed as a professional land surveyor in the state of Washington.
There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.
There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.
Desirable Qualifications
Two years of experience in professional government land office retracement and/or re-establishment land survey work, at or above Land Surveyor 3 or equivalent, after registration as a professional land surveyor.
OR
Equivalent education/experience.
OR
Equivalent education/experience.
Class Specification History
New job class established; adopted June 23,2025; effective July 1, 2025.
