Professional Land Surveyor I - Durango

Salary: $86,544.00 - $88,572.00 Annually
Location : Durango, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Transportation
Division: CDOT Region 5
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 10/6/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 3803 North Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: emily.harp@state.co.us
Type of Announcement: The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Hiring Pay Rate: The 2026 Step Pay Program may increase the salary range for employees with time in the class series.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information
Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
This announcement is posted until the position is filled. Applications will be considered as they are received. It is in your best interest to apply early.

• New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.

Description of Job
About the Position

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is looking to fill a Professional Land Surveyor position located in Durango. The purpose of this position is to be in "responsible charge" of the establishment of highway horizontal and vertical project control, the collection of topographic data (TMOSS), gathering of field boundary evidence relating to existing right-of-way (ROW) and private property lines, evaluation of deeds and survey documents, creation of plans (drawings) showing State Highway ROW, boundaries and dimensions of property parcels and easements. This position also creates property descriptions of parcels and easements.

Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following

• Represent the Region 5 ROW/Survey Unit in scoping meetings with specialty units, consultants, local agencies, and other stakeholders;
• Establishes horizontal and vertical control systems for highway projects using global positioning system (GPS) equipment and Trimble Business Center software;
• Collects topography data for roadway design using CDOT's Terrain Modeling Survey System (TMOSS);
• Prepares project control diagrams for horizontal and vertical control monuments;
• Gather information about location and ownership of existing State Highway ROW and adjoining property by researching survey plats, ROW plans, county records, title commitments and field notes of governmental agencies.
• In "responsible charge" of field surveys to determine location of ROW and other land boundaries;
• Evaluates survey field notes, evidence and information by using mathematics, Bentley OpenRoads Designer software and laws pertaining to land surveying;
• Compare written property and land survey records to physical surveys of property corners, control corners and topographical features and analyze this data to produce a mathematically and graphically correct model of property ownership;
• Restores and upgrades land survey monuments to State and Federal standards;
• Draft and submit monument records for Public Land Survey System (PLSS) monuments with the State of Colorado Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors;
• Creates ROW plans by drawing, labeling and annotating ROW lines, property lines, highway centerlines, topography and other features using Bentley OpenRoads Designer software;
• Create and certify descriptions for property to be acquired for highway purposes, according to Colorado statutes and CDOT Manuals;
• Certify with professional seal all work performed under position's responsible charge.
• Trains field crews in the use of surveying equipment, proper survey methods and techniques for collecting/analyzing data.
• Researches and provides archived ROW plans/survey documents to CDOT Staff and the Public;
• Abides by all safety regulations, policies and procedures;
• Attends and completes required safety training;
• Other job duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• Primarily 7:00AM - 5:30PM work hours, Monday-Thursday with the opportunity for a flexible schedule
• Approximately 40% spent in the field, 60% spent in the office.
• Travel required for survey field work, project meetings, and trainings in locations within the State.
• Occasional overnight travel (anticipated 10%) throughout Southwest Colorado
• Required to operate CDOT vehicles
• Required to perform survey field work over variable terrain, in all weather conditions, and to work in proximity to heavy traffic
• Must be able to lift survey equipment and sand bags, up to 50 lbs.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications

• Current, valid licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

OR

• Current, valid licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor from a state other than Colorado. If you are qualifying with a non-Colorado PLS license, it is a condition of employment that you obtain your Colorado license within 12 months of starting.

Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. "See Resume" statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
Conditions of Employment

• Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.
• If qualifying for this position with a Professional Land Surveyor license from a state other than Colorado, you must obtain your Colorado PLS license within 12 months of starting in this position.
• A current valid driver license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications
Theexceptional applicant will be an experienced Land Surveyor and will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position;
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in Land Surveying and right of way plans preparation;
• Strong knowledge and experience using Bentley OpenRoads Designer software;
• Familiar with CDOT's Terrain Modeling Survey System (TMOSS);
• Experience with surveying on Department of Transportation (DOT) related projects;
• Experience in plan review and current survey technologies, such as GPS/levels, Trimble Business Center, Trimble survey equipment;
• Familiarity with researching and utilizing National Geodetic Survey (NGS) control monuments/stations;
• Ability to estimate project hours and costs associated with contracts;
• Ability to supervise and direct land surveying staff associated with field and office duties;
• Knowledge of the CDOT Survey Manual and CDOT ROW Manual;
• Leadership and vision across multidisciplinary groups;
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments;
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner;
• Ability to work with general public, professional, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments;
• Effective interpersonal and relationship building skills;
• Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability;
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem solving ability;
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral;
• Excellent research skills and experience;
• Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy;
• Passion for safety;
• Ability to work effectively in both independent and team situations;
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access), Gmail, SAP, ProjectWise, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Supplemental Information
Applicant Checklist
Complete Applications must include the following documents:

1. A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)
2. A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
3. A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.
4. A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
5. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date. Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.
Notifications:

All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email. Immediately after you submit your application you should receive an email that confirms that you successfully submitted an application for this position. If you do not, try submitting again until you receive the confirmation email. Be sure to also check your junk folder for email communications from the State of Colorado's website.
The Hiring Process:

1. All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
2. Colorado