UAV Manager

Would you like to be part of our winning team and get the opportunity to work on a variety of high-profile projects across the UK, Europe and the US?
Are you passionate about delivering positive client outcomes?
Want a role with constant opportunity for upskilling and progression?
Then Murphy Geospatial is the company for you!

About Us

Murphy Geospatial is part of Woolpert, a premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and consulting firm with over 2,000 employees and over 60 offices on five continents. Woolpert is a Global Top 100 Geospatial Company, a Top 100 ENR Global Design firm and has earned seven Great Place to Work certifications.

Murphy Geospatial captures, collates, verifies and governs geospatial data, enabling our clients to make informed decisions across the project lifecycle. Proven geospatial solutions through design, construction and inuse phases of projects across six key sectors; Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Energy, Utilities, Property and Natural Environment.

Founded in 1983, our highly developed workflows have been refined through the delivery of over 27,000 projects over 40 years. The Murphy Geospatial and Woolpert union enables numerous career growth and training opportunities within the business.

The Opportunity:

Murphy Geospatial is seeking an experienced UAV Manager to lead and develop our UAV services across the UK. This is a fantastic opportunity for a geospatial professional to play a strategic role in shaping UAV operations, driving innovation, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality survey projects. You will oversee all stages of UAV projects, from planning to completion, while managing a dedicated team of UAV operators and data processors.

The successful applicant will be reporting to the Survey & UAV Head of Department, and will be based out of our Watford head office.

What will I be doing in my new role?

Project Planning & Execution

• Plan, schedule, and deliver UAV survey projects in line with client requirements, budgets, and timelines.
• Manage UAV resources including equipment, personnel, and software.
• Ensure quality and safety standards are met across all projects.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, train, and mentor UAV operators and data analysts.
• Promote a strong safety culture and apply lessons learned from incidents.

Technology & Innovation

• Keep up to date with UAV technologies, sensors, and processing software.
• Advise on platform and sensor selection for projects.
• Review and optimise workflows to improve efficiency and outputs.

Client Relationship Management

• Build and maintain trust with clients through technical expertise.
• Ensure deliverables meet or exceed client expectations and align with Murphy Geospatial’s vision and values.
• Support and implement the “Geo-Cert” platform.
• Provide guidance on geospatial best practice and methodology.

Business Development

• Identify and pursue new UAV project opportunities to expand service offerings.
• Collaborate with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and partners to secure and grow business.
• Contribute to the development of proposals, tenders, and marketing initiatives for UAV services.

Strategic Growth

• Discover and implement innovative technologies for competitive advantage.
• Foster partnerships and initiatives to position Murphy Geospatial as a market leader in UAV deliverables.

Requirements of the role:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics, Civil Engineering or similar.
• Minimum 3+ years’ experience in the geospatial/surveying industry.
• Current CAA GVC certification and recent UAV flying hours
• Detailed understanding of UAV software platforms, such as planning, flying and processing packages
• Proven UAV project management experience, including client engagement.
• Strong knowledge of UAV technology, sensors, and processing software.
• Extensive commercial UAV flying experience
• Experience working with National Highways and Network Rail
  
• Full clean UK manual driving licence.
• Willingness to travel to project sites.
• Right to work in the UK.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Membership to appropriate institution (Desirable)

What key attributes do I need?

• Customer-focused with strong interpersonal skills.
• Passionate about the UAV/geospatial industry.
• Self-motivated, innovative, and technically aware.
• Strong time and priority management skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of budgets and deadlines.

Employee Benefits:

• Competitive basic package plus benefits

• Company Vehicle/Car Allowance (Role dependent)

• Access to company Healthcare/ Dental Scheme after 6 months’ service

• Allowance payments when working away

• Education assistance and career development

• Access to auto enrolment Pension Scheme

• Hybrid working opportunities (Role dependent)

• Annual salary review

• Early Friday finish

• Referral Bonus

• Service Awards

• Principal program: Earn the opportunity to become an owner of the firm.

• Death in Service Scheme

• Employee Assistance Program; Including Wellbeing

• Cycle to work scheme

• Relocation support (Role dependent)

• Companywide Social Events

Why build your career with Murphy Geospatial?

• Widely Recognised: We are widely recognised as one of the most experienced, professional, innovative, and technologically proficient surveying companies today.
• Cutting Edge Technologies: we use only the very latest technological equipment.
• Support network: We pride ourselves on our excellent support network of employees and management who are always eager to help each other.
• Equality & Opportunity: We are fully committed to a policy of equality of opportunity in our employment practices.
• Breadth of Experience: We branch across all sectors of industry giving our staff opportunities to gain a broad base of knowledge and experience.
• Learning & Growth: We support and develop our people to enhance their technical and personal competencies towards the achievement of their ambitions.
• Exclusive Clients: We are proud to work with a broad spectrum of exclusive clients.

Murphy Geospatial HR Philosophy

Our people are a critical part of our success and represent the value of Murphy Geospatial through their actions and decisions every day. We believe focusing on recruiting the best people and investing in their development helps us to create an environment where staff are engaged and committed, leading to higher levels of staff and client satisfaction.

Murphy Geospatial are proud to be an employer of equal opportunities. We encourage people with different beliefs, abilities, backgrounds and relevant life experiences to apply to our vacancies.

To all agencies: Please refrain from contacting any employee of Murphy Geospatial about this requisition. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of Murphy Geospatial’s application process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid, unless such agencies were engaged by Murphy Geospatial’s Talent Acquisition Team for this requisition and a valid agreement is in place.

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