Chief, Survey and Geomatics Unit, MIII
Salary
$98,662.00 - $174,642.00 Annually
Location
100 Edison Park Dr Gaithersburg MD 20878 USA
Job Type
Permanent
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
2026-00267
Department
Department of Transportation
Division
DOT 50 Transportation Planning and Design Section
Opening Date
05/20/2026
Closing Date
6/17/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA
Exempt
About the Position
Please note: The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $98,662 to $167,857, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) mission is to move people and connect places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County. MCDOT supports its residents, commuters, and visitors with transit options and infrastructure that provide seamless public transportation.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
MCDOT is seeking an experienced Professional Land Surveyor and manager to serve as Chief of the Survey and Geomatics Unit, with a focus on directing the Countys comprehensive land surveying operations. This includes overseeing subordinate supervisors who direct field survey parties, managing external consultants, and evaluating and certifying complex survey work for right-of-way design and construction. The Chief hires, trains, and manages staff in technical and professional positions in the Division of Transportation Engineering (DTE).
The selected candidate is:
What Youll Be Doing
The selected applicant will provide technical direction, strategic leadership, and management oversight for all County land surveying operations supporting transportation infrastructure, planning, and engineering design. The Chief of the Survey and Geomatics Unit ensures the high quality and accuracy of all survey data, property boundaries, and topographical information as projects transition from planning to design. The Chief is critical to providing continuity and legal compliance as a project moves to the property acquisition and construction phases.
The position will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Survey and Geomatics Unit, which consists of County staff, subordinate supervisors, and consultant teams. The position is responsible for:
Leadership & Staff Management
Technical Operations & Technology Management
Project & Contract Management
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
The candidate must be able to work rotating shifts on weekdays and weekends.
The candidate must be able to work off-site.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in land surveying and survey management supporting capital infrastructure and right-of-way projects. Experience must include directing comprehensive survey operations, resolving complex boundary and right-of-way issues, reviewing and certifying plats and legal descriptions, and implementing advanced surveying technologies (including CAD, GIS, and remote scanning/LiDAR systems).
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelors Degree.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
License and Certification Requirements:
Drivers License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicants state of residence.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
Preferred Criteria:
The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:
Candidates who possess an active certification as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) by the State of Maryland
Preference will be given to candidates who have a Bachelors Degree in Land Surveying, Geomatics, Civil Engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or a closely related technical discipline.
Experience in comprehensive land surveying and geomatics disciplines supporting transportation capital projects, including right-of-way acquisition, boundary resolution, topographic mapping, and the preparation and review of complex plats and legal descriptions.
Experience providing strategic leadership, mentorship, and supervision of professional surveying staff, including subordinate survey supervisors, technicians, and field crews.
Demonstrated understanding of advanced surveying technologies and data management, including the integration of CAD systems, GIS databases, and remote scanning technology (e.g., LiDAR and 3D laser scanning) to optimize survey operations.
Project leadership that demonstrates profound knowledge of relevant Federal, State, and County laws, regulations, and statutes pertaining to land surveying, property boundaries, and right-of-way engineering.
Experience ensuring the accomplishment of a survey units annual work program by developing project schedules, reviewing the progress of major survey milestones, and taking decisive action to resolve complex boundary, property, or operational issues that impede project delivery.
Development, implementation, and maintenance of surveying standards, CAD drafting protocols, geospatial data management, and industry best practices.
Experience communicating highly technical survey information effectively, both orally and in writing, to advise Project Managers, Section Chiefs, Division Chiefs, and inter-agency partners to resolve complex survey and property-related issues.
Licensed Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in the State of Maryland, and/or the ability to obtain by reciprocity within 1 year.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
Leave Benefits
Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.
Retirement Benefits
All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.
Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness
Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.
Free Mass Transit Benefit
County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.
Reduced Child and Health Care Costs
Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.
Employee Wellbeing
We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.
Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01
How many years of progressively responsible experience do you have in land surveying and survey management supporting capital infrastructure and right-of-way projects? Your experience must include directing comprehensive survey operations, resolving complex boundary and right-of-way issues, reviewing and certifying plats and legal descriptions, and implementing advanced surveying technologies (including CAD, GIS, and remote scanning/LiDAR systems).
02
What is your highest level of completed education?
03
Do you have a degree in Land Surveying, Geomatics, Civil Engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or a closely related technical discipline?
04
Do you possess and currently maintain a VALID Class "C" (or equivalent) drivers license from your state of residence?
05
Do you possess an active certification as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) by the State of Maryland?
06
Do you have experience in comprehensive land surveying and geomatics disciplines supporting transportation capital projects, including right-of-way acquisition, boundary resolution, topographic mapping, and the preparation and review of complex plats and legal descriptions?
07
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
08
Do you have experience providing strategic leadership, mentorship, and supervision of professional surveying staff, including subordinate survey supervisors, technicians, and field crews?
09
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
10
Do you have the ability to apply advanced surveying technologies and data management, including the integration of CAD systems, GIS databases, and remote scanning technology (e.g., LiDAR and 3D laser scanning) to optimize survey operations?
11
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
12
Can you demonstrate project leadership that pertains to the profound knowledge of relevant Federal, State, and County laws, regulations, and statutes pertaining to land surveying, property boundaries, and right-of-way engineering?
13
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
14
Do you have experience ensuring the accomplishment of a survey units annual work program by developing project schedules, reviewing the progress of major survey milestones, and taking decisive action to resolve complex boundary, property, or operational issues that impede project delivery?
15
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
16
Do you have experience in the development, implementation, and maintenance of surveying standards, CAD drafting protocols, geospatial data management, and industry best practices?
17
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
18
Do you have experience communicating highly technical survey information effectively, both orally and in writing, to advise Project Managers, Section Chiefs, Division Chiefs, and inter-agency partners to resolve complex survey and property-related issues?
19
If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, please provide a brief description of your experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
Required Question
Employer Montgomery County (MD)
Address 101 Monroe Street
7th Floor
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
Phone 240-777-0311