Survey and Mapping Director

Position Overview

A multidisciplinary engineering and consulting firm is seeking a licensed Professional Land Surveyor to lead its Survey and Mapping division. This senior-level position will guide the department’s business strategy, project delivery, financial performance, technical standards, and long-term expansion.

The Survey and Mapping Director will manage a diverse group of licensed surveyors, project managers, field crews, technicians, and support professionals. This leader will ensure projects are properly staffed and successfully delivered while strengthening client partnerships, supporting new business opportunities, and advancing the department’s technology, quality, and safety practices.

The ideal candidate combines extensive surveying expertise with demonstrated success leading teams, managing operations, developing client relationships, and growing a professional services practice.

This is a full-time, in-office position in Northern Virginia.

Primary Responsibilities

Department Leadership and Strategy

• Direct the day-to-day operations and long-range planning of the Survey and Mapping division.
• Establish business priorities and departmental goals that support the firm’s overall objectives.
• Develop and maintain operating procedures, performance expectations, and technical standards.
• Present department results, financial performance, staffing needs, and project activity to executive leadership.
• Evaluate current and projected workloads, revenue, staffing levels, and resource requirements.
• Create a workplace culture centered on communication, collaboration, accountability, and high-quality service.

Team Management and Development

• Manage, coach, and support licensed surveyors, project managers, team leads, field personnel, technicians, and administrative staff.
• Build clear career paths and encourage ongoing technical and leadership development.
• Coordinate training and mentoring programs for employees at various experience levels.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new team members.
• Partner with department managers on performance reviews, development goals, and succession planning.
• Assist leadership with assigning personnel to projects based on availability, experience, and project needs.

Project Delivery and Operational Oversight

• Provide senior-level guidance and project management support on surveying assignments.
• Review project scope, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and delivery requirements.
• Work with project leaders to establish milestones and maintain client commitments.
• Participate in project planning and kickoff meetings when appropriate.
• Monitor resource allocation and balance workloads across field and office teams.
• Provide technical direction involving surveying practices, calculations, documentation, and project execution.
• Address operational challenges and implement solutions that improve productivity and project outcomes.

Client Development and Practice Growth

• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with new and existing clients.
• Advise clients regarding project scope, scheduling, technical requirements, and expected deliverables.
• Prepare and review proposals, fee estimates, budgets, and scopes of service.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and business development teams on RFQs, RFPs, interviews, presentations, and strategic pursuits.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts, enter new markets, and introduce additional survey and mapping services.

Quality and Technology

• Lead the department’s quality assurance and quality control efforts.
• Review and improve standard procedures based on project experience, changing regulations, and evolving professional practices.
• Evaluate new surveying equipment, software, data-collection systems, and geospatial solutions.
• Introduce tools and processes that improve accuracy, efficiency, consistency, and client service.
• Maintain strong technical standards across all survey and mapping deliverables.

Safety, Risk, and Professional Compliance

• Ensure work complies with applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and industry standards.
• Maintain current safety procedures for surveying and field operations.
• Promote safe work practices among both field and office personnel.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, risk-management procedures, and quality expectations.

Required Qualifications

• Active Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license.
• Significant professional experience in land surveying, project delivery, and survey operations.
• Previous success leading a surveying department, team, practice group, or business unit.
• Advanced knowledge of boundary, topographic, construction, and related surveying services.
• Familiarity with modern geospatial technology, field equipment, survey software, and data-collection methods.
• Experience preparing project budgets, monitoring profitability, forecasting revenue, and managing workloads.
• Demonstrated ability to develop employees and build effective, high-performing teams.
• Experience implementing new processes, technology, or strategic business initiatives.
• Strong client relationship and business development capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound professional judgment with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, employees, project leaders, and senior executives.