HDD Foreman

Construction Association of Michigan; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer-paid life insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Paid vacation after first year

Paid per diem

Job summary

Kingfisher Recruiting has been hired by a Horizontal Drilling company to source HDD Foreman for underground utility and infrastructure projects throughout Texas. This hands-on field leadership position directs a 4-5 person HDD crew, ensuring safety and production.

The role emphasizes bore planning, rig operations, and on-site supervision, with a focus on reading drawings, locating utilities, and maintaining safety. Travel and outdoor work are required, with competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of horizontal directional drilling experience.
• Experience leading or supervising an HDD crew.
• Vermeer D100x140 or comparable 100-class rig experience.
• Ability to independently operate an HDD drill and locate a bore.
• Experience with bore planning, utility crossings, drilling fluids, tooling selection, and hole-cleaning procedures.
• Working knowledge of dirt and rock drilling, pilot bores, reaming, and pullback operations.
• Ability to troubleshoot lost returns, pressure problems, steering issues, stuck tooling, poor penetration, and mechanical failures.
• Valid driver's license and at least 21 years of age.
• Willingness to travel, work overtime, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug/alcohol screening.
• Strong safety record and professional leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Plan daily work and assign crew responsibilities.
• Conduct daily safety meetings and job safety analyses.
• Lead rig setup, bore operations, reaming, pullback, and rig moves.
• Read construction drawings and develop bore plans.
• Verify utility locates, clearances, entry and exit angles, and cover requirements.
• Select appropriate tooling, reamers, swivels, subs, and mud systems.
• Maintain production without compromising safety or quality.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate crew members.
• Coordinate equipment, tooling, materials, and preventative maintenance.
• Communicate with customers, project managers, and field management.
• Complete daily reports, timesheets, inspections, and material inventories.
• Document delays, equipment problems, safety concerns, and jobsite issues.
• Stop unsafe work and enforce company SOPs, PPE requirements, and environmental procedures.

Skills

HDD leadership

Drill operation

Bore planning

Safety leadership

Travel willingness

Background check

Safety record

Troubleshooting drilling issues

Tools

Vermeer D100x140 rig

Job description

HDD Foreman
Texas - Full-Time | Travel Required | Per Diem Paid

Kingfisher Recruiting has been hired by a Horizontal Drilling company to source multiple Foreman for underground utility and infrastructure projects throughout Texas.

This is a hands-on field leadership position responsible for safely directing a 4-5-person horizontal directional drilling crew. The Team Lead must understand every crew position and be capable of operating the drill or locating when needed.

Note: This role is for horizontal directional drilling for underground utility and infrastructure projects. It is not an oil or gas well drilling position.

Responsibilities

• Plan daily work and assign crew responsibilities.
• Conduct daily safety meetings and job safety analyses.
• Lead rig setup, bore operations, reaming, pullback, and rig moves.
• Read construction drawings and develop bore plans.
• Verify utility locates, clearances, entry and exit angles, and cover requirements.
• Select appropriate tooling, reamers, swivels, subs, and mud systems.
• Maintain production without compromising safety or quality.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate crew members.
• Coordinate equipment, tooling, materials, and preventative maintenance.
• Communicate with customers, project managers, and field management.
• Complete daily reports, timesheets, inspections, and material inventories.
• Document delays, equipment problems, safety concerns, and jobsite issues.
• Stop unsafe work and enforce company SOPs, PPE requirements, and environmental procedures.

Compensation and Benefits

• $34-40/hour
• Paid per diem for travel
• Weekly pay
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance after 60 days
• Employer-paid life insurance after 60 days
• 401(k)
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation after the first year

Required Qualifications

• At least 3 years of horizontal directional drilling experience.
• Previous experience leading or supervising an HDD crew.
• Vermeer D100x140 or comparable 100-class rig experience.
• Ability to independently operate an HDD drill and locate a bore.
• Experience with bore planning, utility crossings, drilling fluids, tooling selection, and hole-cleaning procedures.
• Working knowledge of dirt and rock drilling, pilot bores, reaming, and pullback operations.
• Ability to troubleshoot lost returns, pressure problems, steering issues, stuck tooling, poor penetration, and mechanical failures.
• Valid driver's license and at least 21 years of age.
• Willingness to travel, work overtime, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug/alcohol screening.
• Strong safety record and professional leadership style.

Preferred Experience

• Two or more years supervising HDD crews.
• Rock drilling and mud-motor operation.
• Large-diameter or long-distance crossings.
• Highway, railroad, wetland, or environmentally sensitive crossings.
• Inadvertent-return prevention and response.
• DigiTrak or Underground Magnetics locating systems.
• CDL, PEC SafeLand, H2S, or TWIC credentials.