FOREMAN - STRUCTURES

Description

BRIDGE MASTER ROLE DESCRIPTION

Structures Foreman

Construction Operations Family | Future-State Role Architecture
1. Position Information

Position Attribute

Structures Foreman

Job Title

Structures Foreman

Job Family

Construction Operations

Career Position

Specialty frontline leader at the Foreman level

Reports To

General Foreman or Superintendent, based on the approved project organization

Direct Leadership

Assigned Assistant Foreman and structures craft employees; may coordinate operators, crane crews, trucking, and subcontractor personnel within the work plan

Primary Specialty

Bridge and heavy civil structures construction

Typical Assignment

Complete daily operation of an assigned structures crew and defined structural work package

Work Environment

Field-based heavy civil construction involving active traffic, work at height, over-water or limited-access conditions, cranes and rigging, concrete operations, excavations, temporary works, heavy equipment, noise, weather, and changing site conditions

Employment Classification

To be determined by UIG based on wage-and-hour requirements and final position administration

2. Role Summary

The Structures Foreman owns the safe, productive, and quality-compliant daily operation of an assigned structures crew. The role converts the Superintendent's or General Foreman's work-package plan into a complete crew plan covering labor, equipment, materials, access, temporary works, survey, inspection, lifting, concrete readiness, production targets, and daily documentation. The Structures Foreman directly leads the crew, makes routine execution decisions within approved plans and delegated authority, and remains accountable for the complete crew result. Unlike the Assistant Foreman, who leads bounded activities under direction, the Structures Foreman owns the crew's full daily work plan and performance.
3. Role Purpose

The role provides one accountable frontline leader for structural construction execution. It protects employees, the public, completed work, schedule commitments, and project cost by ensuring the crew begins with a buildable plan and performs each structural operation in the correct sequence. The Structures Foreman connects field craft execution with project engineering, survey, quality, safety, equipment, and Superintendent direction while developing Assistant Foremen and skilled craft employees for increased responsibility.
4. Typical Project Profile

Profile Dimension

Structures Foreman

Primary Mission

Lead an assigned structures crew to execute the complete daily plan safely, productively, and in conformance with structural plans, specifications, tolerances, engineered temporary works, and inspection requirements

Typical Project Value

May be assigned on projects of any value; role scope is determined by crew size, technical work package, risk, access, and structural complexity rather than total contract value

Project Duration

Follows the assigned structures phase, work package, or project assignment

Project Types

Bridges, interchanges, transportation structures, retaining structures, foundations, drainage or utility structures, and related heavy civil infrastructure

Typical Structural Scope

May include formwork, falsework, overhang systems, reinforcing steel, embeds, structural concrete, piles or drilled foundations, piers, caps, abutments, walls, girders, structural steel, bearings, joints, decks, barriers, and structural demolition as assigned

Delivery Methods

May support bid-build, design-build, CM/GC, progressive design-build, joint venture, or other UIG delivery methods

Work Environment

Active structures work with changing access, elevations, traffic, lifting operations, inspection points, concrete placements, weather, subcontractors, and concurrent operations

Leadership Responsibility

Owns the complete daily performance of one assigned structures crew and directly leads Assistant Foremen and craft employees

Primary Internal Relationships

General Foreman, Superintendent, Assistant Foreman, craft employees, Field Engineers, Project Engineers, Project Management, Safety, Quality, Survey, Equipment, scheduling, and project controls personnel

Primary External Relationships

Inspectors, owner representatives, testing agencies, suppliers, concrete producers, trucking resources, crane providers, and subcontractor supervisors within delegated authority

Primary Development Focus

Multi-day crew planning, structural sequencing, technical judgment, production and cost awareness, Assistant Foreman development, and readiness to coordinate multiple crews as a General Foreman

5. Primary Areas of Ownership
5.1 Safety Leadership and Structural Work Planning

Purpose: Build and communicate a complete crew plan that controls the hazards created by structural work, temporary works, lifting, elevation, traffic, excavation, concrete operations, and changing field conditions.
Ownership Expectations

