WHY BACKWOODS

At Backwoods, we value safety, integrity, accountability, cultural respect, and strong partnerships. This role provides an opportunity to bring your field experience and leadership to complex civil and pipeline projects while working closely with clients, project teams, and field crews to deliver successful results.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Project Manager, the Superintendent is the senior field leader responsible for the safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of civil and pipeline integrity projects from mobilization through project closeout.

This is a hands-on role for an experienced and versatile construction leader who knows how work gets done in the field. You will plan and direct crews, coordinate labour and equipment, manage subcontractors, solve field challenges, maintain strong client relationships, and step into the work when needed to keep projects moving.

The ideal candidate has built their career in the field, progressing from equipment operation, labour, and/or foreperson responsibilities into senior field leadership. You bring the practical experience to lead experienced crews, make sound decisions under changing conditions, and work closely with Project Management and Estimating to develop realistic execution plans, schedules, and resource requirements.

WHO YOU ARE

You are a seasoned field leader who understands that successful projects are built through strong planning, capable crews, the right equipment, clear communication, and disciplined execution. You are equally comfortable leading from the front, working with clients, solving problems in the field, and providing the practical insight needed to turn a project plan into successful execution.

You take ownership, earn the respect of experienced crews, and are willing to step in wherever needed to get the job done safely and successfully.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Lead Field Execution

• Lead day-to-day project execution from mobilization through closeout.
• Develop and drive daily and weekly work plans, sequencing, production targets, and field schedules.
• Direct forepersons, operators, labourers, subcontractors, and field activities to maintain safe and productive workflow.
• Monitor progress and productivity and adjust plans when required to maintain project commitments.
• Identify field challenges, site constraints, and potential delays early and implement practical solutions.
• Remain hands-on and willing to operate equipment or support field activities when required.

Lead Safety, Quality & Your Team

• Provide visible leadership and ensure company, client, regulatory, safety, environmental, and quality requirements are consistently met.
• Set clear expectations and hold employees and subcontractors accountable for safety, quality, productivity, and performance.
• Ensure crews are trained, equipped, prepared, and ready to execute the work safely.
• Lead and participate in toolbox meetings, hazard assessments, inspections, and other field safety activities.
• Coach and support field teams while building a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Plan Resources & Control the Work

• Plan labour, equipment, materials, and subcontractor requirements based on scope, schedule, production targets, and field conditions.
• Anticipate upcoming resource requirements and coordinate with Project Management and Operations.
• Maximize crew and equipment utilization while minimizing downtime and controlling project costs.
• Monitor progress against schedule, budget, productivity, and production targets.
• Maintain accurate field records and communicate scope changes, site conditions, delays, and emerging risks.

Support Estimating & Execution Planning

• Provide practical field input into construction methods, sequencing, production rates, schedules, logistics, and resource requirements.
• Support the development of realistic execution plans, preliminary schedules, and labour and equipment estimates.
• Participate in site visits, constructability reviews, pre-bid discussions, and project handovers.
• Help transition successful bids into field execution by validating schedules, sequencing, resources, and site requirements.
• Ensure proposed project commitments are practical and achievable from a field execution perspective.

Build Strong Client Relationships

• Serve as a key field contact for clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, and project stakeholders.
• Build trusted relationships through clear communication, reliable execution, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Keep clients informed of progress, upcoming activities, site requirements, risks, and changing conditions.
• Participate in site and coordination meetings and work collaboratively to resolve field issues.
• Represent Backwoods professionally and build client confidence through accountability and successful project delivery.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Minimum 15 years of progressive construction experience, ideally progressing through equipment operation, labour, foreperson, or similar field roles into senior field leadership.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading crews and coordinating construction activities as a Superintendent, General Foreperson, Senior Foreperson, or comparable leader.
• Significant civil construction and pipeline integrity experience, ideally within pipeline, industrial, or energy environments.
• Strong practical knowledge of earthworks, excavation, grading, backfill, restoration, site logistics, and safe work around existing infrastructure.
• Proven ability to plan labour, equipment, materials, subcontractors, sequencing, and production requirements.
• Ability and willingness to safely operate equipment such as excavators, dozers, loaders, skid steers, and related support equipment when required.
• Strong client-facing experience with the ability to build trusted working relationships and professionally resolve field issues.
• Experience contributing to estimating, constructability reviews, execution planning, schedules, production assumptions, and resource plans.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to adapt quickly as field conditions and project priorities change.
• A hands-on leadership style with a strong commitment to safety, quality, productivity, accountability, and successful project delivery.

Post-secondary education or technical training in construction management, civil construction, project management, or a related field is considered an asset; however, extensive progressive field experience is strongly valued.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Class 5 driver’s licence and acceptable driving record.
• Ground Disturbance Level II Supervisory.
• CSTS/CSO.
• First Aid.
• H2S Alive.
• Ability to meet client and project site-access requirements.
• Ability to travel and work throughout Alberta and Western Canada, including remote or camp environments and extended or rotational schedules as required.
• Legally entitled to work in Canada.