Commercial Excavation Foreman

Watson Excavating Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company truck provided

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Paid holidays & vacation

Annual performance bonuses

Job summary

Watson Excavating Inc. is seeking an experienced Foreman to lead a small excavation crew on local commercial, residential, and agricultural projects in the Turbotville/Towson area. You’ll translate plans into on-site action, keep the crew aligned to the schedule, and step onto machines as needed to move work forward.

We offer year-round, locally based work with potential to earn $100K+ annually. You’ll work with modern equipment, GPS-enabled tools, and a strong, close-knit team focused on safety

Qualifications

• 3+ years leading a crew as an excavation foreman.
• Ability to read plans and interpret the work in the field.
• Capable of performing takeoffs to ensure alignment with estimates.
• Willingness to pitch in on any role and train team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead a tight 3-4 person crew through clearing, demolition, grading, utilities, and paving prep.
• Coach crew in the field and track production against estimates.
• Translate Superintendent directions into clear on-site workflows and adjust as needed.
• Operate equipment as required to keep projects moving between sites.

Skills

Crew leadership

Machine operation

Read plans

Takeoffs & estimates

Tools

GPS rover

GPS-equipped machines

CloudRig

Estimating software

Job description

Earn over $100K on a typical schedule running a small crew and the machines. Local jobs that usually run year-round instead of seasonal shut-downs. Home nights and most weekends free.

About Watson Excavating Inc.

We’re a third‑generation earthwork contractor with deep roots and long‑term partners who trust our work. As a small, hands‑on team, we stay close to the field. You’ll often see the owners on site running equipment and pitching in with the crew. Our projects range from commercial and residential to agricultural work, covering clearing, demolition, grading, utilities, and paving prep.
How You'll Get To Contribute
We're growing and adding another excavation crew. You’ll lead that crew day to day in the field, carrying out the Superintendent’s plans and keeping work progressing the way it was estimated. In a small company like ours, Foremen stay close to the work and their crews, so you’ll help run the job day to day by keeping the crew aligned, adjusting the work when conditions change, and stepping onto the machines wherever the work needs you.

What You'll Get To Do

• Deliver excavation scopes on small commercial, residential, and agricultural projects by leading a tight 3-4 person crew through clearing, demolition, grading, utilities, and paving prep
• Build a competent crew by tracking production against estimates, coaching the crew in the field to address gaps, and training new team members
• Keep the crew aligned on the plan by translating the Superintendent’s direction into clear work and redirecting efforts when field conditions or progress start to drift
• Keep work progressing across short-duration projects that move between sites by stepping into different roles and operating excavators, bulldozers, rollers, or skid loaders as the work demands

Earn over $100K on a typical schedule running a small crew and the machines. Local jobs that usually run year-round instead of seasonal shut-downs. Home nights and most weekends free.

About Watson Excavating Inc.

We’re a third‑generation earthwork contractor with deep roots and long‑term partners who trust our work. As a small, hands‑on team, we stay close to the field. You’ll often see the owners on site running equipment and pitching in with the crew. Our projects range from commercial and residential to agricultural work, covering clearing, demolition, grading, utilities, and paving prep.
How You'll Get To Contribute
We're growing and adding another excavation crew. You’ll lead that crew day to day in the field, carrying out the Superintendent’s plans and keeping work progressing the way it was estimated. In a small company like ours, Foremen stay close to the work and their crews, so you’ll help run the job day to day by keeping the crew aligned, adjusting the work when conditions change, and stepping onto the machines wherever the work needs you.

What You'll Get To Do

• Deliver excavation scopes on small commercial, residential, and agricultural projects by leading a tight 3-4 person crew through clearing, demolition, grading, utilities, and paving prep
• Build a competent crew by tracking production against estimates, coaching the crew in the field to address gaps, and training new team members
• Keep the crew aligned on the plan by translating the Superintendent’s direction into clear work and redirecting efforts when field conditions or progress start to drift
• Keep work progressing across short-duration projects that move between sites by stepping into different roles and operating excavators, bulldozers, rollers, or skid loaders as the work demands

Typical Schedule & Earning Potential:

• Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Weekend work is generally avoided.
• Work on projects typically within about an hour of Turbotville, PA so you can stay local and be home nights.
• Crews typically average about 55 hours per week, though hours can vary depending on workload. That works out to over $100K per year. Overtime is consistent because projects move quickly and crews stay busy.
• Work usually runs year-round instead of seasonal shutdowns.
• Crews usually meet at the shop in Turbotville before heading to the jobsite, though sometimes employees go directly to the site.

Who You Are

• You bring 3+ years of experience leading a crew as an excavation Foreman
• You know your way around excavators, bulldozers, rollers, and skid loaders
• You can read plans and understand how the work should come together in the field
• You’re comfortable performing takeoffs to make sure work lines up with estimates
• You worked your way up through the field, understand the challenges of each role, and lead by example - stepping into any seat or task when the crew needs it.
• You’re someone people naturally like working with and who helps a tight crew work well together through long days in the field.

Even Better But Not Required

• You've got experience using a GPS rover for site layout
• You've operatedGPS-equipped machines and done basic troubleshooting
• You have a CDL in case equipment needs to be moved

What’s In It For You:

Role‑Specific Perks

• Company truck provided for work use
• Paid from clock-in to clock-out, including travel time

Tools & Technology

• Work with modern equipment, including a full fleet of new trucks and machines, GPS on four units, and data collector for setup and layout.
• Use practical software tools that support efficiency, including estimating and scheduling programs, GPS integration, and CloudRig for production tracking and field performance visibility.
• Be part of a company that’s constantly upgrading and improving systems, including the relaunch of CloudRig to better fit how our team works.

Stability & Local Work

• Enjoy steady, year-round work within an hour of Turbotville, PA. No long-distance travel or seasonal layoffs.
• Our tight‑knit crew sticks together, with most team members having two or more years here, a consistency thatkeeps training light and productivity high.

Pay & Benefits

• Company‑provided work shirts, hard hats, and gear allowance for Ariat Crew apparel.
• Full health coverage (single through family), plus vision, life insurance, and shortand long‑term disability.
• Company‑paid retirement: We contribute $1.50 per hour worked, whether you contribute or not.
• 10 paid holidays and 5 days of vacation to start.
• Annual performance bonuses with plans for a structured system that ties rewards to measurable results.

Culture & Growth

• Be part of a family‑run company where the owners stay hands‑on and involved.
• Join a team that values stability, respect, and collaboration. People here know each other, and it shows in the way we work.
• Follow a clear learning pathway with transparent pay ranges, expectations, and advancement steps.
• Get regular feedback and recognition, without unnecessary formality. Raises and reviews happen naturally as performance grows.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and creating an environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We comply with all applicable laws governing EEO and affirmative action and ensure that all employment decisions are made solely based on job-related qualifications and merit.