• Develop the daily crew plan from the approved work package, look-ahead schedule, drawings, specifications, means and methods, engineered temporary-work requirements, and Superintendent direction

• Lead the job hazard analysis, pre-task planning, toolbox discussion, and crew briefing for each planned operation and significant change in conditions

• Verify required access, fall protection, scaffolds, work platforms, excavation protection, traffic controls, lifting controls, rigging, exclusion zones, permits, and emergency provisions before exposure begins

• Confirm that employees, operators, riggers, signal persons, competent persons, and other assigned personnel hold the qualifications required for their work

• Coordinate critical and non-critical lifting activities in accordance with the approved lift plan and assigned project responsibilities

• Inspect structural work areas throughout the shift and correct or stop work when conditions differ from the approved plan or create an uncontrolled exposure

• Report incidents, near misses, property damage, environmental releases, unsafe conditions, and corrective actions through the established project process
Performance Expectations

• Begins each operation with a crew plan that addresses sequence, access, hazards, controls, qualifications, and emergency considerations

• Maintains fall protection, rigging, traffic, excavation, temporary-work, and exclusion-zone controls as conditions change

• Stops work promptly when engineered requirements, lifting controls, access systems, or other critical protections are incomplete or compromised

• Corrects observable unsafe acts consistently and involves the Superintendent or Safety when additional authority or technical support is required

• Completes required safety documentation accurately and communicates changes before affected employees resume work
5.2 Crew Leadership and Daily Production

Purpose: Translate the assigned work package into coordinated crew execution that meets daily production commitments without compromising safety, quality, or workforce accountability.
Ownership Expectations

• Establish the daily work sequence, crew composition, individual assignments, production target, handoffs, and expected completion condition

• Direct the assigned Assistant Foreman and craft employees and hold them accountable for safe behavior, attendance, work pace, workmanship, and equipment care

• Coordinate operators, crane support, trucking, deliveries, subcontractor interfaces, and supporting crews required to maintain the structures work front

• Monitor installed quantities, cycle times, labor use, equipment utilization, and remaining work throughout the shift

• Resequence routine activities within delegated authority to address access, weather, inspection, delivery, equipment, or concurrent-work constraints

• Identify production variance early and implement crew-level corrective action or escalate the need for broader recovery support

• Maintain orderly startup, breaks, transitions, housekeeping, shift turnover, and securement of incomplete structural work
Performance Expectations

• Keeps the complete crew aligned with the current plan, structural sequence, and production target

• Uses labor and equipment in a manner consistent with the approved crew plan and expected production rate

• Recognizes lost production, crew imbalance, access conflict, or equipment constraint early enough to take corrective action

• Completes planned quantities and milestones or provides timely, fact-based information supporting recovery decisions

• Maintains a controlled work front without avoidable idle time, conflicting direction, congestion, or incomplete turnover
5.3 Structural Construction and Technical Execution

Purpose: Ensure the crew performs each structural operation using the approved sequence, current construction information, engineered requirements, and technically sound field methods.
Ownership Expectations

• Review applicable contract drawings, specifications, shop drawings, erection plans, formwork or falsework plans, reinforcing details, concrete requirements, work packages, and approved revisions before directing work

• Plan and lead assigned structural operations involving foundations, piles, drilled elements, formwork, falsework, overhang systems, reinforcing steel, embeds, concrete, girders, structural steel, bearings, joints, decks, walls, barriers, or demolition as applicable

• Verify that formwork, shoring, bracing, falsework, overhang brackets, work platforms, and temporary supports are installed and used in accordance with approved engineered information

• Coordinate girder, structural steel, precast, form, rebar, and material handling activities with the approved lifting plan and qualified lifting personnel

• Confirm that required line, grade, elevation, dimensions, clearances, orientation, bearing locations, embed locations, and construction tolerances are understood before installation

