Chief of Survey

Job Description

Primary purpose:

The Chief of Survey is responsible for managing a team engaged in conducting preliminary and final public and private property surveys, the recording of measurements observed, the preparation of existing site plans and conceptual design drawings utilizing Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) software. Position schedules, prioritizes, coordinates, executes, and develops plans to ensure that all gathered and/or layout information critical to the needs of proper engineering design, costs estimating practices, boundary surveys, and/or legal practices, presents to all concerned parties, a complete, accurate picture of the subject project locus.  Position selects and defines physical attributes within the project locus in order to generate a detailed, accurate and comprehensive graphical representation.  Position is responsible for creating a high-quality informational base which is consistent with proper municipal utility management and engineering practice, policies, and procedures; and is responsible for generating plans and documents that meet the standards of and are recordable at the Registry of Deeds and Land Court. 

Supervision:

Scope and Judgment: Performs professional office and administrative duties requiring mature and independent judgment and initiative to analyze, solve problems and make decisions based on departmental and city policies and procedures. Exercises considerable judgment and initiative in performing duties. 

Supervision Received:  Position reports to and works under the general direction of the City Engineer, or designee, operating with minimal supervision.  Operates in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, department policies and procedures, requiring the ability to plan and perform operations to independently complete assigned tasks according to a prescribed time schedule. Incumbent plans and prioritizes work in accordance with standard procedures and previous training and is expected to solve problems by adapting methods or interpreting instructions.  Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statement of desired objectives, deadline or priorities.  Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with the supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plans and performs work independently. 

Supervision Given: Will be responsible for managing two (2) full time employees.  If the City determines that additional personnel are necessary for the anticipated workload, additional personnel may be added.  Responsible for training, assisting, assigning and reviewing the work of subordinates.   

Essential Functions:

• Assists, directs, instructs trains, and checks staff engaged in the recording of measurements of City and other projects including property and boundary line determination, location survey, construction stakeout for site plans rights-of-way, highways, water and sewer drains, drainage systems and other municipal projects; assigns and manages work crew(s) activities and periodically checks work in progress.   
• Performs field reconnaissance, researches office records and plans and other documents to determine the best method of conducting field surveys; makes field boundary determinations, sets up equipment, locates control points, markers and corners, and conducts topographical surveys; records boundary points and other measurements, locates buildings, roads, trees and other significant points of interest or reference, elevations, depressions; performs traverse calculations; records field measurements and findings.
• Inputs field information gathered into computer to develop AutoCAD drawings (base maps) representing a 
  “picture” of the surveyed parcel; calculates angles, distances, mass and other points/factors, documents field adjustments. 
• Coordinates, engages in, and compiles all research material for the purpose of combining and integrating new and existing information into one comprehensive graphical and/or annotated format; creates final analysis of existing conditions and/or the high-definition profile, upon which all-future project designs and/or permanent records will be based; conducts research and performs title examination work at the Registry of Deeds, City Clerk’s Office and other resources as required.   
• Utilizes Computer Aided Drafting and Design software (CADD) to combine the various fragments of existing records into a single comprehensive overview of the project locus, in order to define and recover and all existing field monumentation and/or physical structure attributes (i.e. water, sewer, drain, building, etc.), that are subsequently used to analyze the validity of their true x, y, and z coordinate positions, in order to establish a “balanced” baseline and benchmark system that will serve both as a quality, as well as a quantity control medium, for the project at hand and for all future projects as well. 
• Extracts and utilizes Geographical Information Systems (GIS) base plans to prepare, edit and draw (digitally and/or manually) charts, and plots the various physical features of the project locus as the field operation commences, and/or utilize this medium to prepare specialized maps for citizen committee, consultant groups and/or administrative presentations. 
• Utilizes electronic data collection to direct and coordinate the mobilization of field activities, directly engages in the initial set-up, and thereafter assures and/or takes a direct role in, on a continual basis, the collection and down-loading of information and the follow through of the many varies research, field, and/or plotting activities to chart and render a complete and comprehensive CADD plan of the project locus. 
• Assesses both public and private property and enters homes to measure, assess, and prepare plans for various utility and/or site development work. 
• Prepares official permanent record information for all existing monumentation that is recovered in the field, as well as all physical attributes of any structure and/or utility systems within the project locus, updates department records accordingly. 
• Coordinates highway and boundary survey practices, determines which recovered element(s) will be served to control the survey; researches, recovers, chooses, plots, analyzes, adjusts, balances and/or averages all pertinent collected data, both in the office and in the field, provides information to the Professional Engineer for use in making decisions, recommendations, and designs. 
• Extracts plan information and diligently and/or manually plots high-definition profiles. 
• Maintains and updates schedules, directories, and indexes and provides a written and electronic database for all survey related work.   
  Maintains an array of electronic equipment and field-related gear; maintains an adequate inventory of supplies, prepares purchase orders accordingly. 
• Responds to various in-house requests to resolve survey related issues such as grade resolutions, boundary line disputes, specialized layout problems, specialized drainage problems and replacement of lost markers. 
• Meets in the field with various citizen groups to discuss, define, schedule, coordinate, and/or to provide aid, insight, and resolution of special project related activities, which are both survey and engineering dependent. 
• Provides drawings of special construction details of a highly detailed nature. 
• Prepares and/or maintains records of work performed or other data reports as required. 
• Assists with some project design work. 
• Makes periodic checks of construction work for conformance in specification and survey points. 
• Maintains established quality and quantity control standards; detects and reports improper operation(s), faulty equipment, defective materials, and unusual conditions to the supervisor; ensures work area(s) and equipment are maintained in a clean, orderly, and safe operating condition, that prescribed safety measures are followed, that established City and department, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations are adhered to. 
• Responsible for all items listed in the position descriptions of those employees that are subordinate to this position per the Engineering Division’s Organizational Chart. 
• Attends and participates in staff, department, and other meetings, conferences, and seminars; maintains contacts to keep abreast of developments in the field or areas of interest or expertise. 
• Assists customers at the Engineering Office counter and on the telephone; responds to inquiries and provides assistance as requested.
• Performs other duties as directed by the City Engineer or his/her designee per the Division’s Organizational Chart. 
• Reviews and comments on submitted Approval Not Required Plans (ANR Plans). 
• Performs all other work as directed and required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications:

