Construction Superintendent

¾ Time | Deploying | Alaska & Greenland

If you're a construction leader who can run a crew, solve problems in the field, and stay calm when the plan inevitably changes, this might be your kind of job.

Polar Field Services (PFS) is looking for a Construction Superintendent to lead construction and maintenance work in some of the most remote environments in the world. You'll support the National Science Foundation's Arctic Research Support & Logistics Services (ARSLS) program at research stations and remote field camps across Alaska, Greenland, and the Arctic .

This is not a traditional construction superintendent role. You'll spend much of your working time in the field, leading crews and executing projects, while also contributing to project planning, estimating, scheduling, constructability, logistics, and long-range planning when you're stateside.

What You'll Do

You'll lead construction and maintenance projects from planning through execution, including:

- Lead and supervise field crews of 1-20 people , including foremen and multiple construction trades.

- Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and supervise seasonal construction staff.

- Plan daily work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and keep projects moving safely and efficiently.

- Lead daily tasking and safety meetings and reinforce a strong safety culture.

- Track project progress, schedules, labor, materials, and potential issues; provide regular updates to Project Management.

- Execute work in accordance with approved plans, specifications, quality requirements, and construction management processes.

- Work with engineering, design, operations, and project management teams to identify constructability concerns and develop practical field solutions.

- Prepare and manage RFIs, field verification, redlines, as-built documentation, inspections, deficiency tracking, turnover, and commissioning support.

- Develop project scopes, work plans, labor and duration estimates, material estimates, sketches, and supporting documentation.

- Maintain accurate inventory and coordinate resupply, cargo, warehousing, and other field logistics.

- Create and close work orders and maintain project documentation in computerized maintenance management systems.

- Participate in engineering and constructability reviews and serve as a bid reviewer when needed.

- Help develop SOPs, project plans, and future-year project scopes.

- Coordinate construction impacts, equipment needs, and utility outages with station management.

- And when the plan calls for it, jump in and help do the work yourself.

What We're Looking For

You're an experienced construction professional who knows how to lead people and get work done-not someone who needs perfect conditions or a detailed playbook for every situation.

Required:

- 7 years of journeyman-level construction experience , with at least 3 years as a foreman or in a similar supervisory role .

- Experience in commercial, industrial, or residential construction.

- Strong understanding of construction safety, quality, scheduling, and project execution.

- Ability to read and interpret blueprints, technical manuals, and other construction documentation.

- Working knowledge of multiple construction trades, including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, concrete, and painting.

- Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and conditions.

- OSHA 30-hour certification, or the ability to obtain it within 12 months of hire.

- Current, valid U.S. passport.

- Valid driver's license with an insurable driving record.

- Authorization to work in the United States. PFS does not sponsor employment-based work visas.

Preferred:

- Experience working within formal construction management processes, including schedules, RFIs, design reviews, quality inspections, document control, commissioning, and as-built documentation.

- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification.

- Previous polar or remote-field experience.

The Deployment

This is a ¾-time position averaging approximately 30 hours per week over the course of the year . Field deployments generally account for the majority of those hours, with lighter administrative hours when you're off deployment. The administrative portion can be performed remotely; an office presence is not required.

Deployments may be up to 18 weeks at a time and may be split into multiple deployments. The general field schedule is Monday-Saturday, with Sundays off, but field operations can require early mornings, evenings, weekends, split shifts, and days of 12+ hours .
You should be comfortable working-and living-in remote Arctic environments where conditions can be demanding. Depending on the location, you may work in extreme temperatures, sleep in tents, dorms, hotels, or community housing, share a room, and have limited access to showers, laundry, and other everyday amenities. Transportation may include aircraft, trucks, heavy equipment, and plenty of walking.

The work can also be physically demanding, including extended periods of standing and walking, lifting or carrying more than 50 pounds, climbing, crouching, kneeling, and working in confined spaces or areas requiring fall protection.

Why PFS?

At PFS, we're employee-owned and we take seriously the responsibility that comes with supporting science in some pretty extraordinary places.

Our values are straightforward:

Safety. People. Curiosity. Change. Stewardship.

We expect our leaders to model those values, build strong teams, communicate openly, take responsibility, and treat people with respect.

Our mission is Unlocking discovery through innovation and trusted experience. Anywhere.

If you're looking for a desk job, this probably isn't it.

If you like leading good people, solving real problems, building things, working in places most people will never see, and having a job where no two field seasons look exactly the same-we'd like to hear from you.

Physical Qualification & Travel

This position may require successful completion of NSF-required physical and dental examinations and a drug screen prior to deployment.

Travel includes remote and international deployments, as well as approximately 1-3 stateside trips annually for PFS headquarters, NSF, vendor visits, and similar business needs.

Polar Field Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions based on qualifications and abilities and support a diverse and respectful workplace.

Job offers are contingent on the completion of a satisfactory background check and may include physical and dental examinations as required by the National Science Foundation.