Surveyor - Assistant

Placer County's Community Development Resource Agency is recruiting for a permanent full-time Assistant Surveyor for its office located in Auburn, California. The Assistant Surveyor performs a variety of professional land surveying activities with an emphasis on office work with some supplemental field time as well, both under the direction of a licensed land surveyor.  This position provides technical and professional review of survey maps, survey documents, and improvement plans submitted to the county. It also provides information and assistance to the public in person, by telephone, or in the field.  The ideal candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, proficiency and experience with computer software and tools related to surveying activities including but not limited to AutoCAD/Civil3D, Adobe Acrobat, Total Station and general surveying equipment, and the ability to interpret record data to plot and evaluate the accuracy of survey maps and legal descriptions.

This position requires possession of a valid California Land Surveyor in Training Certificate (LSIT) issued by the Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.  For information about this certificate, you can click HERE.   

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform a variety of professional land surveying activities both in the office and the field; to provide information and assistance to the public in person, by telephone, or in the field; and to exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and professional staff as assigned.

This is the full journey level class within the Surveyor series.  Employees within this class perform the full range of duties as assigned including performing independent professional surveyor duties and exercising technical and function supervision over technical staff.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

This class is distinguished from the Associate Surveyor in that the latter performs highly complex and difficult survey-related activities requiring a high level of independent judgement and exercises direct supervision over professional surveying staff.

Receives direction from professional staff.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over technical staff as assigned.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform independent research, field survey work; perform calculations and determinations of property lines, right of way boundaries, and political boundaries relative to compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and accepted professional survey practices. 
• Monitor progress of field survey crews and provide professional survey advice regarding survey problems and procedures; review the reduction of incoming field notes; and may act as a survey party chief.
• Review records, descriptions, and maps submitted to County Surveyor's office; prepare legal descriptions and certify that maps are technically correct; review major and minor subdivisions and records of surveys and minor boundary line resolution legal descriptions; prepare maps as required.
• Determine precinct boundaries caused by annexations, detachments, and changes in population; assist in updating street index changes resulting from incorporation, annexation, detachment, and addition of new streets and subdivisions; verify various district boundaries within the County prior to elections.
• Explain laws, regulations, and requirements to the public; confer and coordinate with other County departments and review boards, various public agencies, private engineers and surveyors, and developers on matters affecting mapping, land boundary determinations and perpetuation of survey monuments.
• Receive survey requests from other County departments; prepare periodic progress, various activity reports and correspondence; establish and maintain appropriate files, records, and documentation.
• Train and lead assigned subordinate staff.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• General public works policies and procedures relative surveying.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal rules, regulations, laws and codes, including the Land Surveyors Act and Subdivision Map Act.
• Principles and practices of land surveying, including records of survey and re-establishment of survey points.
• Principles of land subdivision and the State coordinate system.
• Principles and practices of drafting and mapping.
• Computer software as used in technical computation/analysis and drafting/mapping applications.
• Research and investigative techniques relative to surveying and mapping activities.
• Business correspondence, report writing, and English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• Independently perform professional surveying duties in the research, analysis, and computation of property lines, right-of-way boundaries and political boundaries.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job.  Intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe surveying activities and problem solve when appropriate; and understand and interpret and explain applicable ordinances and statutes and County policies and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk or stand at public counter for long periods of time.  Intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist while performing field work; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; see and hear sufficiently to communicate by visual and auditory signals while working in the field; visually differentiate between colors used on maps; regularly lift heavy weight.
• Independently interpret plans, specifications and survey notes and apply the State coordinate system.
• Maintain accurate records, files and documentation and prepare technical reports.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Obtain information through interview; effectively handle multiple assignments; work with interruption; and to deal firmly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, drafting and surveying equipment, telephone, microfiche reader/printer, and photocopy machine.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Beth LaChapelle, Administrative Technician, at elachape@placer.ca.gov