What are the responsibilities and job description for the Survey Department Manager / Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) position at Spotlock?
Professional Land Surveyor (PLS)
Construction-Focused | Leadership Opportunity | Employee-Owned Firm
Location: Newtown, PA (projects throughout Eastern PA, New Jersey, and Delaware – typically within a 1.5-hour radius)
About the Company
We are a well-established, employee-owned construction firm generating approximately $120M annually, with a strong reputation in bridge, transit, marine, and heavy civil construction. Surveying plays a critical role in our operations, supporting complex foundations and specialty construction work, including marine and underwater projects.
Our culture is built around teamwork, accountability, and shared ownership. More than half of our full-time employees are owners, and collaboration is core to how we operate—regular planning sessions, shared accountability, and a hands-on leadership style define our environment.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) to step into a leadership role within our Survey Department. This is a unique opportunity for a licensed surveyor—or a highly motivated surveyor on track to obtain their NJ license—to help shape the future vision and growth of our survey operations.
Historically, our survey team has focused on internal construction layout and as-built surveys. Our goal is to expand this function into a revenue-generating service, acting as a subconsultant to other firms while continuing to support internal projects. The direction and growth of this department will be heavily influenced by this hire.
Current Team Structure
- Two highly experienced Party Chiefs (strong field leaders; not licensed)
- One Apprentice / Instrument Operator (graduating soon)
- Survey work currently runs across 15–20 active projects at any given time
- This role fills a critical gap by providing a licensed leader to set jobs up properly, review and stamp work, mentor the team, and represent the firm externally.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary licensed surveyor for the firm
- Set up projects, review survey work, and provide professional oversight
- Stamp plans and act as license holder for internal and external projects
- Lead and mentor Party Chiefs and junior staff
- Participate in both office and field work (expect 50% field involvement initially)
- Act as Party Chief when needed, especially during peak workloads
- Support construction layout, as-builts, and specialty survey services
- Help develop and execute a strategy to grow the survey department into a profitable external service line
- Coordinate closely with Project Managers and construction teams
- Represent the firm with clients, partners, and subconsultants
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Required / Preferred Licensure:
- NJ PLS strongly preferred
- PA PLS a major plus
- Will consider candidates actively pursuing NJ licensure and near completion of a 4-year surveying degree
Experience & Skills:
- Background in construction surveying, layout, and as-builts
- Comfortable balancing field leadership and office responsibilities
- Strong understanding of construction workflows and jobsite coordination
- Leadership mindset with interest in growing a department
- Enjoys being in the field and working alongside crews
- Collaborative, team-oriented approach
Why This Role Stands Out
- True leadership role with autonomy to shape the department’s future
- Mix of field work and strategic oversight—ideal for surveyors who still love being onsite
- Opportunity to build an external revenue stream for the firm
- Work on high-profile bridge, transit, and marine projects
- Strong internal support from experienced Party Chiefs and project teams
- Stable backlog with diverse, technically interesting work
Ownership & Compensation Highlights
- Employee-Owned
- After a qualifying period, employees given option to participate in ownership through a $10K buy-in, funded via payroll contributions
- Ownership is common stock with strong financial upside tied to company performance
- Long-term financial incentives aligned with company growth
Culture & Work Environment
- Collaborative culture
- Regular team planning and job coordination meetings
- Management values keeping projects close to employees’ homes when possible
- Strong emphasis on trust, accountability, and shared success
Reporting & Support
- This role works closely with senior project management
- Supported by an experienced HR team and leadership group
- Opportunity to grow into broader leadership within the organization
If you are a licensed surveyor—or on the cusp of licensure—who wants both leadership responsibility and hands-on field involvement, this role offers a rare chance to build something meaningful within a stable, employee-owned construction firm.
Salary : $120