Careers

Laborer

Job Title: Laborer – Construction/Excavating/Trenching

Reports to: Job Foreman

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Date: May 2024

Summary: Supports all efforts at project construction sites by performing the following duties:

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

Site Preparation: Assist in preparing job sites for excavation work, including clearing debris, vegetation, and any obstacles and keeping the site clear throughout duration of project.
Operate Equipment: Operate and maintain hand tools, power tools, and heavy machinery such as excavators, backhoes, and bulldozers under the guidance of experienced operators.
Digging and Trenching: Excavate, dig trenches, and create foundations as per project specifications, ensuring precise measurements and proper depth.
Material Handling: Load, transport, and unload materials, including dirt, rock, and construction materials, using wheelbarrows, shovels, and other equipment.
Safety Compliance: Follow all safety procedures, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and reporting any safety concerns or incidents to the supervisor.
Assist Operators: Assist heavy equipment operators in excavation tasks, communicating effectively to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
Backfilling: Backfill trenches, holes, and excavations, ensuring proper compaction and leveling.
Utility Installation: Assist in the installation of utility lines, pipes, and other infrastructure components.
Erosion Control: Implement erosion control measures to protect the environment and maintain compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Team Collaboration: Work closely with other crew members, including equipment operators, surveyors, and site supervisors, to ensure efficient project execution.
Reporting: Keep detailed records of daily tasks and materials used, reporting to the supervisor as necessary.

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Required Skills & Abilities

Basic understanding of construction procedures, OSHA guidelines and construction equipment, including safe operating practices and signs of maintenance issues
Ability to read and comprehend drawings, plans, and blueprints
Possess strong basic math skills
Possess basic mechanical skills
Ability to use hand and power tools
Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out verbal and written instructions
Must be 18 years of age or older
Reliable transportation and the ability to travel between Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City
Must have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
Successful completion of a drug screen and background check required

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A successful laborer will demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving: Gathers and analyzes information skillfully
Technical Skills: Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills and welcomes on the job training
Interpersonal: Listens to others without interrupting, keeps emotions under control
Oral Communication: Speaks clearly, listens and gets clarification, responds well to questions
Adaptability: Adapts to frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events in the work environment
Attendance/Dependability/Initiative/Teamwork: Consistently at work and on time, follows instructions and responds to management direction, self-starter able to work independently with little supervision as well as with a team of individuals.
Quality/Quantity: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and completes work in a timely manner
Safety & Security: Observes safety and security procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

All successful Freedom Excavating employees will possess the following competencies:

Diversity: Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment.
Ethics: Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
Organizational Support: Follows policies and procedures; supports organization's goals and values; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

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Required Education & Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

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Preferred Education & Experience

Previous construction experience
OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification
CDL License

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Work Environment & Physical Demands

Must be willing and able to work outdoors in all weather conditions including extreme heat and cold, wet or humid conditions, and in various types of terrain.
Often exposed to work around moving mechanical parts and large construction equipment.
Tolerable of loud work environments and exposure to odors, gasses, dust, etc.
Able to work in confined spaces, high places, and in excavated areas
Laborers are required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach, push, and/or pull with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

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General Competency Guidelines for all Staff:

Competency: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs work flows and procedures.

Design - Translates concepts and information into images; uses feedback to modify designs; applies design principles; demonstrates attention to detail.

Problem Solving - Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

Project Management - Communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget.

Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.

Customer Service - Responds promptly to customer needs; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Interpersonal - Listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.

Team Work - exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; develops and implements cost saving measures; contributes to profits and revenue; conserves organizational resources.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; supports organization's goals and values; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Strategic Thinking - Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Completes work in timely manner; strives to increase productivity; works quickly.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience: High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Ability: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Math Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and risk of electrical shock. The employee is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions; work in high, precarious places and outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

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Equipment Operator

Job Title: Equipment Operator – Construction/Excavating/Trenching