Mechanic-Level Carpenter / Labor Foreman

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

The Mechanic-Level Carpenter / Labor Foreman is responsible for performing skilled carpentry work, supporting daily site operations, operating equipment when qualified, assisting with labor coordination, and helping maintain a safe, organized, and productive construction site.

This position requires a hands-on carpenter with strong field experience, good judgment, leadership ability, and the flexibility to both perform work directly and supervise labor activities. The ideal candidate can act as a Labor Foreman approximately 50% of the time while also performing safety carpentry, temporary protection, layout support, site logistics, and general field tasks as needed.

This role is especially focused on safety-related carpentry, temporary protection, site access, barricades, fall protection support, housekeeping coordination, material movement, equipment operation, and training less-experienced workers. The Mechanic-Level Carpenter / Labor Foreman must be comfortable working in a fast-paced construction environment, coordinating with superintendents and subcontractors, and helping drive safe, efficient field execution.

Reports to: Superintendent / Senior Superintendent

Wage Status: Non-Exempt or Exempt, depending on final classification and company policy

Job Responsibilities

Project Knowledge

• Understand project logistics, site access routes, work areas, staging locations, material storage areas, and safety requirements.
• Review daily work plans with the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent.
• Understand assigned carpentry tasks, labor assignments, safety priorities, and site coordination needs.
• Read and interpret basic drawings, sketches, details, field layouts, and superintendent directives.
• Identify unsafe conditions, access issues, material conflicts, and field constraints before they impact the work.
• Coordinate with superintendents, assistant superintendents, subcontractors, laborers, equipment operators, and safety personnel.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of site rules, safety expectations, housekeeping standards, and temporary protection requirements.
• Help communicate daily priorities to laborers and other field personnel.

Skilled Carpentry and Safety Carpentry

• Perform mechanic-level carpentry work safely, efficiently, and with a high level of quality.
• Build, install, maintain, and repair temporary protection, barricades, guardrails, handrails, ramps, stairs, platforms, access ways, plywood protection, wall protection, and safety enclosures.
• Perform safety carpentry tasks with ease, including edge protection, opening protection, stair protection, floor protection, overhead protection, and controlled access barriers.
• Assist with layout, blocking, backing, temporary framing, formwork support, patching, minor framing, and other field carpentry tasks.
• Install signage supports, access controls, temporary doors, partitions, protection panels, and other jobsite safety or logistics items.
• Support temporary weather protection, dust control, debris control, and protection of existing conditions.
• Ensure temporary protection remains secure, clean, visible, and compliant with site safety expectations.
• Inspect safety carpentry installations regularly and repair deficiencies promptly.
• Help maintain a professional, organized, and safe jobsite appearance.

Labor Foreman Responsibilities

• Act as Labor Foreman approximately 50% of the time, depending on project needs.
• Coordinate daily labor assignments under the direction of the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent.
• Help organize labor crews for housekeeping, material movement, protection, access, debris removal, site setup, and safety support.
• Communicate daily work priorities clearly to laborers and field personnel.
• Monitor labor productivity, attendance, task completion, and work quality.
• Ensure laborers understand assigned tasks, safety expectations, and site rules.
• Help sequence labor tasks to support the project schedule and subcontractor needs.
• Coordinate with subcontractors to maintain access, clear work areas, move materials, and remove debris.
• Identify manpower needs, site constraints, and safety concerns and report them to the Superintendent.
• Maintain a calm, professional field presence while directing labor crews and resolving daily field issues.
• Help train laborers and less-experienced workers in safe work practices, proper tool use, housekeeping, material handling, and temporary protection installation.

Equipment Operation and Site Logistics

• Operate lulls/telehandlers when properly trained, authorized, and qualified.
• Assist with material unloading, staging, movement, and distribution throughout the site.
• Coordinate with the Superintendent on equipment use, delivery timing, staging locations, and site access.
• Support logistics for trucks, deliveries, hoisting, loading areas, material laydown, and equipment movement.
• Maintain awareness of pedestrians, workers, vehicles, overhead hazards, ground conditions, and restricted areas when operating equipment.
• Perform basic pre-use inspections and report equipment issues immediately.
• Joist operator experience is a plus.
• Support logistically challenging construction activities involving material movement, site access, protection, and coordination with multiple trades.
• Help maintain clean, safe, and efficient travel paths for workers, equipment, and deliveries.