• Protect incomplete structures, temporary stability, installed components, survey control, and adjacent work throughout construction sequencing

• Stop and escalate work when drawings conflict, engineered information is incomplete, field conditions differ, or the approved method cannot be executed as planned
Performance Expectations

• Uses the current approved construction information and communicates applicable details accurately to the crew

• Maintains the required structural sequence, temporary stability, bracing, access, and protection throughout execution

• Identifies dimensional, constructability, access, or sequencing conflicts before they create rework or unsafe conditions

• Obtains project-team or engineering direction rather than improvising when technical requirements are unclear or conflicting

• Completes structural activities within required tolerances and in a condition ready for the next operation
5.4 Quality Control, Survey, Inspection, and Concrete Readiness

Purpose: Build quality into the work by coordinating layout, hold points, testing, inspection, pre-pour verification, and correction before deficiencies are concealed or repeated.
Ownership Expectations

• Coordinate survey needs, control, layout, elevations, offsets, and verification early enough to support planned structures work

• Establish crew-level quality checks at practical hold points for excavation, foundations, forms, falsework, reinforcing steel, embeds, bearings, girders, concrete, dimensions, finish, and structural alignment as applicable

• Complete or support required pre-pour and pre-erection checks covering form condition, bracing, dimensions, cleanliness, reinforcing, cover, embeds, blockouts, access, placement sequence, concrete information, testing, and inspection readiness

• Coordinate required inspections and testing with Project Engineering, Quality, inspectors, survey, testing agencies, and the concrete supplier through the established project process

• Protect inspection status, test locations, samples, curing requirements, installed components, and completed structural work from damage or unauthorized continuation

• Correct crew-level workmanship issues and document or escalate nonconforming conditions that require engineering, quality, or management disposition

• Prevent work from being covered, loaded, stripped, released, or advanced before required acceptance or strength criteria are confirmed
Performance Expectations

• Presents work for inspection in a complete, clean, accessible, and verifiable condition

• Identifies quality concerns before they become concealed, repeated, or costly to correct

• Maintains required dimensions, elevations, tolerances, concrete finish, component alignment, and workmanship within the assigned scope

• Completes required checklists and quality records accurately and before the applicable hold point is released

• Limits avoidable rework, rejected work, missed inspections, and delays caused by incomplete preparation
5.5 Labor, Equipment, Materials, and Site Logistics

Purpose: Provide the labor, equipment, materials, access, staging, and logistics needed to execute the structures plan while protecting project resources from waste and damage.
Ownership Expectations

• Determine daily crew size, skill mix, operator support, equipment, tools, rigging, consumables, materials, access, and delivery requirements from the planned operation

• Communicate upcoming labor, crane, equipment, concrete, rebar, formwork, structural component, trucking, and supplier needs through the project planning process

• Coordinate staging, laydown, haul routes, crane setup, delivery timing, pump access, concrete washout, material movement, and work-area access with affected project leaders

• Verify that tools, rigging, form systems, temporary-work components, access equipment, and construction equipment have required inspections and are suitable for planned use

• Protect reinforcing steel, forms, embeds, structural components, bearings, concrete materials, tools, equipment, and completed work from damage, contamination, loss, or unnecessary handling

• Track material consumption, equipment hours, concrete quantities, deliveries, waste, and emerging shortages within the crew scope

• Maintain organized work areas, controlled storage, safe access, equipment securement, and end-of-shift protection of incomplete work
Performance Expectations

• Begins planned work with the resources reasonably identifiable through effective Foreman-level planning

• Coordinates major deliveries, concrete placements, crane needs, and access requirements without avoidable crew interruption

• Uses labor, materials, form systems, rigging, and equipment consistently with the plan and protects them from avoidable loss or damage

• Identifies shortages, breakdowns, delivery risk, or access conflicts early enough to support replacement or resequencing

• Maintains an orderly structures work area that supports safe movement, inspection, production, and material control
5.6 Schedule, Cost, Documentation, and Change Conditions

