Hydrographic Survey Manager

Are you ready to think about the future and dream big? At Port Houston, we're seeking individuals who are eager to tackle the most significant challenges of their careers. For over a century, we've been driven by vision and scale, delivering impactful initiatives that shape Houston and the region. Our sustainability and success hinge on attracting, retaining, and nurturing exceptional talent.

When you join Port Houston, you're embarking on a journey towards a fulfilling career path. Take the first step in the right direction—are you READY?

Position Summary

Supervises and manages all hydrographic surveying activities and acts as Port Houston representative regarding all hydrographic surveying matters. Ensures compliance with all applicable regulations and requirements, ensures projects are completed on time and within budget. Foremost, provides quality hydrographic surveying and mapping support to various Port Houston departments as well as outside consultants and contractors working on behalf of the Port Houston. Primary technical interface regarding hydrographic surveys with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Houston Pilots, consultants, and other counterparties.

Key Responsibilities/Duties

• Ensuring a safe working environment in the execution of all operations and tasks
• Creates marine survey plans and coordinates with survey crew and related consultants to ensure quality of work performed; performs a variety of field and office professional hydrographic surveying work and activities, including preparing survey sketches, researching deeds, performing boundary surveys, preparing survey stakeouts and processing survey data
• Research previous hydrographic survey data, develop new data, keep accurate field notes for use by engineers for plans and specifications of construction projects and meet with Engineers to coordinate findings; collaborate with contractors and consultants to establish survey control for projects
• Primary advisor on survey technology including system installation, maintenance and troubleshooting for data acquisition, using multibeam, single beam (high and low frequency), sides scan and other sensors
• Working with other staff and consultants as directed, perform periodic soundings of Port Houston terminals, prepare and certify bathymetric sounding charts, prepare dredge volume calculations and perform quality control checks of survey vessel, data collection equipment and field data
• Verify accuracy of hydrographic field survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites
• Review and QC deliverables including hydrographic survey data, detailed maps, and any other engineering or survey files
• Provides continued detailed analysis of shoaling patterns – including definition of fluid mud – within each of Port Houston’s channel assets; maintain continuous improvement focus on related processes
• Sign and seal all hydrographic surveys, maps, and survey related documents as the responsible professional in charge of hydrographic survey and mapping projects
• Supervise soundings of navigable streams at or near marine structures, working with survey crewmates, record data electronically for use on projects and planning efforts
• Manage all hydrographic surveying and drafting for construction projects
• Prepare hydrographic surveys and write metes and bounds descriptions
• Provide GIS consumable information for other departments
• Calculate final quantities and measurements on construction projects, based on requirements defined in project plans and specifications
• Act as Port Houston representative before official bodies, regulatory agencies, contractors, subcontractors and the public concerning hydrographic survey-related matters
• Coordinate with project manager, outside consultants and contractors to ensure dredging is completed successfully and in conformance with plans and specifications
• Participate in dredging design project planning meetings and site reviews
• Advise computer aided drafting (CAD) staff as needed and perform complex CAD services, including capital, special, construction, and design projects related to marine projects
• Prepare all marine real estate lease drawing exhibits
• Manage surveying all marine real estate leases at Port Houston terminals
• Implement hydrographic project specific safety and quality control protocols
• Process raw single beam and multibeam data and prepare final deliverables including reports, charts, exhibits and drawings, report creation, review and editing, drawing creation and review, detailed dredge cost estimation, provide support through drawing and/or exhibit preparations, and participate in coordination meetings with the stakeholders and resolve any concerns/disputes regarding survey data.
• Provide single beam high/low frequency and multibeam data processing and analysis, prepare survey deliverables, volumes and survey data QA/QC.
• Develop dredging cut/fill ratios, volumes for payment, and prepare final deliverables and contract documents.
• Evaluation of shoaling rate changes in the Port owed berths and adjacent channel utilizing multibeam, single beam, side scan, and sub-bottom hydrographic surveying, data reduction, analysis of geotechnical investigations.
• Calculation of volumes for dredge estimates and payment for maintenance dredging of berths. Provide dredging footprint in CAD, quantities and latest surveys to USACE or consultant for preparation of dredging contract.
• Works alongside other port staff including other survey staff, project managers and construction managers to achieve shared objectives
• Keeping up to date on survey industry data standards and procedures, continuing education, training and latest industry trends
• Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you)
• Perform other duties as required
  
  

Education/Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, Geodesy, Surveying, Geomatics, Oceanography, Marine Geology, or related discipline from a public or accredited private academic institution with 10 years direct experience in Hydrographic Surveying (required)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in preparation of deliverables, project management experience, managing field and office staff, and interacting with stakeholders required Texas Registered Professional Land Surveyor License (RPLS) or Texas Professional License (PE) required
• National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) -The Hydrographic Society of America (THSOA) Hydrographer Certification, or ability to obtain within 6 months required
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Behaviors

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of Surveying and Mapping, including governing Texas Statutes, Texas Administrative Code, County Knowledge of all inland and nearshore hydrographic surveying procedures and data processing techniques rules and procedures.
• Knowledge and experience with some combination of: Trimble Business Center, HYPACK HYSWEEP, QPS QINSy, CARIS, POSPac, Qinertia, ESRI ArcGIS, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Global Mapper, SURFER, SonarWiz
• Knowledge of geodesy, survey and tidal datum, establish and recover survey control
• Knowledge of geodetic datums, projections and coordinate systems
• Knowledge of GIS Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision
• Knowledge of survey equipment and methodology
• Knowledge of relevant survey laws, rules, and regulations
• Ability to perform written calculations and produce project documentation
• Ability to use modern office equipment
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Skill in written and verbal communication
• Organization, time management and prioritization skills
• Analytical problem-solving skills
• Decision making skills
• Leadership and coordination skills
• A current, valid Texas driver's license is required
• A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) must be obtained within 30 days of appointment, and be maintained for the duration of employment
  
  

Key Competencies Required

• Client Focus
• Coaching
• Decision Making
• Delegation
• Initiative
• Leadership
• Managing Performance
• Managing Priorities/Meeting Deadlines
• Planning & Organizing
• Problem Solving
  
  

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high. To apply, please go to porthouston.com/careers. Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.

Thank you for choosing Port Houston in your career search.

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.