Land Surveyor Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the land surveyor job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also presents the major requirements you may be expected to fulfill if you are seeking to work as a land surveyor.

What Does a Land Surveyor Do?

The land surveyor is responsible for ensuring that all plans lodged with the Bureau of Survey are accurate and current. They prepare and/or approve plans, drawings, and documents for all survey works.

The land surveyor job description entails maintaining the Bureau of Survey’s archives and records and ensuring that all survey instruments meet the established standards.

It also involves maintaining the National Land Code, National Map, and Ordnance Survey maps.

They ensure that all official notes are included in All Surveys (AS) booklets, All Plans (AP) booklets and on the plans before issue, and that they are available to owners/tenants before completion of works.

The surveyor is also responsible for other administrative matters like maintaining plans, record books of recommended surveys with all necessary details, including descriptions, area and coordinates of land parcels to be subdivided or resubdivided; signatures or co-signatures on plans etc.

It is also the job of the land surveyor to prepare, sign, and issue the All Surveys and All Plans booklets, which are the primary sources of information for owners/tenants.

They are also responsible for ensuring that all survey works are carried out in accordance with approved plans.

This position maintains a register of all surveys and plans lodged at the Bureau by providing updates as required by the Law.

The land surveyor work description also involves assisting in the compilation of a National Map with details, such as locations and sizes of land parcels, distances between sites, coordinates and names of all surveyed resources.

It also entails compiling a record book comprising particulars concerning all required surveys, details of recompleted surveys, and requests for amendments on plans; ensuring that it is always kept produced within his area.

They assist the surveyor in compiling a register of names and addresses of estates and land parcels that are registered or to be registered under the Public Land Act.

Land surveyor Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The land surveyor job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Approve and sign all notes, maps, and other related documents
• Keep the records for required maps and documents, including the annual reports
• Assist in preparing and processing necessary application for land records, maps, and other related papers
• Maintain confidentiality of all records and data in accordance with government regulations and laws to prevent tampering with data, or abuse of information
• Distribute legal deeds and other land security related documents to purchasers or borrowers on behalf of the government or customers according to their request
• Maintain complete control on all financial matters involving acquisition of land or property by record-keeping procedures such as subinfeasance application and using cashiers cheques only for purchase purposes
• Preserve documents pertaining to the land and related transactions, including the records of all transactions
• Assist in purchasing, leasing or selling of various properties for further development of the country
• Maintain contact with buyers and sellers, realtors, surveyors etc., for obtaining information about various properties for sale and rent purposes
• Maintain administrative records such as purchase and sales contracts, tenders, statements etc., which includes maintaining a roster of all personnel with their respective duties
• Keep up-to-date on current regulations in respect to land matters
• Maintain records of all restricted areas, purchase and sale transactions
• Carry out boundary surveys and prepare boundary maps to support land claims
• May be required to prepare maps of newly acquired lands which may be required by the government for long term planning and policy decisions by the government
• Provide advice and assistance to other departments such as the planning or development department, or the police department for various surveys assigned for mapping purposes
• Assist in examining plans, adding new plans when applicable and maintaining a record of every plan that is processed
• Survey and map the proposed roads as well as other facilities within the jurisdiction of the land surveyor
• Perform legal, land use planning surveys for authorities and provide advice and assistance to other departments.

Land Surveyor Job Description for Resume

If you are making a new resume or CV as someone who has worked before as a land surveyor or are presently working in that role, then you can make a compelling Professional Experience section for your resume by applying the sample land surveyor job description above.

You can express the duties and responsibilities you have performed as a land surveyor in your resume’s Professional Experience by applying the ones in the above land surveyor job description template.

This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful performing the land surveyor duties and responsibilities, which can boost the effectiveness of your resume and increase your chances of being hired, especially if the new position that you are looking for requires someone with some land surveyor work experience.

Duties for Land Surveyors with No Experience

If you are starting your land surveyor career newly, then you will be expected to work under experienced surveyors to gain the needed knowledge and skills to be able to take on higher level tasks effectively.

You will begin your land surveyor career with an entry-level position that requires little or no experience, but under the guidance of senior and experienced surveyors.

The duties you will be assigned may include the following:

• Assisting in ensuring successful completion of company projects under the supervision of a senior and experienced surveyor
• Responsible for clearing brush, carrying staking supplies and equipment, and hammering in stakes; packing and unpacking heavy survey equipment, and preparing trucks with necessary supplies
• Helping to gather data and providing accurate information for use in creating maps, establishing property boundaries, and identifying construction elements for contractors by senior land surveyors and professional engineers and designers
• Learning various surveying duties from experienced surveyors, including topographical surveys, vertical and horizontal monitoring, staking procedures, and analyzation of plans and specifications.

Land Surveyor Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

Here are major requirements you may need to meet to be hired for the land surveyor role:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Mathematics or in a related field
• Minimum of 2 – 3 years of experience in drafting and design works
• Possess valid driver’s license
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, maps, and charts with accuracy
• Expertise on using computer-based technologies such as word processing, spreadsheets or map plotting program
• Working knowledge of surveying equipment, such as total station, GPS (Global Positioning System) and AutoCAD/Microstation Software is a plus
• Good interpersonal/communication skills
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively and work in remote areas
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and understand technical drawing details etc.
• Well-organized and able to think logically and solve problems
• Knowledge of surveying, drafting and design principles will prove an advantage
• Ability to work independently, effectively manage time and focus on details in a fast-paced environment while at the same time take initiative when necessary
• Must be able to communicate clearly both verbally or in writing with a variety of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and language groups.

Land Surveyor Salary

According to Indeed, the average annual pay for a land surveyor in the United States is $75,394.

Conclusion

This post is helpful to individuals interested in the land surveyor career. They will be able to learn all they need to know about the land surveyor’s duties and responsibilities.

It is also useful to recruiters/employers in making a detailed job description for the land surveyor position in their organizations.