General Purpose of Position:  This position is expected to safely and efficiently perform horizontal directional drilling for underground utility installations. This role requires strong drilling and locating skills, including the ability to accurately track the drill head for depth, pitch, and distance from existing utilities, while supervising a small crew and maintaining quality, production, and safety standards.

Essential Job Duties:

•    Operate directional drilling equipment to install conduit/duct, innerduct, pipe, or cable per project plans and specifications.

•    Read and interpret bore profiles, locate sheets, prints/as-builts, and utility maps; identify clearances and conflicts before drilling.

•    Perform and/or direct potholing/daylighting and verify utility locations prior to bore.

•    Locate and track drill head using locating equipment; maintain required separation from utilities and meet target depth/line/grade.

•    Adjust steering, mud flow, reaming/back-reaming, and pullback procedures to match soil conditions and production requirements.

•    Monitor and document bore data (depth, pitch, fluid pressures/returns, pullback forces) and communicate changes to the crew and supervisor.

•    Lead and supervise crew members (locators, laborers, equipment operators) to ensure safe, efficient operations and clean job sites.

•    Enforce safety procedures including trenching/excavation, traffic control, confined space awareness, and utility damage prevention.

•    Coordinate with foremen/superintendents, inspectors, and clients; provide daily progress updates and issue-resolution support.

•    Maintain drilling tools, rods, reamers, mixing systems, and vehicles; perform daily inspections and basic troubleshooting/repairs.

•    Complete required paperwork: daily reports, bore logs, equipment checklists, JSAs, and incident/near-miss reporting.