Civil Foreman

Sunstall Inc.; Michigan; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunstall Inc. is seeking a Civil Foreman to lead a field crew in executing civil construction safely and efficiently.

You will bridge the superintendent’s direction with daily operations, ensuring plans are communicated, resources managed, and projects completed on time and to spec. The role requires strong leadership, site coordination, and a hands-on approach to earthwork, utilities, and site development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of civil construction experience.
• Strong communication, organization, and leadership on site.
• Knowledge of earthwork, utilities, grading, and site development.
• Ability to read and interpret plans and specifications.
• Proven ability to coordinate crews and multiple activities.
• Commitment to safety, workmanship quality, and cleanliness on site.

Responsibilities

• Represent the company professionally on site with clear updates.
• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for superintendent and trades.
• Lead daily planning and ensure work is executed safely and on schedule.
• Review drawings and specs to prepare crews before work begins.
• Maintain safe, clean, organized work areas and protect completed work.
• Provide real-time feedback and drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with engineers, inspectors, and other trades to reduce rework.
• Direct safe and efficient operation of construction equipment.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Leadership

Earthwork knowledge

Underground utilities

Grading

Site development

Plan interpretation

Tools

Laser levels

GPS

Total station

Job description

CivilForemen

ReportsTo: CivilSuperintendent

Department: CivilCrew

Summary

TheCivilForemanleadsafieldcrewinexecutingcivilconstructionworksafely,efficiently,andtothehighestqualitystandards.Thisrolebridgesthesuperintendent’sdirectionwiththedailyoperationsofthecrew,ensuringplansarecommunicated,resourcesaremanaged,andprojectsarecompletedontimeandspecification.

KEYRESPONSIBILITIES

CustomerRelationships/On-SiteRepresentation

• RepresentGrossConstructionprofessionallyon-sitethroughstrongcommunication,jobsitecleanliness,responsiveness,andattitude.
• Serveastheprimaryon-sitepointofcontactfortheGCsuperintendent,inspectors,engineers,andothertradepartners.
• Providecleardailyupdatesonprogress,constraints,andupcomingneeds.
• Makesoundfield-leveldecisionsindependentlyandescalateappropriatelywhenimpactstoscope,cost,orschedulearise.
• Proactivelyaddressminorissuesbeforetheybecomerework,delays,orformaldisputes.

Blueprint,Scope&LayoutExecution

• Reviewdrawings,specifications,utilityplans,gradingplans,andupcomingworktoensurecrewsarepreparedandalignedbeforeexecution.
• Understandscopeboundariesandcoordinateconflicts,missinginformation,orplandiscrepanciesbeforeworkbegins.
• Verifylayoutaccuracyincludingelevations,grades,offsets,benchmarks,utilitylocations,andcontrolpointspriortoexcavationorinstallation.
• Understandtheintentoftheplansandspecifications,whileapplyingpracticalfieldjudgementtodeterminehowtheworkwillbeexecutedsafelyandeffectivelyinreal-worldconditions.

CrewLeadership&Development

• Trainanddevelopoperators,laborers,pipelayers,andgradepersonnelthroughhands-onteaching,coaching,andtaskleadership.
• Providereal-timefeedbacktodriveimprovement,accountability,andjobsitestandards.
• Identifystrengthsandgrowthopportunitieswithinthecreandcreatechancesforteammemberstostepup.
• Leadbyexampleinprofessionalism,quality,workethic,andcorevaluebehaviors.

DailyPlanning,Organization&Productivity

• Plandailyexecutionbasedonscheduledemands,manpower,siteconditions,andrequiredinspections.
• Ensureequipment,materials,pipe,aggregate,lasersystems,andtoolsarestagedaheadofproduction.
• Adjustplansproactivelyasconditionschange(weather,access,delays,manpowerissues).
• Maintainaclean,safe,andorganizedworkareawhilesequencingworktopreventdowntimeandrework.
• Protectcompletedworkfromdamageandcoordinateefficientlywithothertrades.
• Keepcrewsworkingfromaclearandcommunicatedplan–notreactingallday.

TechnicalSpecialtyExecution(Earthwork,UndergroundUtilities,SiteDevelopment)

• ExecuteallcivilscopestospecificationandGrossConstructionstandardswithafocusonsafety,accuracy,production,drainageperformance,andlong-termdurability.
• Leadfieldexecutionfromlayoutthroughcompletion,ensuringworkisbuiltcorrectlythefirsttimeandprotecteduntilturnover.

Earthwork&Grading

• Deliverproperlypreparedbuildingpads,parkinglots,roadways,andsitegradesthatmeetdesignintentandcompactionrequirements.
• Verifyexistinggrades,benchmarks,andcontrolpointsbeforeexcavationorfilloperations.
• Monitorcut/filloperationstomaintainproperelevations,slopes,drainage,andmaterialbalance.
• Coordinateproofrolling,compactiontesting,moistureconditioning,andcorrectiveactionsasneeded.
• Maintainstableworkareasandpropererosioncontrolthroughoutconstruction.

UndergroundUtilities(Storm,SanitaryandWater)

• Installundergroundutilitiesaccuratelywhilemaintainingsafety,production,andinspectionreadiness.
• Verifyutilitylocations,invertelevations,slopes,structures,bedding,andtrenchdimensionspriortoinstallation.
• Ensureproperpipehandling,bedding,backfill,andcompactionproceduresarefollowed.
• Coordinateinspections,pressuretesting,airtesting,andotherproject-specificrequirements.
• Protectexistingutilitiesandimmediatelycommunicateunforeseenconflicts.