Education, Training, and Experience: 
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school preferred and five years related experience and/or training. Must be licensed in Massachusetts as a Professional Land Survey.   Must have management experience, including supervising field and office personnel. Knowledge of civil engineering technology, administrative office procedures and the operation of office equipment such as personal computers and computer software, word processing and spreadsheet applications. Municipal experience is desirable, or any equivalent combination of education and experience. 
A strong commitment to public service required. 

Knowledge, Ability and Skill: 
Knowledge.  Knowledge of specific department operations including civil and/or construction engineering technology and a basic understanding of survey techniques (both field and office). Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under pressure. Proficient knowledge of office practices and procedures, equipment and clerical techniques, including a variety of software applications. 
Ability.  Position requires the ability to comprehend the scope of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to specialty area.  Ability to work effectively under time constraints to meet deadlines.  Ability to deal tactfully and appropriately with the general public and City departments in an effective manner.  Ability to absorb and learn quickly and maintain a departmental sense of urgency.  
Skills.  Advanced mathematical concepts including statistics, probability, geometry and trigonometry. Technical writing skills as well as effective oral communication, and presentational skills. Strong analytical, problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Expertise and skill in using personal computers, word processing, database and spreadsheet applications. Excellent customer service skills. 

Job Environment:

Work requires examining, analyzing, and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations, or transactions and determining actions to be taken or recommended, within the limits of standard or accepted practices.  Expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision-making.  Employee is responsible for evaluating compliance with established standards, criteria and determining the methods to accomplish the work. 
May have contact with the general public, other town departments and officials, outside agencies, businesses, vendors, and other governmental organizations and attorneys, etc.  Communication is by means of telephone, personal discussion, and correspondence and involves discussing routine information requiring patience and courtesy.  
Errors in judgment could result in significant delay or loss of services, legal ramifications, adverse public relations, and monetary loss.

Physical requirements:

Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, equipment, machinery or controls, and reach with hands and arms as in picking up/accessing paper, files, and other common office objects as well as equipment and supplies relating to programs and needs at the Department of Public Works. Lifts and/or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Manually operates all office equipment and other necessary equipment. Needs to operate a computer keyboard at an efficient speed.   

Performance Standard:

Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics. 

Company Description

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus.  The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset.  To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits.  We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities.  We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings.  We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees.  And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.

Human Resources Diversity Statement

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

• Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
• Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
• Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
• Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
• Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
• Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newton reasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 457 Deferred Compensation plans
• Metro Credit Union
• Verizon Wireless discount
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
• City Retirement (Mandatory)
• Weekly Direct Deposit
• Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees