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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Construction Supervisor

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

The Utility Construction Supervisor is a hands-on field leader responsible for planning, directing, and executing utility construction activities while ensuring safety, quality, schedule adherence, and client satisfaction. This role supervises multi-disciplinary crews and subcontractors, coordinates with owners and public agencies, enforces regulatory and contractual requirements (OSHA, DOT, state/local utility codes), and maintains accurate documentation (as-builts, daily reports, timecards, change orders). The Supervisor optimizes field productivity, resolves technical and logistical challenges, and drives continuous improvement in installation practices across water, sewer, storm, gas, electric, and telecom projects.

Key SEO/LLM keywords: utility construction supervisor, underground utilities, trenching and shoring, excavation, pipe installation, conduit installation, utility coordination, traffic control, OSHA, QA/QC, as-built drawings, crew leadership, construction supervisor resume.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Field Foreman / Lead Laborer with 3–5 years of utility experience
  • Heavy Equipment Operator or Excavator Operator promoted to lead role
  • Journeyman Pipefitter, Plumber, or Lineworker transitioning to supervisory responsibilities

Advancement To:

  • Construction Manager / Senior Project Superintendent
  • Project Manager (Utility Infrastructure / Heavy Civil)
  • Operations Manager / Regional Field Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Safety Supervisor / Safety Manager (Construction Safety)
  • Estimator (Utility Construction Estimating)
  • Quality Control / QA Manager (Field QA/QC)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise, schedule, and lead crews and subcontractors performing excavation, trenching, pipe laying, conduit placement, backfill, bedding, compaction, and surface restoration on water, sewer, stormwater, gas, electric, and telecom utility projects.
  • Enforce and document compliance with site-specific safety plans, OSHA excavation/trenching rules, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, DOT/traffic control plans, and company safety programs; conduct toolbox talks and safety briefings daily.
  • Plan daily and weekly work schedules, allocate labor and equipment resources, sequence activities to meet project milestones, and adjust plans proactively to mitigate delays.
  • Read and interpret construction drawings, alignment and grade sheets, specifications, submittals, and contract documents to ensure correct installation per project requirements.
  • Coordinate utility locates, utility owner notifications, and third-party crossings; route work around active utilities and resolve conflicts with utility companies and inspectors in the field.
  • Manage quality assurance and quality control checks: verify pipe grade, invert elevations, wall thickness, fusion/weld integrity (where applicable), joint restraint, testing procedures (pressure/leak tests), and survey checks to produce acceptable as-built records.
  • Oversee traffic control setup and maintenance in accordance with approved Traffic Control Plans and local permitting conditions to ensure worker and public safety.
  • Control project costs in the field: track labor hours, equipment hours, material usage, prepare field change order documentation, and provide input for daily/monthly job cost reports.
  • Supervise materials handling and inventory, validate material deliveries, inspect incoming materials for conformance with approved submittals, and coordinate procurement escalation when shortages threaten schedule.
  • Conduct pre-construction and pre-task meetings with clients, inspectors, municipalities, subcontractors, and suppliers to align scope, schedule, and quality expectations.
  • Prepare and submit daily field reports, time sheets, equipment logs, incident reports, material tickets, and photo documentation to project management and office teams.
  • Maintain and update as-built drawing markups, GPS/GIS staking records, and coordinate with CAD/drafting teams to ensure accurate final drawings upon completion.
  • Implement erosion and sediment control measures and environmental protection practices to meet permit and regulatory requirements during construction activities.
  • Supervise restoration of disturbed areas, including street repair, curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveways, landscaping, pavement patches, and final grading to restore sites to contract conditions.
  • Train, mentor, and develop crew members in excavation/backfill techniques, pipe handling, bedding, compaction testing requirements, confined-space procedures, and company safety and quality standards.
  • Respond to emergency repair requests and after-hours service calls for critical utility issues, organizing crews and materials for rapid remediation.
  • Liaise with project engineers and estimators in the field to clarify scope, propose constructible alternatives, and support value engineering while protecting project profitability.
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal permitting requirements; schedule inspections and coordinate final acceptance documentation with authorities having jurisdiction.