Purpose: Give project leadership reliable information to understand crew performance, update short-term plans, protect cost, and preserve facts related to delay, change, or differing conditions.
Ownership Expectations

• Contribute detailed crew sequencing, durations, quantities, resource needs, inspection points, and constraints to the project look-ahead planning process

• Translate the approved look-ahead plan into daily crew commitments and communicate changes affecting planned milestones

• Track employee time, equipment hours, cost codes, installed quantities, concrete quantities, deliveries, trucking, material use, delays, and completed work each shift

• Complete crew daily reports, timecards, equipment records, quantity reports, safety documentation, quality checklists, delivery records, and required photographs by established deadlines

• Compare actual production with the expected crew rate and implement corrective action or provide reliable information supporting a recovery plan

• Identify potential extra work, differing conditions, design conflicts, owner or inspector direction, subcontractor interference, damaged work, and delay events before proceeding beyond the point where facts could be lost

• Preserve factual field information and follow project authorization requirements without directing unauthorized extra work or making commercial commitments
Performance Expectations

• Provides daily records that reconcile reasonably with employees, equipment, cost codes, deliveries, and installed quantities

• Communicates schedule variance, production loss, extra-work conditions, and emerging constraints early enough for project action

• Uses production information to improve crew planning rather than reporting results after recovery is no longer practical

• Completes required documentation accurately, on time, and through the established UIG project systems

• Maintains factual records and operates within delegated authority when changed conditions or potential entitlement arise
5.7 Coordination, Communication, and Workforce Development

Purpose: Align the structures crew with project stakeholders and build the next level of field leadership through clear direction, disciplined coordination, and work-specific development.
Ownership Expectations

• Coordinate daily priorities and constraints with the General Foreman or Superintendent and communicate resulting direction to the complete crew

• Coordinate routine structures matters with Project Engineering, Survey, Quality, Safety, Equipment, inspectors, suppliers, subcontractors, and adjacent Foremen within delegated authority

• Lead shift huddles, handoffs, coordination discussions, and end-of-day reviews with concise information on status, risk, resources, and next work

• Set clear expectations for Assistant Foremen and craft employees covering safe behavior, attendance, production, workmanship, documentation, equipment care, and professional conduct

• Coach employees on approved structural methods, plan interpretation, quality checks, production practices, and use of tools and equipment

• Identify skill gaps, recurring errors, conduct concerns, and employees ready for expanded responsibility and communicate them through the established leadership process

• Develop the Assistant Foreman by delegating bounded planning and leadership assignments, observing execution, and providing timely feedback
Performance Expectations

• Provides the crew and project leaders with clear, timely, factual, and consistent information

• Coordinates inspections, layout, deliveries, supporting operations, and adjacent work without avoidable conflict or unauthorized commitments

• Addresses routine employee performance and workmanship issues promptly and escalates matters beyond Foreman authority

• Demonstrates measurable improvement in Assistant Foreman and craft capability through work-specific coaching and delegated assignments

• Maintains professional working relationships while protecting UIG requirements, the approved plan, and delegated decision boundaries
6. Success Measures

Measure

What Successful Performance Looks Like

Safety Execution

Structures work begins and continues with understood hazards, qualified personnel, approved controls, and timely correction or escalation of changing conditions

Crew Production

The complete crew progresses against the planned sequence, installed quantity, cycle time, and milestone with variance recognized and addressed early

Structural Quality

Installed work meets plans, specifications, engineered requirements, dimensions, tolerances, testing, inspection, and workmanship standards with limited avoidable rework

Planning Reliability

Labor, materials, equipment, access, lifting, survey, inspection, temporary works, and supporting resources are identified early enough to support execution

Schedule Contribution

Daily crew commitments align with the look-ahead plan and developing constraints are communicated before they prevent planned work

Cost and Resource Control

Crew labor, equipment, materials, form systems, structural components, and consumables are used effectively and protected from avoidable waste, damage, and idle time

