Construction Trainee

Vaughn Construction; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaughn Construction is hiring for Construction Trainees to start in the field, performing general labor and learning the business from the ground up. You’ll work with our superintendents, project engineers, and trade partners on healthcare, higher education, life science, government, and data center projects.

This hands-on role treats the jobsite as the classroom. You’ll shadow field leaders, perform daily safety tasks, assist with layout, reading drawings, and documentation, and gain

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Reliable transportation and consistent attendance.
• Strong work ethic, coachability, and willingness to do the unglamorous work well.
• Interest in a long-term construction career, not just a paycheck.
• Ability to follow directions precisely and speak up when something looks unsafe or wrong.
• Basic math skills and comfort with a tape measure.
• Construction, trade school, military, or manual labor experience is a plus but not required.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
• OSHA 10 preferred; we’ll provide it if you don’t have it.

Responsibilities

• General labor: site cleanup, material handling and staging, demolition support, temporary protection, and housekeeping.
• Assist carpenters, laborers, and trade partners with layout, formwork, blocking, and installation tasks.
• Operate hand and small power tools safely; assist with equipment and material deliveries.
• Support daily safety efforts — housekeeping, barricades, signage, pre-task planning, and toolbox talks.
• Shadow the superintendent and project engineer on daily huddles, quantity tracking, deliveries, and quality walks.
• Help document field conditions: photos, daily reports, punch items, and material tracking.
• Learn to read drawings and specifications and tie what’s on paper to what’s being built.
• Take on progressively more responsibility — scheduling input, trade coordination, submittal and RFI support — as skills develop.

Skills

Strong work ethic

Coachability

Safety mindset

Willingness to do unglamorous work

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Vaughn is a regional commercial construction company operating throughout Texas. We are focused on building higher education, healthcare, and research buildings for commercial clients. As a sophisticated construction manager, we utilize the latest technology (including drones, laser scanners, 3D modeling, and 3D printing) to plan and build high quality, enduring facilities.We employ over 1,100 people, including 450+ professionals and 350+ craft workers, in nine offices across the state.Further, we treat all employees like family in a family-like environment where our people are proud to work. Ourproject teamsare committed to safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and work ethic. Vaughn’s leaders link our strategic priorities and resulting work activities to our core values, and we believe this drives excellence.

Vaughn aims to retain and develop individuals aligned with our core values by providing life-changing opportunities.

About the role

Construction Trainees start in the field performing general labor and learn the business from the ground up. You’ll work alongside our superintendents, project engineers, and trade partners on healthcare, higher education, life science, government, and data center projects.

This is a hands-on job first. The classroom is the jobsite.

What you’ll do

• General labor: site cleanup, material handling and staging, demolition support, temporary protection, and housekeeping
• Assist carpenters, laborers, and trade partners with layout, formwork, blocking, and installation tasks
• Operate hand and small power tools safely; assist with equipment and material deliveries
• Support daily safety efforts — housekeeping, barricades, signage, pre-task planning, and toolbox talks
• Shadow the superintendent and project engineer on daily huddles, quantity tracking, deliveries, and quality walks
• Help document field conditions: photos, daily reports, punch items, and material tracking
• Learn to read drawings and specifications and tie what’s on paper to what’s being built
• Take on progressively more responsibility — scheduling input, trade coordination, submittal and RFI support — as skills develop

What we’re looking for

• High school diploma or GED
• Reliable transportation and consistent attendance
• Strong work ethic, coachability, and a willingness to do the unglamorous work well
• Interest in a long-term construction career, not just a paycheck
• Ability to follow directions precisely and speak up when something looks unsafe or wrong
• Basic math skills and comfort with a tape measure
• Construction, trade school, military, or manual labor experience is a plus but not required
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus
• OSHA 10 preferred; we’ll provide it if you don’t have it

Physical requirements

Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs repeatedly, stand and walk on uneven surfaces for a full shift, climb ladders and stairs, work at heights, bend, kneel, and reach overhead, and work outdoors in Texas heat, cold, and variable weather. Must wear required PPE at all times.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.
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