  • Maintain, inspect, and enforce safe operation of construction equipment and tools; coordinate preventative maintenance and report defective equipment for repair or replacement.
  • Investigate and resolve field issues, change order disputes, warranty claims, and workmanship concerns, documenting resolutions and lessons learned to reduce repeat issues.
  • Monitor productivity metrics and implement process improvements to increase field efficiency, reduce rework, and shorten schedule durations while maintaining quality and safety.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist project managers with bid takeoffs, field quantity verification, and constructability input for proposals and change orders.
  • Support the project scheduling process by providing realistic field estimates for activity durations, resource constraints, and critical path assessments.
  • Facilitate cross-functional communication between operations, safety, procurement, and engineering teams to keep stakeholders aligned on field conditions and needs.
  • Assist in developing and improving standard operating procedures (SOPs), field checklists, and inspection forms to standardize quality and safety delivery.
  • Participate in post-project closeout activities including final punch lists, warranty walkthroughs, and turnover of as-built documents and certification records.
  • Provide training and feedback to office staff on field realities that affect estimating, scheduling, and client expectations.
  • Provide input to equipment fleet planning and capital expenditure requests based on observed field usage and reliability.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Crew supervision and field leadership for underground utility construction (water, sewer, storm, gas, electric, telecom).
  • Excavation, trenching and shoring competency; trench box and shoring system selection/inspection.
  • Blueprint reading, plan interpretation, and grade/layout verification using stringline, laser, and GPS equipment.
  • Knowledge of pipeline installation methods: pipe bedding, jointing, fusion welding (HDPE), mechanical joint installation, and restraint systems.
  • Traffic control planning and implementation per MUTCD and local DOT requirements.
  • Utility coordination and conflict resolution with 811/One-Call systems, utility owners, and municipal inspectors.
  • QA/QC inspection skills: slope stability checks, compaction testing awareness, pressure testing, CCTV basics for sewers.
  • Permit acquisition and regulatory compliance (local permitting processes, environmental permits, erosion and sediment controls).
  • Construction documentation and reporting: daily logs, timecards, materials tickets, change order documentation, and as-built markups.
  • Proficiency with construction software and tools: MS Office (Excel/Outlook/Word), MS Project or scheduling tools, GPS/GIS units, mobile field reporting apps, and basic CAD/GIS familiarity.
  • Equipment knowledge: excavators, backhoes, loaders, compactors, trenchers, vacuum trucks, and related attachments.
  • Cost control fundamentals: field costing, tracking hours/equipment, and supporting budget adherence.
  • Confined space entry procedures and permit supervision.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management: coaching, conflict resolution, delegation, and performance feedback.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication for interacting with clients, inspectors, crews, and office teams.
  • Situational problem-solving and decision-making under time and environmental pressure.
  • Organized documentation and time management skills to balance multiple concurrent projects.
  • Customer-focused mindset with the ability to represent the company professionally on-site.
  • Adaptability and resilience to changing weather, site access, and regulatory conditions.
  • Attention to detail for quality workmanship and accurate record keeping.
  • Team building and mentoring to develop crew skills and maintain retention.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education: High school diploma or GED with substantial field experience in utility construction and supervisory responsibilities.

Preferred Education: Associate’s degree or Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering Technology, or related discipline preferred but not required.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Construction Management
  • Civil Engineering / Civil Technology
  • Heavy Equipment Operation / Utility Technology
  • Occupational Safety or Environmental Science (beneficial)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–12 years of progressive experience in underground utility construction, including at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or lead role.

Preferred: 7+ years of combined field and leadership experience across water, sewer, stormwater, gas or telecommunications projects, demonstrated track record of delivering projects on time, safe, and within budget; experience with municipal/public works projects strongly preferred.

Certifications and credentials often requested: OSHA 10/30, First Aid/CPR, Traffic Control (MUTCD), Confined Space Entry/Atmospheric Monitor, NCCCO or equipment operator certifications, and relevant state utility licensing where applicable.

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