What does a survey manager do?
Survey managers lead the team on survey plans associated with engineering or construction projects and oversee construction sites. Their responsibilities include preparing contracts and reports, presenting right-of-way plans, and performing fieldwork. They need to take measurements of property boundaries. They research the history of the land for survey records, legal records, and information about the property. Additionally, managers provide construction crew, contractors, and clients with a detailed description of a land's characteristics and features. They must be skilled at using mapping programs and computers.
Survey manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real survey manager resumes:
- Manage a group of 8 surveyors and 2 GIS technicians who are working on commercial development and public infrastructure projects
- Prepare documents for zoning, easement vacations, and right-of-way acquisitions.
- Hire and train new employees with entry level, instrument operator and to operate the GPS system.
- Perform quality control and quality assurance reviews on exhibit documents submit to RMP for the right-of-way acquisition process.
- Provide complete boundary surveying services and prepare minor subdivisions.
Survey manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Survey Managers are proficient in GPS, Civil 3D, and Data Collection. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Physical stamina, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Survey Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- GPS, 10%
Conducted Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys and provided supervision and field support of GPS control survey operations.
- Civil 3D, 7%
Performed downloads, uploads, drafting of underground utilities using 2013 Civil 3D, and various other office duties.
- Data Collection, 6%
Communicate progress of data collection operations to management and staff.
- CAD, 6%
Established and devised procedures for field and office operations associated with control, layout, and CAD systems.
- Survey Data, 5%
Serve as a liaison between survey companies and GIS to ensure proper integration of survey data into CMP GIS systems.
- PLS, 5%
Mentor to two prospective PLS candidates.
Most survey managers use their skills in "gps," "civil 3d," and "data collection" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential survey manager responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a survey manager to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "surveyors must work with precision and accuracy because they produce legally binding documents." Additionally, a survey manager resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "detailed tasks/responsibilities: business development and marketing. "
Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling survey manager duties is physical stamina. The role rewards competence in this skill because "surveyors traditionally work outdoors, often in rugged terrain." According to a survey manager resume, here's how survey managers can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "researched previous survey evidence, maps, deeds, physical evidence and other records to obtain data needed for surveys. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for survey managers to perform their duties. For an example of how survey manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "surveyors must figure out discrepancies between documents showing property lines and current conditions on the land." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a survey manager: "prepared alta's, legal description, boundary resolution and estimated job proposals. ".
Time-management skills. A big part of what survey managers do relies on "time-management skills." You can see how essential it is to survey manager responsibilities because "surveyors must be able to effectively plan their time and their team members’ time on the job." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical survey manager tasks: "conducted performance reviews, coaching, call monitoring and disciplinary actions to reduce resolution time and improve customer satisfaction rates. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a survey manager to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what survey managers relies on this skill, since "surveyors must provide clear instructions to team members, clients, and government officials." How this skill relates to survey manager duties can be seen in an example from a survey manager resume snippet: "establish data collection and communication methods as it relates to pipeline survey. "
The three companies that hire the most survey managers are:
- Kiewit63 survey managers jobs
- GPAC19 survey managers jobs
- SAM Companies6 survey managers jobs
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Compare different survey managers
Survey manager vs. Party chief
A party chief is a management position responsible for leading and guiding a program and providing leadership for its success. To fill this role, you will manage the program and provide overall technical expertise. Party chiefs should able to assess and identify risks and offer remedies and must be highly proficient in the program area. You will collaborate with partners to ensure program success, recruit experts for the program, and supervise its implementation.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between survey managers and party chief. For instance, survey manager responsibilities require skills such as "gps," "civil 3d," "pls," and "project management." Whereas a party chief is skilled in "usaid," "cpr," "rtk," and "gnss." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that party chiefs earn slightly differ from survey managers. In particular, party chiefs are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a survey manager. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Survey manager vs. Professional land surveyor
Professional land surveyors have skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, listening, speaking, and time management, as well as a keen attention to detail. These traits are needed for the tasks of this chosen career, which include updating boundary lines for construction in order to prevent legal disputes. Land surveyors also oversee the provision of relevant data on the shape and contour of the surface of the Earth for projects ranging from engineering to mapmaking to construction.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real survey manager resumes. While survey manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "cad," "survey data," "machine control," and "survey operations," professional land surveyors use skills like "project budget," "oil gas," "government agencies," and "computer programs."
On average, professional land surveyors earn a lower salary than survey managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, professional land surveyors earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $70,601. Whereas survey managers have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $68,443.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Professional land surveyors tend to reach similar levels of education than survey managers. In fact, they're 4.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Survey manager vs. Registered land surveyor
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, survey managers are more likely to have skills like "cad," "pls," "project management," and "topographic surveys." But a registered land surveyor is more likely to have skills like "robotic," "survey parties," "survey control," and "auto-cad."
Most registered land surveyors achieve a lower degree level compared to survey managers. For example, they're 9.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Survey manager vs. Licensed land surveyor
Even though a few skill sets overlap between survey managers and licensed land surveyors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a survey manager might have more use for skills like "civil 3d," "data collection," "cad," and "survey data." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of licensed land surveyors require skills like "complaint investigations," "technical assistance," "governmental agencies," and "state statutes. "
The average resume of licensed land surveyors showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to survey managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.4%.Types of survey manager
Updated January 8, 2025
