Trade Manager

THE JOB

The Trade Manager is a key field leadership role responsible for planning, coordinating, and elevating discipline-specific crews across Burns Dirt projects. This role ensures crews are properly staffed, productive, trained, and supported while maintaining Burns’ standards for safety, quality, and performance.

Trade Managers serve as the link between Operations leadership and field execution, supporting Foremen with technical guidance, manpower planning, and productivity oversight. While this role will eventually specialize in scopes such as mass earthwork, utilities, or concrete, Trade Managers will initially operate as generalists across Burns Dirt projects.

Success in this role is measured by crew utilization, productivity, quality, and workforce development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Field Operations & Crew Oversight

• Oversee discipline-specific crews across multiple active jobsites.
• Allocate manpower based on project priorities, schedules, and production needs.
• Support Foremen with technical guidance, sequencing, and execution planning.
• Ensure work is performed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with plans and specifications.
• Identify and resolve field constraints impacting productivity or safety.

Productivity & Performance Management

• Track and analyze crew productivity (earned hours vs. actual hours).
• Monitor crew utilization and recommend staffing adjustments.
• Identify rework, inefficiencies, or training gaps and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with Operations and Project Management to align field execution with budgets and schedules.

Safety & Quality Leadership

• Reinforce Burns Dirt safety standards and stop-work authority.
• Ensure consistent execution of weekly safety toolbox talks.
• Identify safety trends and participate in corrective planning.
• Support quality control by reducing rework and ensuring scope compliance.

Training & Workforce Development

• Identify training needs for operators, laborers, and foremen.
• Support certification tracking and skills development.
• Mentor Foremen and emerging leaders within the trades.
• Contribute to workforce planning and trade-specific capability building.

Planning & Coordination

• Participate in weekly resource planning and operations meetings.
• Provide field-level insight during backlog planning and strategic reviews.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across projects and trades.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Strong background in prime contract management and general contracting operations.
• Proficiency in grading, excavation, utilities, concrete, and infrastructure construction.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale projects ($20M+ preferred).
• Experience with construction management software (e.g.,HCSS, ProjectSight).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• OSHA 30 certification preferred.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel as needed within a 150-mile radius of Columbus, MS.

Meeting Cadence & Operating Rhythm

• Weekly Safety Toolbox Talks (Monday): Ensure consistent safety engagement across crews.
• Weekly Operations & Resource Planning (Wednesday): Crew allocation, productivity review, and manpower planning with Operations.
• Quarterly Strategic Operations Reviews: Backlog forecasting, financial and safety trend analysis, workforce planning.
• Annual Closeout & Lessons Learned Summit: Year-end performance review and goal setting.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Crew Utilization Rate (%)
• Productivity: Earned Hours vs. Actual Hours
• Rework Hours as % of Total Hours
• Training & Certifications Completed

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 5+ years of experience in heavy civil construction or a related field.
• Strong understanding of earthwork, utilities, and/or concrete operations.
• Proven experience leading or supporting field crews.
• Ability to analyze productivity data and make field-driven decisions.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Commitment to safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Preferred

• Experience in a supervisory or trade leadership role.
• Familiarity with construction management systems (HCSS or similar).
• Experience supporting multiple crews or projects simultaneously.
• Background in mentoring or developing field leadership.

WHY BURNS DIRT

Burns Dirt is a growing heavy civil contractor built on accountability, craftsmanship, and long-term thinking. We invest in our people, promote from within, and believe strong field leadership drives strong results. This role offers real influence, career growth, and the opportunity to shape how work gets done.