Civil Surveyor – Job Description
Position: Civil SurveyorEmployment Type: Full-TimeIndustry: Civil Construction / InfrastructureReports To: Project Manager / Construction ManagerLocation: Sydney, NSW – Various Project Sites
Position Overview
The Civil Surveyor is responsible for providing accurate construction set-out, verification, as-built surveying and survey support across civil infrastructure and public domain projects.
The role requires close coordination with Project Managers, Site Engineers, Supervisors, Foremen and construction crews to ensure works are constructed accurately in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, design levels, Australian Standards and relevant authority requirements.
The successful candidate will be capable of independently managing survey requirements across multiple civil construction activities including drainage, kerb and gutter, pavements, roads, structures, services, concrete works and public domain works.
Key Responsibilities
- Carry out construction set-out for civil and infrastructure works.
- Establish and maintain survey control points, benchmarks and reference marks across project sites.
- Set out:
- Kerb and gutter
- Roads and pavement alignments
- Footpaths and public domain paving
- Stormwater drainage and pits
- Sewer and utility services
- Electrical and communications conduits
- Retaining walls
- Concrete slabs and structures
- Excavation and bulk earthworks
- Building interfaces
- Landscaping and street furniture
- Set out line, level, grades, offsets, boundaries and construction tolerances.
- Undertake pre-construction surveys of existing site conditions.
- Verify existing surface levels and identify discrepancies between site conditions and design documentation.
- Review civil drawings, survey plans, architectural drawings, structural drawings and authority documentation prior to set-out.
- Identify discrepancies, inconsistencies or potential constructability issues before works proceed.
- Liaise with Project Managers and Site Engineers regarding design discrepancies and required clarification.
- Conduct progressive survey checks during construction to verify compliance with approved drawings.
- Undertake as-built surveys upon completion of works.
- Prepare accurate as-built survey information for submission to clients, consultants and authorities.
- Record RLs, coordinates, alignments, dimensions, grades and constructed locations.
- Produce survey reports, sketches, mark-ups and electronic survey data as required.
- Assist with preparation of Work-As-Executed (WAE) documentation.
- Verify pavement, kerb, drainage and finished surface levels against design requirements.
- Check falls and drainage paths to ensure positive drainage and prevent ponding.
- Undertake quantity and volume surveys where required, including excavation, fill and stockpile calculations.
- Assist project teams with measurement and verification of completed works for progress claims and variations.
- Maintain accurate survey records for project quality assurance purposes.
- Maintain calibration and condition of surveying equipment.
- Coordinate with external Registered Surveyors where cadastral, boundary or statutory surveying is required.
- Attend site meetings where survey, design or construction issues require clarification.
- Provide timely survey information to construction crews to prevent delays to the programme.
Quality and Compliance
The Civil Surveyor will be responsible for ensuring survey activities are undertaken in accordance with:
- Approved construction drawings and specifications
- Project Inspection and Test Plans
- Relevant Australian Standards
- Transport for NSW requirements where applicable
- Local council specifications and standard drawings
- Client specifications
- Project quality management systems
- Survey control and accuracy requirements
- Applicable WHS legislation and site procedures
Any discrepancy between the surveyed site conditions and approved design documentation must be raised with the Project Manager or Site Engineer before affected construction works proceed.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Qualification in Surveying, Spatial Science, Civil Engineering Surveying or equivalent.
- Demonstrated experience undertaking construction surveying within the civil construction industry.
- Experience with civil infrastructure, roadworks, drainage, kerb and gutter and public domain construction is highly desirable.
- Strong understanding of construction drawings, coordinates, reduced levels, grades and alignments.
- Experience preparing and maintaining as-built survey records.
- Competency using robotic total stations, GNSS/GPS and digital levelling equipment.
- Experience with survey and civil software such as:
- Trimble
- Leica
- Topcon
- Magnet
- AutoCAD
- Civil 3D
- 12d Model or similar
- Ability to import and export design and survey data including DWG, DXF, CSV and related formats.
- Current NSW Driver Licence.
- Construction White Card.
Desirable Experience
Experience working on projects involving:
- Public domain upgrades
- Streetscape construction
- Road reconstruction
- Deep-lift pavement construction
- Stormwater drainage
- Utility infrastructure
- Granite and concrete paving
- Kerb and gutter
- Retaining walls
- Concrete structures
- Bulk and detailed excavation
- TfNSW and local council projects
Registration as a Surveyor is advantageous but is not essential where cadastral surveying is undertaken separately by a Registered Surveyor.
Skills and Competencies
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- High level of survey accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong understanding of civil construction methodology.
- Ability to interpret complex construction drawings.
- Strong mathematical and spatial skills.
- Ability to identify design and level discrepancies before construction.
- Ability to work independently and prioritise survey requirements across active construction sites.
- Strong communication with project and site personnel.
- Good record keeping and document control.
- Ability to work within construction programmes and respond quickly to site requirements.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical capability.
- Commitment to quality, safety and accurate construction.
Key Performance Expectations
Performance will be assessed against:
- Accuracy of construction set-out.
- Accuracy and completeness of as-built information.
- Identification of survey or design discrepancies before construction.
- Timely provision of survey information to construction crews.
- Reduction of rework associated with incorrect line or level.
- Maintenance of survey records and control networks.
- Compliance with project quality and WHS requirements.
- Effective communication with Project Managers, Engineers, Supervisors and construction crews.
Authority and Responsibility
The Civil Surveyor is expected to immediately raise any survey discrepancy that could result in non-conforming construction.
Where design levels, coordinates, dimensions or construction information appear inconsistent, the Surveyor must not independently alter the design. The matter must be referred to the Project Manager, Site Engineer or relevant designer for instruction before construction proceeds.
The Surveyor is responsible for ensuring that survey information issued to construction personnel is accurate, clearly communicated and appropriately recorded.
Pay: $71,991.40 – $140,827.95 per year
Work Location: On the road
