Mass Earthwork Crew Foreman

Lead the Dirt Work, Teach What You Know, and Help Build the Next Version of This Company

About Gillett Excavating

In just ten years, we’ve grown from a small residential startup into a company trusted to build the infrastructure that millions of people rely on every day, most of it buried underground, unseen but essential. Gillett has developed into a full service heavy civil and mass earthwork company that takes pride in putting infrastructure in the ground, moving mass amounts of dirt quickly, and building our customers dreams from the ground up. Our core values are centered around our team and how we provide for each other and our clients. After years of structuring and building a stable footing in the industry, we are doubling down on our best investment yet, people. We believe hard work should lead to real rewards, accountability should create opportunity, and every project is a chance to raise the standard for what this industry can be.

How You’ll Contribute

Every artist has a medium, its either paint, clay, granite, or paper. Gillett Excavatings medium is dirt. We are looking for the individual who can bring a project to success by leading a team of highly skilled operators and laborers to shape and move dirt in an efficient manner that results in a finished product that is second-to-none. 

What You'll Get To Do

• Build $100K - $3M high-quality projects out of Earth's most basic material - DIRT
• Drive smooth, efficient production with advanced planning, coordinating crews, tools, materials, information, and a multi-million dollar fleet of heavy iron
• Turn raw dirt into the subdivisions and commercial sites of customers' dreams, owning the highest standards of quality
• Help train and bring out the best in a 2-8 person crew
• Create clarity and protect profitability by spotting changes and solving poor weather, soil, and groundwater conditions in the field, communicating change order opportunities early
• Keep your office support team informed with daily reports
• Take ownership of production quality and efficiency by operating equipment as needed
• Work with a team of high performers who are hungry to grow, proud of the work they put in, and care about doing things right, not just fast. A crew that talks openly about what went wrong as often as what went right, learning from the "bummers" instead of burying them.

What You Bring

• Deep experience (5+ years) in mass excavation/earthwork for subdivisions and large commercial sites (soil types and conditions, compaction, earth moving, topsoil management, cut-fills, soil stabilization and amendment, sub-base installation, specialty grading, and/or fine grading techniques)
• You can operate equipment when the team needs your help (dozer, excavator, grader, scraper, etc...)
• You know your way around blueprints, grading plans, cut-fill maps, grade stakes, project schedules, and survey equipment such as rotary lasers, slope lasers, GPS and total stations
• 3+ years of leadership, and you believe leadership is service. You guide your team, share what you know, and jump in wherever you’re needed without making it about ego or title.
• You can spot potential problems long before they blow up and figure out how to keep the schedule and work on track.
• You take extreme ownership of both quality and production efficiency, paying attention to cycle times, production rates, and anything that slows the work down without cutting corners to speed it up.

Even Better, But Not Required

• You've got a CDL-A
• You can perform site survey

Typical Schedule:  Our typical schedule consists of 5-10s with work potentially extending hours as needed with occasional Saturdays. Dirt Foreman may require after-hours work for proper preparations. Most jobs are in the counties north of Detroit and out west towards Wayne and Washtenaw Counties. Per diem for projects over 1.5 hours away from the office.

What’s In It For You

• Company truck
• Production bonuses
• Computer and/or tablet
• Team training resources
• Professional development and leadership training

Culture & Work Environment

• Semi-flexible hours and days off with year-round work close to home
• A culture built on accountability, consistency, and open feedback
• The owner works alongside the team, leading from the field as much as the office
• A company mindset focused on growth, constantly learning, improving, and evolving together

Tools, Tech, & Equipment

• Late model heavy equipment, including multiple-sized excavators, dozers, off-road haul trucks, wheel tractor scrapers, compactors, loaders, and more
• In-house survey capabilities
• Trimble GPS
• Large variety of crew support and safety equipment
• Constant evolution of updated tech, old school methods, and machines to drive project success and efficiency
• Modern estimating and project management tools, including Insite Elevation Pro, Bluebeam, PlanSwift, B2W, Dropbox, Microsoft Planner, and GanttPro
• High-end computers and software to keep performance fast and reliable
• A tech-forward team that’s always looking for smarter, more efficient ways to bid and build

Pay & Benefits

• 401K with 4% company match
• 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees, and 50% for family
• Paid bonus program tied to company and individual performance
• Two weeks of paid time off

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and creating an environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We comply with all applicable laws governing EEO and affirmative action, and we ensure that all employment decisions are made solely based on job-related qualifications and merit.