Bid‑Well Operator and Bridge Foreman

Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. is seeking a Bridge Operator / Bid‑Well Foreman to safely operate the Bid‑Well bridge paving machine and lead a deck crew on civil projects in Missouri.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong field supervision, and a proactive safety mindset. You will inspect equipment, coordinate with batch plants, supervise finishers and laborers, enforce safety plans, and ensure conformance to DOT standards and project specs on concrete deck placements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of bridge or heavy civil concrete experience; Bid-Well operation preferred.
• Proven leadership of crews (operators, finishers, laborers).
• Ability to read and interpret bridge plans, grades, and specs.

Responsibilities

• Operate Bid-Well bridge paving machine safely and efficiently; perform daily inspections and minor maintenance.
• Lead and manage bridge crews; plan daily work and assign tasks; communicate with superintendent and engineers.
• Enforce all safety policies; conduct toolbox talks; track production and equipment usage.

Skills

Bridge experience

Leadership

Plan reading

Safety mindset

Travel readiness

Tools

Bid-Well equipment

Job description

Location Project-based / Regional Travel as Required

Position Summary

The Bridge Operator / Bid‑Well Foreman is responsible for safely operating the Bid‑Well concrete paving machine while supervising and leading a bridge deck crew. This role plays a critical part in delivering high-quality bridge decks by ensuring production targets, safety standards, specifications, and finish requirements are met. The ideal candidate combines hands‑on equipment expertise with strong field leadership and a proactive safety mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Bid‑Well & Equipment Operation Operate the Bid‑Well bridge paving machine efficiently and safely to place and finish concrete bridge decks. Perform daily inspections, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting on Bid‑Well equipment and related tools. Coordinate with batch plant, concrete suppliers, and pump crews to maintain consistent concrete delivery and quality. Monitor deck grades, slopes, and finishes to ensure compliance with project specifications and DOT standards.
• Crew Leadership & Foreman Duties Lead, supervise, and direct bridge crews, including operators, finishers, and laborers. Plan daily work activities and assign tasks to maximize productivity and efficiency. Serve as the point of contact between the crew, superintendent, inspectors, and engineers. Train and mentor crew members on proper procedures, equipment use, and safety expectations.
• Quality, Safety & Production Enforce all company safety policies and ensure compliance with OSHA and site‑specific safety plans. Conduct daily safety meetings (Job Safety Analyses / Toolbox Talks). Maintain high‑quality concrete finishes and address issues in real time. Track production, manpower, and equipment usage; report updates to the superintendent.
• Project Coordination Read and interpret plans, specifications, grades, and pour sequences. Coordinate finishes, curing processes, and clean‑up activities. Assist with planning pours, scheduling manpower, and preparing for deck placements. Identify potential issues ahead of pours and proactively communicate solutions.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of bridge or heavy civil concrete experience, with direct Bid‑Well operation preferred.
• Prior foreman or lead experience on bridges, structural concrete, or paving crews.
• Strong understanding of concrete placement, finishing, curing, and bridge deck tolerances.
• Ability to read and interpret bridge plans, grades, and specifications.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage crews.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and production.
• Valid driver’s license; ability to travel and work extended hours as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• DOT bridge experience.
• Experience with stringless control, grade control, or survey coordination.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification.
• Experience working with inspectors and engineers during pours.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to stand, walk, climb, and work on elevated bridge decks for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and perform physical labor as needed.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. (ESS) is all about owning what we do from start to finish. We’re a 100% employee‑owned multi‑faced contractor who thrives on delivering complex heavy civil projects by developing innovative infrastructure solutions. Our growing team of employee‑owners are experts in grading, excavation, underground utilities, bridge construction, asphalt paving, concrete paving, and pavement preservation.

Join the ESS team today!