Salary: $186,763.20 - $238,534.40 Annually
Location : 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 02000-E
Division: Integrated Water Management
Unit: Land Surveying & Mapping
Opening Date: 07/13/2026
Closing Date: 8/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
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.

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.

Required License or Certificate
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

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.
Selection Process
(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.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water, offers a comprehensive benefit package including, vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, EAP, life and disability insurance. In addition, Valley Water participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). To view a summary of benefits, click
01

I acknowledge that I have entered my Work Experience and Education on the employment application, and I am aware these are required fields. If they are not completed, the application is considered incomplete, and I will be disqualified as an applicant for the position.

• Yes
• No

02

Please answer the supplemental questions thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the application) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process. Responses that refer to attachments (e.g., "see resume") will not be considered. Each question must be answered in full to ensure a fair and complete evaluation. I have read this information and am aware of the importance of responses to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

03

Do you possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited College or University with major coursework in surveying, geomatics, mathematics, civil engineering, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of professional experience do you possess in professional land surveying?

• 0 - 5 years
• 5 or more years

05

How many years of supervisorial or management experience do you have?

• Less than 2 years
• 2 or more years

06

Do you possess a valid Professional Land Surveyor license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists?

• Yes
• No

07

This position follows Schedule E (40 hours per week, 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday). Depending on operational needs, there may be an option for telework.

• I agree to the schedule
• I do not agree to the schedule

08

Describe your leadership philosophy. Provide an example of how you created a culture of accountability while maintaining employee trust and morale.
09

Describe the most difficult employee performance issue you have managed. Explain how you investigated the issue, documented it, communicated expectations, and what the final outcome was.
10

This position supports multiple internal customers with competing priorities. Describe how you prioritize competing deadlines while maintaining quality and customer service.
11

Describe a significant operational improvement you implemented within a surveying or engineering organization. What problem were you solving, what actions did you take, and what measurable improvements resulted?
12

Employment with Valley Water requires employees to take an Oath as a Disaster Service Worker within California and to live within 150 miles of Valley Water Headquarters in San Jose, California by the start date. Valley Water does not cover relocation costs. If you live further than 150 miles from Valley Water Headquarters, please discuss your willingness to relocate if offered the position. If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".
13

Please list the full name of the regular/permanent Valley Water employee who referred you to this position (only one name will be accepted, so if multiple are listed, the first name provided will be documented as the referring employee). If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".
Required Question