What are the responsibilities and job description for the SUE/Utility Locating Division Manager position at SHAHEED A. SMITH GEOSPATIAL, LLC?
SUE/ Utility Locating Division Manager
Reports To: Vice President of Operation
Location: SAS Geospatial, LLC – Doylestown, PA (with regional travel as needed)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Position Summary
SAS Geospatial, LLC is seeking a SUE / Utility Locating Division Manager to lead and grow our Subsurface Utility Locating division. This is a senior operational leadership role responsible for people, production, quality, profitability, safety, client relationships, and division growth.
The Division Manager will lead project managers, field crews, technicians, and support staff to ensure SUE/SUL projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to SAS’s quality standards. This role requires a leader who can build systems, hold people accountable, improve production discipline, and help scale the division in alignment with the company’s long-term vision. This is not only a technical role. It is an ownership role.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
- Lead, manage, and hold accountable all SUE/SUL division team members in alignment with company principles.
- Build a high-performing culture rooted in accountability, safety, quality, communication, and continuous improvement.
- Coach, mentor, and develop project managers, field staff, technicians, and future leaders.
- Support recruiting, onboarding, training, and professional development for the division.
- Maintain the division Accountability Chart and ensure roles, responsibilities, and expectations are clear.
- Ensure SOPs are followed and improved as the division grows.
Operations & Project Delivery
- Plan, schedule, and coordinate SUE/SUL projects from kickoff through final delivery.
- Ensure proper resource allocation across crews, equipment, vehicles, software, and office support.
- Monitor project schedules, budgets, scope, staffing, and client commitments.
- Ensure utility locating, GPR, EM locating, concrete scanning, CCTV, records research, utility mapping, and related deliverables are performed accurately and efficiently.
- Strengthen QA/QC at every stage of the workflow.
- Improve production processes, field-to-office communication, and project closeout discipline.
- Drive adoption of technology, equipment, and software that improves productivity, safety, and quality.
Financial Management
- Develop and manage the division’s annual budget.
- Monitor revenue, backlog, project profitability, utilization, revenue per employee, and gross margin.
- Review and approve proposals, contracts, change orders, invoices, and billing readiness.
- Identify issues affecting profitability and take corrective action.
- Support growth of the SUE/SUL division through existing client expansion and new business opportunities.
Client Relations & Business Development
- Serve as a senior client-facing leader for key SUE/SUL clients.
- Ensure clients receive proactive communication, clear expectations, and a high-quality experience.
- Collaborate with the business development team to identify, pursue, and win new opportunities.
- Support proposal strategy, scope development, fee development, and client presentations.
- Attend industry events, client meetings, conferences, and networking functions to promote SAS.
Compliance & Safety
- Ensure field operations comply with applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
- Oversee safety protocols for field crews and utility locating operations.
- Ensure proper training, certifications, equipment care, and field documentation.
- Maintain a safety-first culture across all SUE/SUL work.
Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of experience in SUE, utility locating, utility designation, utility mapping, or related infrastructure services.
- Minimum 5 years in a leadership, management, or senior project management role.
- Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary SUE/SUL projects, including EM locating, GPR, concrete scanning, CCTV, 3D scanning, and utility mapping.
- Strong understanding of utility quality levels, utility records research, field designation, and utility deliverables.
- Familiarity with ASCE 38 standards preferred.
- Strong understanding of AutoCAD Civil 3D, GNSS, GIS, EM locating equipment, GPR, and related field technologies.
- Strong business acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, utilization, project profitability, and revenue planning.
- Excellent leadership, communication, organization, and client relationship skills.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, surveying, construction management, geomatics, or related field preferred, but significant industry experience will be considered.
Success in the First 12 Months
The successful candidate will:
- Build a more predictable and accountable SUE/SUL production rhythm.
- Improve project schedule reliability and on-time delivery.
- Improve field crew utilization and equipment utilization.
- Strengthen QA/QC and reduce avoidable rework.
- Improve revenue visibility, billing readiness, and profitability.
- Help grow the SUE/SUL division toward SAS’s annual revenue goals.
- Develop team members into stronger field, technical, and project leaders.
- Strengthen client relationships and help generate repeat work.
About SAS Geospatial
SAS Geospatial, LLC is a growing land surveying, subsurface utility locating, and geospatial firm based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. We serve civil engineering firms, utility companies, transportation agencies, municipalities, developers, and public-sector clients throughout the greater Philadelphia region and surrounding Mid-Atlantic markets.
Our work helps clients understand what is under, on, and above the earth. We combine technical expertise, responsive service, modern technology, and a strong commitment to quality.