Skilled Ground Worker (Fort Hills)

North American Construction Group is hiring Skilled Ground Workers to join a remote mining team on the Fort Hills site in the Fort McMurray region. This temporary, onsite role sits on one of the region’s largest contracts, with a focus on safety and steady, hands-on work in a heavy construction and mining environment. The package features a combined rate of up to $36.74/hour and clear room for growth, plus a 14-on, 7-off rotation that includes days and nights, with 12 hours paid per shift. Camp accommodations are provided, and transportation is arranged with flights to Edmonton or Calgary and a bus from Fort McMurray to the site. Overtime is paid after 8 hours in a day or 44 hours in a week, and the opportunity includes membership in one of North America’s largest IUOE locals.

With a long-standing history spanning more than six decades, NACG has established itself as a safety-first leader in heavy construction and mining. The company continues to expand its footprint and offers long-term contracts, strong benefits, and paths for advancement. This role sits with a strong safety focus and provides a chance to be part of a unionized workforce that’s committed to getting people home safe at the end of each shift.

The role suits someone who brings practical hands-on experience on site and is prepared to work outdoors in a camp setting. It’s a hands-on position that requires reliability, teamwork, and the ability to handle shifts that include nights. If you’re ready to join a large, safety-driven operation and can commit to a camp-based rotation, this could be a fit.

Day-to-day on the Fort Hills site

On a typical day, you’ll support shop and field operations with seasonal snow removal around the shop and front parking areas, drive light-duty vehicles on site, and help install culverts and pipes. You’ll also work with plate tampers and other hand tools, move light plant equipment and heaters, and set up silt fences and geogrids where needed. A core part of the job is following safety policies and procedures and using the proper PPE, while reviewing safe work plans with the team before starting each task. The work requires staying aligned with site rules and maintaining a safety-first mindset at all times.

The must-haves and the extras

• Two years of experience in a labourer role
• At least one year of prior mine experience
• A physical fitness level that supports lifting up to 50 pounds and working outdoors in a team setting
• A safety-first attitude and strong listening skills
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written
• A valid Class 5 driver’s license

• A high school diploma, GED or post-secondary education is considered an asset
• Previous experience driving in the mine, shoveling, raking, grade/laser work, managing pumps and dewatering, and installing piping and backfill is considered an asset
• Experience with moving light plants or heaters and installing silt fences or geogrid is an asset
• CSO certification and additional safety credentials are a plus
• Biological and site awareness such as silica awareness, Wood Buffalo wildlife awareness, hydrogen sulfide awareness, and familiarity with OHS Alberta Legislation and field ergonomics
• Be prepared for random testing at Suncor, Suncor Fort Hills and Kearl sites
• Be ready to complete pre-employment testing including Breath Alcohol, Urine Drug Test, Fitness-to-Work Health Assessment, Audiometric Testing, and Vision Screening

Pay, benefits and practical details

The Fort Hills assignment pays a combined rate of up to $36.74/hour, with benefits tied to hours worked, including vacation and statutory holiday pay allocated with each paycheck. Overtime is available, with the potential to reach up to 61 overtime hours in a 14-day rotation, and a night shift premium of $1.20 per hour. The position is paid weekly and includes camp accommodations, with flights to Edmonton or Calgary and bus transportation from Fort McMurray to the site. Personal protective equipment is provided, and workers are asked to bring CSA-certified steel-toed boots. There is real room for growth and future advancements within the company, along with medical and dental benefits and a pension after 400 hours worked. The team is unionized with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955. Onboarding can take 3–8 business days, and shift times or site start dates may change. The company notes that no phone calls are welcome; successful candidates will be contacted via phone or email for next steps.

Other practical details include camp-based housing and transportation arrangements, and a rotation schedule that blends day and night shifts across a 14-on, 7-off cycle. The position is onsite at Fort Hills, and the company emphasizes safety, along with a broad benefits package and a pathway to longer-term opportunities as the project progresses.

Tips to stand out when applying

Lead your resume with your two years of labourer experience and highlight any mine exposure you’ve accumulated, plus your ability to work on a team and outdoors. Make sure the top of your resume calls out your valid Class 5 license and your English proficiency, since those are required assets for the role.

Show your safety mindset in concrete terms. Mention any safety training you’ve completed, your approach to PPE, and a specific example of how you reviewed a safe work plan before starting a job, to demonstrate you’re comfortable with the company’s safety-first culture.

Be ready for the pre-employment testing and onboarding steps. Note that the process includes Breath Alcohol testing, Urine Drug testing, a Fitness-to-Work assessment, Audiometric testing, and Vision screening, followed by onboarding that can take 3–8 business days. If you have prior experience with these tests, mention it and be prepared to complete them again.

Highlight your flexibility for the 14-on, 7-off schedule and your willingness to travel to Fort Hills and relocate to a camp environment. Mention any familiarity with the site’s safety rules and the IUOE Local 955 union context, since joining the union is part of the pathway this role offers.

No phone calls please. Successful candidates will be contacted via phone or email for next steps.