Field Workforce Manager

T Musselman Excavating; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

T Musselman Excavating is seeking a Field Workforce Manager to lead and develop the company’s field crews. You will coach, mentor, and train operators and laborers, ensuring skilled, engaged teams across diverse projects.

The role requires hands-on leadership, safety focus, and collaboration with operations and HR to optimize crew deployment. As part of our team, you’ll assess competencies, design training plans, manage performance, and drive workforce excellence on civil construction sites.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience in civil construction and site development.
• Experience operating heavy equipment and training operators.
• Background in field leadership or people management.
• Experience with recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
• Ability to assess competencies and customize training plans.
• Knowledge of safety, best practices, and construction methods.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Proficient with basic computer apps for scheduling and documentation.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct leadership and people management to field staff.
• Observe performance, coach on-site, and provide mentorship.
• Identify strengths and skill gaps; design training plans.
• Understand diverse operations to align workforce with project needs.
• Coordinate cross-training and equipment familiarization.
• Assign crews based on skills and project requirements.
• Maintain relationships with field employees and support engagement.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and terminations with HR.
• Report workforce status to Operations Manager; collaborate with foremen and PM.
• Reinforce safety and quality standards; address performance concerns.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Hands-on civil construction

Heavy equipment operation training

Field leadership / people management

Recruitment / onboarding experience

Performance coaching

Training program development

Crew planning / assignment

Communication / interpersonal skills

Computer literacy for scheduling

Driver's license & travel ability

Job description

The Company

T. Musselman Excavating is a local, diverse construction company dedicated to delivering high-quality projects and services in our community. With a focus on teamwork, innovation, and efficiency, we are committed to providing our employees with a collaborative environment to thrive and grow. If you have experience in the excavating industry, project coordination and consider yourself to be an organized/detail-oriented individual with a passion for the construction industry, this position may be right for you.

Position Summary

The Field Workforce Manager is responsible for the leadership, development, and performance of the company's field workforce. Working directly alongside field teams, this role provides hands‑on coaching, mentorship, and training to strengthen employee capabilities, identify emerging talent, and build a skilled, engaged, and high‑performing workforce. A strong understanding of the company's diverse construction operations is essential to effectively assess employee competencies and support their development across different project types.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide direct leadership and people management to heavy equipment operators, junior operators/labourers, and skilled labourers, fostering a positive, accountable, and supportive work environment.


• Work alongside field teams to observe performance, provide hands‑on coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance, and support employees in developing the skills required to succeed.


• Identify individual strengths, skill gaps, and leadership potential, establishing training and development plans that support employee growth, career progression, and succession planning.


• Maintain a strong working knowledge of the company's diverse operations, including ICI construction, sewer and watermain installations, road reconstruction, demolition, deep excavation, and bulk earthworks, to effectively assess employee competencies and project-specific skill requirements.


• Develop a thorough understanding of employees' technical capabilities, experience, work habits, and interpersonal strengths, collaborating with Operations and Scheduling to recommend effective crew assignments and complementary skill combinations.


• Coordinate practical training opportunities, including cross‑training, equipment familiarization, technical skill development, and mentorship between experienced and developing employees.


• Build strong relationships with field employees through regular communication, recognizing achievements, addressing concerns, and supporting employee engagement, morale, and retention.


• Manage employee performance through regular feedback, coaching, performance reviews, progressive discipline, and corrective action when required.


• Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and terminations for the field workforce in collaboration with Human Resources and the Operations Manager.


• Maintain regular communication with the Operations Manager regarding workforce capabilities, employee concerns, performance issues, development progress, and positive contributions.


• Collaborate with Foremen and Project Managers to gather feedback on employee performance, identify training needs, and address skill‑related or behavioural concerns.


• Reinforce company expectations relating to safety, professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and quality of workmanship.


• Any other duties as assigned

Desired Skills & Experience

• Extensive hands‑on experience in civil construction, with strong working knowledge of ICI site development, sewer and watermain installation, road reconstructions, deep excavation, bulk earthworks and demolition.




• Proven experience operating a variety of heavy equipment, with the technical ability to train, coach and assess operators across multiple equipment types and sizes.




• Previous experience in field leadership or people management, preferably overseeing heavy equipment operators and construction labourers.




• Prior experience in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, performance management and employee development is preferred.




• Strong ability to assess employee competencies, identify training needs and develop operators and labourers through hands‑on coaching and mentorship.



• Thorough understanding of construction methods, equipment capabilities, jobsite safety requirements and industry best practices.


• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, provide constructive feedback, address performance concerns and hold employees accountable.


• Strong organizational, communication and problem‑solving skills


• Proficiency with basic computer applications and digital tools for employee documentation, scheduling and communication.


• Valid driver's licence and ability to travel between active jobsites as required.

T. Musselman Excavating is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to recruit and select applicants for employment solely on the basis of their qualifications, with emphasis on selecting the best-qualified person for the job. T. Musselman Excavating does not discriminate against applicants based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, or disability, or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, provincial, or local law. If accommodations are required during the application or interview process, please contact HR at 519-634-1113 and we are more than happy to discuss how we can accommodate your needs.