UAS Operations Supervisor

Field Operations Supervisor

The Field Operations Supervisor is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing day-to-day field survey operations, with a primary focus on safe, efficient, and high-quality data collection. This role leads multi-disciplinary field teams (Ground Survey, UAS, GPR, etc.), ensures adherence to safety and quality standards, and manages logistics, equipment readiness, and schedule execution. The Field Operations Supervisor maintains a working knowledge of geospatial data workflows to effectively support the Geospatial Solutions Supervisor and ensure continuity of operations when either role is unavailable.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Team Management:

o Lead and supervise a diverse team including GPR Technicians, Survey Technicians, UAS Pilots, and Field Survey Data Processing Analysts.

o Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and performance feedback to ensure team productivity, safety, and professional growth.

o Support hiring, onboarding, and training for new field staff, reinforcing company standards and expectations.

o Foster a positive, collaborative culture that emphasizes safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

o Demonstrate hands-on leadership by actively participating in field activities and modeling best practices.

Field Operations Planning and Execution:

o Plan, organize, and schedule field survey activities to meet project requirements, deadlines, and budget constraints.

o Coordinate daily and weekly work plans with project management, engineering, and geospatial teams.

o Ensure accurate capture of survey data using cameras, GPS, UAVs, GPR, and other field equipment.

o Monitor field progress against schedule, proactively identifying and resolving issues (access, weather, equipment, staffing, etc.).

o Continuously review and refine field workflows for efficiency, including optimizing crew configurations, routing, and daily production.

Safety and Compliance:

o Lead job safety planning, including pre-job briefings, tailboards, and site safety checks.

o Ensure all field staff follow company and client safety protocols, regulatory guidelines, and aviation requirements (for UAS operations).

o Investigate field incidents or near-misses, document findings, and implement corrective actions in coordination with safety leadership.

o Champion a safety-first culture, emphasizing hazard recognition, stop-work authority, and reporting of unsafe conditions.

Equipment, Fleet, and Logistics Management:

o Oversee the allocation, deployment, and care of field equipment, including survey instruments, UAVs, GPR units, cameras, and related hardware.

o Work with fleet management to schedule proactive vehicle maintenance, track incidents, and ensure roadworthiness of all vehicles.

o Support inventory control for field equipment, ensuring operational readiness, calibration compliance, and minimal downtime.

o Coordinate logistics for travel, lodging, and mobilization/demobilization of field crews as needed.

Data Capture and Basic Quality Assurance:

o Ensure that field data capture follows defined procedures, naming conventions, and metadata requirements to support downstream processing.

o Conduct basic field-level QC on collected data (e.g., completeness, correctness, positional checks) before data is handed off to geospatial processing teams.

o Collaborate with the Geospatial Solutions Supervisor to understand data requirements and integrate feedback from the office into field practices.

o Maintain a working knowledge of LiDAR, GPR, thermal imagery, and other field data types sufficient to support quality-focused field decisions.

Communication and Client Interaction:

o Serve as a primary point of contact for day-to-day field-related questions from internal stakeholders and, when appropriate, from client representatives.

o Communicate project status, risks, and field conditions clearly and concisely to the Superintendent of Field Services and project teams.

o Document field work using standard methods (daily reports, logs, photos, and notes) to support deliverables and incident tracking.

o Support business development efforts by providing field input on scope, schedule assumptions, and resource needs.

Administrative and Operational Support:

o Assist with planning and tracking field-related costs, including labor, travel, and equipment usage.

o Support document management for field operations (procedures, checklists, SOPs, training materials).

o Help coordinate high-priority meetings related to field performance, safety, and operational planning. o Perform other tasks related to the survey and field operations department as directed by the Superintendent.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

o Maintain a base-level understanding of geospatial processing, data pipelines, and platform workflows to ensure seamless coordination with the Geospatial Solutions Supervisor.

o Provide backup support for geospatial-related tasks at a basic level when the Geospatial Solutions Supervisor is unavailable (e.g., initiating data uploads, basic QA checks, or status updates).

o Share field insights that can improve geospatial workflows, tools, and service offerings.

Key Qualifications:

Education:

o Associate degree in Geomatics, Surveying, Geography, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.

o Strong understanding of field survey practices and safety requirements.

o FAA Part 107 Certification and/or knowledge of UAS operations preferred.

Technical Skills:

o Experience with traditional and modern survey equipment, including GPS/GNSS, UAVs, cameras, and GPR.

o Working knowledge of LiDAR data collection concepts and basic data quality considerations.

o Familiarity with GIS and geospatial concepts, with the ability to collaborate effectively with office-based geospatial teams. o Strong understanding of T&D infrastructure, including power lines, poles, and related equipment.

Operational Management:

o Demonstrated experience in field scheduling, crew management, fleet coordination, and equipment inventory management.

o Ability to work long hours in diverse weather conditions and travel frequently as required by project needs.

Software Proficiency:

o Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Pro, and basic project tracking tools.

o Familiarity with field data collection apps, UAS flight software, and basic GIS or mapping tools preferred.

Communication:

o Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience in leading crews and interacting with clients and internal stakeholders.

o Ability to clearly convey expectations, provide constructive feedback, and escalate issues appropriately.

Personal Attributes:

o Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple crews and priorities simultaneously.

o Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment under pressure.

o Commitment to safety, quality, and adherence to company and client standards. o Willingness to learn the fundamentals of geospatial workflows to provide effective cross-coverage when needed.

Training and Development:

o Experience training and mentoring field personnel, including new hires and cross-training between disciplines.

o Ability to communicate technical and safety information in a clear, practical way for diverse audiences

Equal Opportunity Employer is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.