Land Surveying and Mapping Manager

Overview

The Land Surveying and Mapping Unit Manager plans, directs, and oversees Valley Water’s land surveying, mapping, and right-of-way program in support of capital improvement projects, flood protection facilities, water utility infrastructure, real estate transactions, asset management, and regulatory compliance.

This position manages both the Field Survey Team and the Right-of-Way Mapping Team and serves as the senior licensed Professional Land Surveyor responsible for survey governance, boundary determinations, legal descriptions, plats, Records of Survey, easement documents, construction survey support, geodetic control, subsidence monitoring, dam deformation monitoring, bathymetric and topographic mapping, and survey data management.

The position provides strategic leadership, technical oversight, quality assurance, staff development, consultant management, and program administration while ensuring compliance with the California Professional Land Surveyors Act, Subdivision Map Act, FEMA requirements, and other applicable regulations.

The Unit Manager serves as Valley Water's authority on surveying and mapping matters and coordinates with engineering, construction, operations, real estate, local agencies, utilities, and regulatory partners to support the successful delivery of Valley Water’s projects and programs.

Our Commitment

We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively.

By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water

Valley Water’s mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget of $1.284 billion supports approximately 876 employees.

With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Who We Are

To learn how Valley Water provides safe, clean water and environmental stewardship for the Santa Clara community, please click here

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Direct and manage the Land Surveying and Mapping Unit, including supervision of Field Survey and Right-of-Way Mapping staff; establish priorities, staffing plans, budgets, performance management, training and resource allocation.
• Provide licensed professional oversight and review of boundary determination. Record of Survey, legal descriptions, plats, easement exhibits, property acquisitions, construction survey deliverables and other surveying products requiring professional judgement and compliance with California surveying laws.
• Support planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance projects through survey control, topographic mapping, bathymetric surveys, deformation monitoring, asset mapping, utility investigations and geospatial data management.
• Manage consultant contracts, project schedules, budgets, quality assurance programs, standards development and survey technology initiatives including GPS/GNSS, LiDAR, UAV, 3D scanning, and GIS integration.
• Represent Valley Water before local agencies, utility partners, property owners, consultants, regulatory agencies and professional organization regarding surveying, mapping, right-of-way and land boundary matters.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience

Five (5) years of professional land surveying experience, including two (2) years of direct supervisory.

Ideal Skills and Abilities

• Administer complex, and technical land surveying and mapping services in an independent and cooperative manner.
• Proficiently manipulate data, such as computation using decimals or editing for transposed numbers.
• Project concepts of shapes and dimensions from paper (plats and engineering designs) to the real world or to the computer (Auto-CADD Civil 3D).
• Evaluate and develop improvements to land surveying and mapping operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Conduct land surveying and mapping research, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective staff reports.
• Establish and maintain a variety of land surveying and mapping program filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of land surveying and mapping services, projects, and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner.

Ideal Knowledge

• Standard professional surveying techniques, processes, and legal requirements.
• Basic principles, practices, concepts, and standards of engineering in order to provide appropriate survey information for engineering design and construction.
• Organization and quality management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of land surveying and mapping services.
• Principles and practices of land surveying and mapping program and project budget development and administration, contract negotiation and management, and sound financial management policies and procedures.
• Practices of researching land surveying and mapping issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Computer software applications, such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Auto-CADD Civil 3D, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and other specialized software and databases.

Ideal Training and Education

Education

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in surveying, geomatics, mathematics, civil engineering, or a related field.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

A valid Professional Land Surveyor license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

To review the Job Description, please click here

Land Surveying & Mapping Unit (Position Code 534)

Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.

(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.

(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.

Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.

Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.