Senior Construction Surveyor – Heavy Civil Construction
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia | Full-Time, Permanent
Your Layout Keeps the Entire Project Moving
When the control is right, the layout is clear and the field information is accurate, crews can build with confidence. That is where you come in.
Harbour Construction is hiring a Senior Construction Surveyor to join our team in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia. This is a senior, field-based position for an experienced Survey Technician who can independently manage construction layout, field data, earthwork as-builts and survey coordination.
You will be trusted to plan your work, solve problems in the field and provide our crews with the accurate information they need to keep moving. You will work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Superintendents, Foremen and Operators—but you will take ownership of the survey function on your assigned projects.
Our work is focused on mass excavation, earthworks, grading, foundations, flatwork, road construction and large-scale site development.
If you are the person crews rely on when grades, control points or design information do not line up, we want to hear from you.
What You’ll Be Trusted to Do
- Independently plan and manage survey and construction-layout activities.
- Complete site-wide layout for mass excavation, earthworks, grading, road alignments, flatwork, foundations, anchor bolts, structures and site development.
- Complete topographic, control and as-built surveys using Trimble GNSS/GPS equipment, robotic total stations, laser levels and data collectors.
- Produce accurate, high-quality earthwork as-builts for mass excavation.
- Establish, verify and maintain project-control points, benchmarks, elevations, alignments, offsets and tolerances.
- Read and interpret civil drawings, plans, specifications, coordinate information and digital design files.
- Collect and process field data for quantities, cut and fill, volumes, progress tracking and project records.
- Organize and maintain survey field data, layout files, field notes, drawings, digital terrain models and as-built documentation.
- Use Trimble Access, Trimble Business Center, Civil 3D and related software.
- Import, validate and manage GPS machine-control files in Trimble software.
- Support machine-control workflows used in mass excavation and earthmoving operations.
- Identify and resolve control, layout, elevation, design and field-data discrepancies.
- Communicate survey information and technical direction clearly to project teams and field crews.
- Anticipate upcoming layout requirements and stay ahead of construction activities.
- Protect survey equipment and maintain complete, accurate records.
Built for Independent Field Work
We are looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership of accuracy and follows work through to completion.
- Can manage priorities without needing constant direction.
- Makes sound decisions when conditions in the field do not match the plans.
- Knows which problems can be resolved independently and which need to be escalated.
- Remains calm, organized and solutions-focused under pressure.
- Communicates effectively with technical staff, supervisors and field crews.
- Understands that accurate survey work affects safety, quality, productivity and the entire construction schedule.
- Takes pride in being the person the team can rely on.
Experience You’ll Bring
- A minimum of five years of progressive construction surveying experience.
- Substantial experience with heavy civil construction, mass excavation, earthworks, grading, road construction or large-scale site development.
- Proven experience independently managing surveying activities on active construction sites.
- Experience completing site-wide construction layout for earthworks, flatwork, foundations, anchor bolts and related heavy civil work.
- Experience producing earthwork as-builts for mass excavation.
- Experience completing cut-and-fill, quantity and volume calculations.
- Advanced proficiency with Trimble surveying equipment and software, including GNSS/GPS, robotic total stations, data collectors, Trimble Access and Trimble Business Center.
- Experience importing, validating and managing machine-control files.
- Strong construction problem-solving skills and sound field judgment.
- The ability to interpret drawings, grades, elevations, coordinate information and digital design files.
Education and Technical Training
- A diploma or degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Geomatics Engineering Technology, Civil Engineering Technology or a closely related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution.
- An equivalent combination of formal technical training and substantial senior-level construction surveying experience may be considered.
Additional Assets
- Experience with Civil 3D.
- Experience with drone mapping, quantity tracking, digital terrain models or other digital construction workflows.
- Experience leading survey activities on technically complex heavy civil projects.
- Experience supporting GPS machine-control systems.
- Experience mentoring junior survey or field team members.
What You Can Expect From Us
- Stable, full-time, year-round employment.
- Competitive compensation based on your experience and capability.
- Medical and dental benefits.
- A company-matched Group RRSP.
- Modern survey equipment and software.
- The autonomy to lead your work and solve problems in the field.
- A leadership team that values your technical judgment.
- Experienced crews who understand the importance of accurate survey work.
- Opportunities for advancement and promotion from within.
- Real projects, real responsibility and the chance to build a long-term career.
More Than a Place to Work
Harbour Construction has been building communities from the ground up since 1946. We have earned our reputation by investing in our people, equipment and operations for the long term.
Culture here is not a slogan on the wall. It shows up in how our crews work together, how our leaders support their teams and how people take pride in doing the job properly. We value people who take ownership, speak up, solve problems and follow through on what they say they will do.
Survey is not treated as an afterthought here. Your work will directly influence how our projects are planned, coordinated and built. Your experience will be respected, your judgment will matter and you will see the results of your work taking shape around you.
We are a real company built by real people—and we are looking for someone who wants to be part of it for the long term.
Work Environment
This position is based in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, and involves field work on active construction sites. You will work outdoors in changing weather, travel over uneven terrain, work near heavy equipment and excavations, and carry or set up survey equipment. Hours and overtime may vary based on project requirements. Typical hours will be 7:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, with the option to work more hours as needed.
A valid driver’s licence, reliable transportation and strong English communication skills are required.
Ready to Build Something Real?
If you are an experienced Construction Surveyor who takes pride in accuracy, solves problems and wants to be trusted with meaningful responsibility, we would like to meet you.
Apply today and bring your surveying experience to a team that understands how much it matters.
Pay: From $40.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- Are you legally authorized to work in Canada?
- Are you currently located within commuting distance of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, or willing to relocate for this position?
- Do you have a valid driver’s licence and reliable transportation to active construction sites?
- How many years of professional construction-surveying experience do you have?
- Have you independently managed construction layout, survey control, field data and as-builts on active heavy civil construction sites?
- Which Trimble equipment and software have you used professionally? Please include your level of experience with Trimble GNSS/GPS, robotic total stations, Trimble Access, Trimble Business Center and machine-control files
- Briefly describe a survey, control, elevation or layout problem you identified and resolved independently on a construction project.
Work Location: In person
