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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Working Foreman

💰 $55,000 - $95,000

ConstructionField OperationsSupervision

🎯 Role Definition

The Working Foreman is a hands-on supervisory role responsible for leading small to medium construction crews on site, coordinating daily operations, maintaining safety and quality standards, and ensuring work is completed on schedule and within budget. This position balances physical trade work with leadership duties—directing crews, interpreting plans, liaising with superintendents and subcontractors, enforcing OSHA and company safety policies, and documenting progress. Ideal candidates combine technical trade experience with proven supervisory capability and strong communication skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Construction Laborer with multi-trade experience
  • Skilled Tradesperson (Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Heavy Equipment Operator)
  • Assistant Foreman / Lead Hand

Advancement To:

  • Site Superintendent
  • General Foreman
  • Project Manager
  • Construction Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Safety Coordinator / Safety Manager
  • Field Estimator
  • Quality Control / QA Inspector

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead, mentor, and supervise daily activities of a crew of tradespeople and laborers, assigning tasks, verifying crew competency, and ensuring productive deployment to meet project daily and weekly schedules.
  • Read, interpret, and enforce construction drawings, blueprints, specifications, and change orders on site to ensure work conforms to design intent and contractual requirements.
  • Coordinate and sequence all on-site work, including trade interfaces, equipment usage, and material deliveries, to prevent schedule delays and reduce downtime.
  • Enforce company and project safety policies and OSHA standards by conducting daily safety briefings, site hazard assessments, and ensuring proper use of PPE and fall protection systems.
  • Inspect completed work for quality and compliance with project specifications; identify defects or non-conforming work and implement corrective actions and rework plans.
  • Conduct on-site workforce timekeeping, track labor productivity, and submit accurate daily reports, crew logs, and field documentation to the superintendent or project manager.
  • Manage subcontractor scope performance on site, including daily oversight, coordination of interfaces, verification of work quality, and reporting of any contractual or schedule issues.
  • Order, stage, and verify materials and consumables required for daily operations; coordinate with procurement and suppliers to avoid material shortages that could impact schedule.
  • Operate and oversee safe use of hand and power tools, small equipment, and, as required, heavy machinery; ensure operators are certified and equipment maintenance is current.
  • Set up work areas, temporary protections, and erosion/sediment controls; maintain a clean, organized site to reduce safety incidents and improve efficiency.
  • Lead installation, layout, and staking activities for foundations, formwork, mechanical/electrical systems, or finish carpentry per plan tolerances and established benchmarks.
  • Troubleshoot on-site construction challenges—unforeseen conditions, design discrepancies, and scheduling conflicts—by proposing practical, cost-effective solutions to the superintendent and project team.
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate crew members’ skills; conduct on-the-job training and recommend hiring, promotions, or disciplinary actions in line with company policies.
  • Implement quality assurance and quality control checklists, perform inspections at critical milestones, and document punch list items to support timely closeout and client satisfaction.
  • Coordinate with inspectors, engineers, and owner representatives during site visits, providing required access, documentation, and responses to RFIs and inspection findings.
  • Maintain accurate records for equipment usage, safety incidents, incident investigations, and near-miss reports; escalate issues to safety or project leadership when necessary.
  • Control on-site waste, recycling, and environmental protection measures; ensure compliance with permits, stormwater controls, and local regulations.
  • Assist with daily and weekly schedule updates, provide realistic crew production forecasts, and communicate potential delays or manpower needs to the superintendent.
  • Prepare and submit daily progress photos, as-built notes, and field sketches that support change order requests, progress billing, and future maintenance documentation.
  • Drive continuous improvement by identifying process inefficiencies, proposing workflow improvements, and participating in project lessons-learned and post-mortem reviews.
  • Enforce site security protocols, maintain tool and equipment inventories, and oversee the prevention and reporting of theft, vandalism, or unauthorized access.
  • Support emergency response and recovery efforts on site, including coordination during severe weather events, medical emergencies, or unexpected structural concerns.
  • Maintain and calibrate site layout instruments and measuring tools; verify accuracy of layouts and elevations before crews proceed with work.
  • Communicate daily with project leadership, subcontractors, suppliers, and clients to manage expectations, clarify priorities, and ensure front-line issues are resolved quickly.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in preparing manpower and material forecasts to support project procurement and scheduling efforts.
  • Participate in pre-construction and weekly coordination meetings to align field activities with overall project milestones.
  • Support the onboarding process for new hires, including safety orientation, site-specific training, and skills verification.
  • Maintain jobsite documentation, including permits, equipment inspection logs, and training records, to ensure audit readiness.
  • Help develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for repetitive tasks to improve safety and productivity.
  • Conduct periodic tool and equipment inventory audits and coordinate repair or replacement as needed.
  • Provide technical support for field-installed systems during commissioning and startup phases.
  • Support subcontractor invoice verification by confirming completed scope against billing and daily reports.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Crew supervision and on-site leadership: proven experience directing multi-trade crews, assigning tasks, and measuring productivity.
  • Blueprint reading and plan interpretation: ability to extract dimensions, details, and sequencing information from plans and specifications.
  • Construction layout and surveying basics: use of transits, total stations, laser levels, and site layout tools to set elevations and alignments.
  • Safety and compliance knowledge: working knowledge of OSHA standards, fall protection, excavation/trenching safety, and confined space protocols.
  • Quality control and inspection: performing punch lists, non-conformance documentation, and verifying work to specification tolerances.
  • Scheduling and productivity tracking: daily production reporting, crew hour tracking, and familiarity with look-ahead schedules.
  • Material handling and logistics: staging, stockpiling, and inventory control of building materials, rebar, concrete, and finish components.
  • Heavy equipment familiarity: exposure to excavators, loaders, forklifts, backhoes, and skid steers; ability to coordinate equipment operators.
  • Tools and equipment maintenance: preventative maintenance routines for field tools and small equipment.
  • Construction documentation and software: experience with daily reports, timekeeping systems, Procore, Fieldwire, Bluebeam, or Microsoft Office for field management.
  • Permit and inspector coordination: experience managing municipal inspections, permits, and compliance documentation.
  • RFI/change order processing: documenting field conditions, preparing concise RFIs, and supporting change order requests with field data.

Soft Skills

  • Clear, assertive communication with crews, subcontractors, and clients.
  • Leadership and mentorship: ability to motivate, coach, and develop field personnel.
  • Problem-solving under pressure and sound decision-making in dynamic site environments.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for complex multi-task days.
  • Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills to manage crew disputes and subcontractor interfaces.
  • Time management and prioritization to keep critical path activities on schedule.
  • Adaptability and resilience to manage changing plans, weather impacts, and scope changes.
  • Customer service orientation and professionalism when interfacing with owners or representatives.
  • Accountability and integrity in reporting hours, incidents, and quality issues.
  • Coaching mindset to transfer trade skills and safety culture to less experienced workers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School diploma or GED; equivalent combination of experience and trade certifications accepted.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's degree or technical certificate in Construction Management, Building Trades, or related field.
  • Trade school credentials, apprenticeships, or industry certifications (NCCER, union journeyman card).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Construction Management
  • Civil Engineering Technology
  • Carpentry / Building Trades
  • Electrical or Mechanical Trades
  • Heavy Equipment Operation / Diesel Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10 years of field construction experience, including at least 1–3 years in a supervisory or lead role.

Preferred: 5+ years of progressive construction experience with demonstrated crew leadership, strong safety record, experience on commercial or heavy civil projects, and certifications such as OSHA 10/30, First Aid/CPR, or relevant trade licenses.

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