Excavator Operator

Turner Mining Group; Sylacauga (AL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner Mining Group is seeking an Excavator Operator to join our production earthworks and mining teams. You will operate excavators to trench, grade, and move earth with emphasis on safety, accuracy, and production targets on outdoor sites.

You will perform pre-start inspections, read grade stakes, and coordinate with surveyors and crews to maintain smooth cycles. This role involves rotating shifts on remote industrial sites with strict safety protocols.

Qualifications

• Proven excavator operation on production earthworks, mining, roads, or heavy construction—not training-only experience.
• Ability to read grade stakes, basic plans, and spotter signals and hit specified depths and slopes.
• Current operator certification or equivalent local licensing, plus a clean safety record.
• Daily inspection habits and the judgment to shut down when a machine, slope, or utility is unsafe.
• Clear radio communication and the discipline to follow lockout, traffic, and exclusion-zone rules.

Responsibilities

• Load, trench, grade, and excavate to plan, tolerance, and daily production targets without rework.
• Complete pre-start inspections and report defects before they become downtime or incidents.
• Work with survey, supervisors, and ground crews so cuts, fills, and haul cycles stay coordinated and safe.
• Operate in mining, earthworks, road, and construction settings while protecting utilities, slopes, and adjacent work.
• Keep fuel, wear, and idle time under control so each shift delivers measurable output per hour.
• Leave the work area stable, clean, and ready for the next shift or trade.

Skills

Excavator operation

Reading grade stakes

Lockout/exclusion-zone rules

Radio communication

Safety mindset

Job description

Excavator Operator

Every cut you make decides whether the next crew starts on grade or starts over. This role puts you in the seat of machines that open pits, build roads, shape pads, and move earth where precision and production have to happen together. You will be trusted to protect people, equipment, and the schedule on jobs that cannot afford guesswork.

Performance Objectives

• Load, trench, grade, and excavate to plan, tolerance, and daily production targets without rework.
• Complete pre-start inspections and report defects before they become downtime or incidents.
• Work with survey, supervisors, and ground crews so cuts, fills, and haul cycles stay coordinated and safe.
• Operate in mining, earthworks, road, and construction settings while protecting utilities, slopes, and adjacent work.
• Keep fuel, wear, and idle time under control so each shift delivers measurable output per hour.
• Leave the work area stable, clean, and ready for the next shift or trade.

Environment & Resources

You will work with site supervisors, surveyors, truck drivers, and ground spotters on active earthworks and extraction projects. Machines, attachments, and maintenance support are provided; you report to the site supervisor and are expected to flag hazards and machine issues immediately. Work is outdoors, often in remote or industrial settings, with rotating shifts as the job requires.

Essential Qualifications

• Proven excavator operation on production earthworks, mining, roads, or heavy construction—not training-only experience.
• Ability to read grade stakes, basic plans, and spotter signals and hit specified depths and slopes.
• Current operator certification or equivalent local licensing, plus a clean safety record.
• Daily inspection habits and the judgment to shut down when a machine, slope, or utility is unsafe.
• Clear radio communication and the discipline to follow lockout, traffic, and exclusion-zone rules.

Role Selling Points

• Real production work across mining, exploration support, roads, and earthworks—not a single repetitive task.
• Technical crews who value practical skill and safe output over titles.
• Hands-on projects where your cuts are visible in the finished ground.
• Room to grow with operators who already know machines, ground, and schedules.