Documentation

Time, equipment, cost codes, quantities, deliveries, delays, quality records, safety records, and changed-condition facts are complete, timely, and reliable

Coordination

Survey, inspections, testing, lifting, concrete, suppliers, subcontractors, and adjacent operations are coordinated without avoidable delay or conflicting direction

Crew Leadership

Assistant Foremen and craft employees receive clear direction, timely correction, consistent accountability, and work-specific development

Readiness for Increased Responsibility

Consistently owns the complete crew result and demonstrates the ability to coordinate multiple crews, Foremen, or related structures work fronts

7. Role Differentiators

Dimension

Structures Foreman

General Foreman

Primary Scope

Owns one assigned structures crew and its complete daily work plan

Owns multiple crews, Foremen, or an integrated structures work package

Planning

Builds the daily crew plan and contributes detailed input to look-ahead planning

Integrates multi-crew sequencing, resources, temporary works, inspections, and milestones across the work package

Leadership

Directly leads Assistant Foremen and craft employees

Leads, coaches, and holds multiple Foremen accountable

Production

Owns crew quantities, cycle times, labor use, equipment use, and corrective action

Balances production and resources across crews and resolves work-package constraints

Technical Complexity

Leads defined structures operations using approved plans and means and methods

Coordinates multiple concurrent structural operations and resolves cross-crew sequencing or constructability issues

Safety and Risk

Owns crew-level planning, controls, correction, and stop-work decisions

Coordinates high-risk activities and control consistency across multiple crews or work fronts

Dimension

Structures Foreman

General Foreman

Quality

Owns crew conformance, hold-point preparation, inspection readiness, and correction

Integrates quality, survey, testing, inspection, and turnover requirements across the structures work package

Cost Accountability

Controls direct crew labor, equipment, material use, and production performance

Manages multi-crew productivity, resource allocation, cost exposure, and recovery actions within the assigned work package

Schedule Accountability

Executes daily commitments aligned with the approved look-ahead plan

Develops and protects the integrated multi-crew look-ahead sequence

Decision Authority

Makes independent crew-level execution decisions within approved requirements

Makes work-package decisions affecting multiple Foremen, crews, and supporting functions

Coordination

Coordinates routine crew matters with project support and external parties

Integrates project-wide structures coordination with Superintendents, Project Management, engineering, inspectors, and subcontractors

Development Responsibility

Develops Assistant Foremen and skilled craft employees

Develops Foremen and strengthens leadership coverage across structures operations

8. Promotion Readiness Indicators

Progression to General Foreman reflects demonstrated capability and an organizational need for the higher-level role. Readiness is not established by tenure alone.

• Leads the complete daily performance of an assigned structures crew without requiring the Superintendent to rebuild routine crew plans or recover preventable breakdowns

• Develops reliable multi-day plans covering sequence, labor, equipment, materials, access, temporary works, lifting, survey, inspections, concrete, hazards, and production targets

• Demonstrates technical command of the structural operations assigned by UIG and recognizes when engineering, quality, safety, survey, or Superintendent support is required

• Interprets drawings, specifications, shop drawings, engineered plans, layout, elevations, tolerances, and inspection requirements accurately

• Uses production, labor, equipment, material, and quantity information to protect cost and implement timely corrective action

• Coordinates multiple supporting resources and adjacent operations without conflicting direction, unauthorized commitments, or preventable delay

• Maintains reliable documentation for daily work, cost codes, installed quantities, quality checks, safety, delays, changed conditions, and potential extra work

• Develops an Assistant Foreman who can successfully lead bounded crew activities and provide temporary coverage when formally delegated

• Coordinates multiple crews or related work fronts successfully during formally delegated assignments

• Resolves routine cross-crew sequencing, access, resource, and production conflicts using sound field judgment

Demonstrates readiness for General Foreman accountability through clear work-package reporting, successful delegated multi-crew leadership

UIG does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms

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