SiteDevelopment(Roads,ParkingLotsandCivilCoordination)

• Executesitedevelopmentworkthatmeetsengineeringrequirements,drainageintent,andownerexpectations.
• Coordinatecloselywithconcretecrews,utilitycontractors,pavingcontractors,landscapers,electricians,andothersitetrades.
• Verifycurbgrades,pavementsubgrades,aggregatethickness,drainagestructures,ADAinterfaces,andtie-instoexistingimprovements.
• Maintainqualitycontrolthroughfinalwalk-throughsfocusedondrainageperformance,gradingaccuracy,accessibility,andconstructability.

EquipmentOperation&CrewCoordination

• Directsafeandefficientoperationofexcavators,dozers,loaders,skidsteers,rollers,graders,andsupportequipment.
• Coordinateoperatorsandgroundpersonneltomaximizeproductionwhilemaintainingsafeworkingdistances.
• Ensureequipmentinspections,maintenancereporting,andproperoperatingpracticesareconsistentlyfollowed.
• Promoteefficientequipmentutilizationtominimizeidletimeandunnecessaryoperatingcosts.

RiskAwareness&Coordination

• Anticipateandpreventcommoncivilconstructionrisksincludingutilityconflicts,failedcompaction,incorrectgrades,drainageissues,trenchsafetyconcerns,anddownstreamimpactstoothertrades.
• Coordinateproactivelywithengineers,inspectors,subcontractors,andothertradestoreducerework,protectschedule,andmaintaintrustwithprojectpartners.

COREVALUESINACTION(HowWeExpectThisRoletoShowUp)

SelflessLeadership

• Youleadfromthefrontbysettingthepace,tone,andstandardonsite
• Youprotectthecrewandprojectbymakingdecisionsthatprioritizesafety,quality,andlong-termresults–notshortcuts
• Youhelpthecrewwinbyteaching,correcting,andsteppinginwhenneededtokeepthejobmoving

OpenGrowth

• You’realwayslearning–betterexcavationtechniques,strongerplanning,improvedlayout,bettercommunication,andstrongerleadership.
• Youreceivefeedbackfromthesuperintendentorprojectteamwithoutdefensivenessandapplyitquickly
• Youcoachyourcrewinthefield,turningmistakesintotrainingmomentsinsteadofrepeatedproblems

WorkHard

• Youbringconsistenturgency,effort,andfocus–especiallywhenconditionsaretoughorthescheduleistight
• Youdon’tlettheday“happentoyou”-youplan,pushproduction,andkeepthecrewexecuting
• Youstayengagedfromlayouttocleanup,ensuringthejobsitestaysproductiveandprofessional

Ownership

• Youtreattheworklikeyournameisonit–grades,utilities,drainage,safety,andfinalquality.
• Youtakeresponsibilityforcrewperformance,jobsiteoutcomes,andthestandardbeingdelivered
• Youdon’tpassproblemsdownstream–ifsomethingisoff,youaddressitearlyandcommunicateitclearly

DirectDialogue

• Youcommunicateclearlyandearlyaboutissues,constraints,ormissinginformationbeforetheybecomerework
• Youholdthecrewaccountablethroughreal-timefeedbackandrespectfulcorrection
• Yougivestraightanswersonprogressandreadinesssothesuperintendentcanmakeinformeddecisions

QUALIFICATIONS

CoreValuesFit(Required)

SelflessLeadership–OpenGrowth–WorkHard–Ownership–DirectDialogue

Experience&Skill(Required)

• Minimum3yearsofcivilconstructionexperience
• Strongknowledgeofearthwork,undergroundutilities,grading,andsitedevelopment
• Abilitytoreadandinterpretplans,drawings,andspecifications
• Strongunderstandingofgrades,elevations,drainage,utilityinstallation,andlayouts
• Provenabilitytocoordinatecrews,equipment,andmultipleworkactivities
• Strongcommunication,organization,andjobsiteleadershipskills
• Commitmenttosafety,workmanshipquality,andcleanjobsitestandards

LeadershipAbility(Preferred/StrongAdvantage)

• Priorforemanorfieldleadershipexperience(orclearreadinesstostepintoaleadershiprole)
• Experiencetraining,coaching,andholdingcrewmembersaccountableinrealtime
• Abilitytoplandailywork,maintainproduction,andkeepthecrewalignedwiththeschedule

TechnicalStrength(Preferred/Bonus)

• Stronglayoutabilityusinglaserlevels,GPS,totalstation,orsimilarlayoutequipment.
• Knowledgeofutilitytestingrequirements,compactionstandards,trenchsafety,anderosioncontrol.
• Abilitytoidentifyconstructabilityissues,drainageconcerns,utilityconflicts,andcoordinationrisksbeforetheyimpactproduction.

Licensing

• Mustpossessandmaintainavaliddriver’slicenseandcleandrivingrecord

WHATSUCCESSLOOKSLIKE

• Crewsexecutefromacleardailyplaninsteadofreactingthroughouttheday.
• Earthwork,utilities,andgradingarecompletedaccuratelywithminimalreworkordelays.
• Grades,elevations,utilitylocations,andcontrolpointsareverifiedbeforeworkbegins.
• Equipment,materials,andmanpowerarecoordinatedaheadofproductiontomaximizeefficiency.
• Communicationwiththesuperintendentisproactive,withearlywarningsonschedulerisks,utilityconflicts,andchangingsiteconditions.
• Workareasremainclean,safe,organized,andinspectionready.
• Customers,engineers,inspectors,andGCsexperienceGrossConstructionasprofessional,prepared,anddependable.
• Crewmemberscontinuallyimprovethroughcoaching,accountability,andhands-ondevelopment.
• Civilworkpassesinspections,performsasdesigned,andsupportsdownstreamtradeswithoutsurprises.