Multi-Trade Coordination and Field Support

• Coordinate with multiple trades working in the same areas to maintain access, safety, housekeeping, and production.
• Support superintendents in resolving field conflicts related to access, material storage, temporary protection, debris, equipment movement, and work sequencing.
• Help prepare areas for subcontractor work by clearing debris, setting protection, maintaining access, and coordinating material movement.
• Assist with field coordination during high-activity periods, inspections, deliveries, concrete pours, equipment moves, and other critical work events.
• Maintain calm under pressure and help diffuse conflict between workers, trades, and subcontractors when priorities compete.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with laborers, subcontractors, operators, safety personnel, and management.
• Help ensure work proceeds safely while supporting tight deadlines and changing field conditions.
• Report unsafe conditions, incomplete work, damaged protection, access issues, and trade conflicts promptly.

Site General Conditions and Safety

• Perform regular site walks to identify housekeeping, access, protection, and safety issues.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas.
• Support OSHA compliance and company safety standards.
• Install, inspect, and maintain temporary safety measures as directed.
• Assist with fall protection support, opening protection, barricades, warning lines, controlled access zones, signage, and temporary lighting support.
• Ensure walking paths, stairs, ladders, ramps, loading areas, and work zones remain clear and safe.
• Assist with weather-related site preparation, snow/ice response, water control, wind protection, and emergency site needs.
• Help enforce site housekeeping expectations with laborers and subcontractors.
• Set a strong example for safe work practices, proper PPE, professional conduct, and teamwork.
• Immediately report incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions, equipment issues, or property damage to the Superintendent or Safety Manager.

Field Documentation and Communication

• Communicate daily progress, manpower, completed tasks, issues, and needs to the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent.
• Assist with documenting completed work, safety concerns, damaged protection, material needs, and field issues.
• Provide clear updates on labor crew productivity, equipment needs, material movement, and site conditions.
• Help track temporary protection, safety carpentry needs, access issues, and housekeeping priorities.
• Use Procore or other company systems when directed for photos, observations, punch items, or field documentation.
• Follow reporting expectations without prompting.
• Escalate issues early when they may affect safety, schedule, access, or quality.

Requirements

• Mechanic-level carpentry experience is required.
• Experience performing safety carpentry and temporary protection work is required.
• Ability to act as a Labor Foreman approximately 50% of the time is required.
• Ability to operate lulls/telehandlers when properly trained, authorized, and qualified is required.
• Joist operator experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of construction site safety, housekeeping, temporary protection, access, and field logistics.
• Ability to lead laborers and less-experienced workers in a calm, professional, and productive manner.
• Ability to train others in safe work practices, basic carpentry tasks, temporary protection, housekeeping, and material handling.
• Ability to perform skilled carpentry tasks with limited supervision.
• Ability to read basic drawings, sketches, field layouts, and written work directives.
• Strong communication skills with superintendents, subcontractors, laborers, safety personnel, and equipment operators.
• Must remain calm under pressure.
• Strong ability to diffuse field conflict, work through competing priorities, and maintain safety while supporting tight deadlines.
• Must be reliable, punctual, organized, and willing to take direction.
• Must have a positive attitude and be flexible with assigned tasks.
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced construction environment.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
• Ability to perform physically demanding duties, including heavy lifting of at least 60 pounds, climbing ladders, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, carrying materials, and working throughout an active construction site.
• High endurance is required. This position often requires walking the site, climbing stairs, and being on your feet most of the workday.
• Attendance is an imperative job function.
• Employees must fulfill the performance standards of this position and comply with company policies, rules, procedures, and expectations, including those set out in the Employee Handbook or otherwise communicated verbally or in writing.

Preferred Experience

• Safety carpentry and temporary protection installation.
• Labor Foreman or crew lead experience.
• Lull/telehandler operation.
• Joist operator experience.
• High-rise construction.
• Multifamily construction.
• Adaptive reuse or renovation work.
• Large commercial construction sites.
• Urban construction logistics.
• Material staging and equipment coordination.
• Temporary stairs, ramps, platforms, barricades, guardrails, and opening protection.
• Fall protection support and controlled access setup.
• Site housekeeping and labor crew coordination.
• Training apprentices, laborers, or less-experienced field workers.

Physical Requirements

This position requires significant time in the field and regular performance of physically demanding work. The Mechanic-Level Carpenter / Labor Foreman must be able to walk active construction sites, climb stairs and ladders, lift and carry materials, operate tools and equipment, stand for extended periods, and respond quickly to field needs.

The role requires high endurance and may involve being on your feet most of the day, working in active construction areas, performing safety carpentry, moving materials, directing laborers, and supporting urgent site conditions.

Must have the ability to perform heavy lifting (at least 60 lbs), climb ladders up to 24 ft, stand and walk for 8 hours, and perform other physically demanding duties as directed.

Post Brothers provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Post Brothers complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.