Assistant Survey Project Manager Jobs in California

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction management, environmental, planning, and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.

At BKF, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.

We're seeking an experienced Land Survey Project Manager to join us in Northern California. In this role, you will oversee a team of survey professionals while managing a diverse portfolio of complex, high-profile projects throughout the West Coast. You will be responsible for ensuring all surveying activities are delivered efficiently, on schedule, and to the highest standards of accuracy, quality, and client satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope and support proposal development with the Survey Director or Principal-in-Charge (PIC), including technical qualifications and presentations
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, and work plans; lead project execution and chair progress and review meetings
• Monitor project performance to ensure quality, schedule adherence, contract compliance, and budget control
• Maintain regular communication with the Director, PIC, and clients to report progress, resolve issues, and ensure client satisfaction
• Prepare monthly progress reports and billing; review billing with the Director or PIC prior to client submittal
• Direct projects through successful completion; review all plans, maps, and deliverables prior to client submittal
• Identify scope changes and additional services; obtain authorization for extra work prior to execution
• Prepare final project reports for review and filing by the Director or PIC
• Plan staff work assignments, contribute to performance reviews, and support staff training and professional development
• Ensure compliance with office standards and procedures in coordination with the Office Survey Supervisor
• Participate in technical and management training, seminars, and professional conferences to maintain and expand expertise

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Surveying and Mapping, Civil Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited program, plus appropriate continuing education
• Active California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license required
• Minimum of 8 years of professional-level surveying experience, including at least 2 years in responsible charge of field survey work
• 10 years of experience strongly preferred; 15+ years for Senior Project Manager level
• Without a bachelor's degree, a minimum of 10 years of professional surveying experience is required
• Experience must demonstrate progressively increasing responsibility, particularly on large, complex, or technically challenging projects
• Thorough knowledge of all phases of land surveying, including boundary law, subdivisions, California State Plane Coordinate System, applicable statutes, control and geodetic surveys, photogrammetry, and construction staking
• Proficiency with modern surveying instruments, electronic data collection systems, and office computing tools
• Strong understanding of contract administration, project management principles, scheduling, reporting, proposal development, and budget control
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a high-level management role
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a positive, professional management style
• Experience coordinating technical teams on long-duration, high-value, or complex projects
• Ability to deliver formal presentations to firm leadership, clients, and public agencies
• Reports to the Survey Group Director, Principal-in-Charge, and Office Manager regarding quality, schedule, staffing, standards compliance, and financial performance
• Performance evaluated by firm leadership and clients based on technical quality, schedule adherence, and overall project success

Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.

Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $185,000.00 annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
• Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k.
• Generous paid time off packages.
• 9 Paid Holidays.
• Flexible schedules.
• Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.

BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.

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