Underground Construction Specialist

Job description

**Underground Construction Specialist** **Location:** New Jersey, various project sites **Job Type:** Full-time, project-based assignment **Schedule:** Field-based; travel to project sites required **Anticipated Assignment Duration:** Initial one-year assignment, with potential extension based on underground transmission project workload **Compensation:** $40-$50/hr **About Us** CARIAN is a purpose-driven, woman-owned consulting and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the power sector. We partner with leading electric and gas utilities to provide strategic advisory and disciplined execution across program management, business intelligence, and field execution oversight. Guided by integrity, trust, excellence, and accountability, our team helps deliver complex capital programs and build the resilient energy infrastructure that communities depend on. **Position Overview** CARIAN is seeking an **Underground Construction Specialist** to support underground transmission project work for one of our major utility clients in New Jersey. This role will support underground transmission construction activities across the client’s service territory. The position will help coordinate day-to-day field construction work, monitor progress, safety, quality, and schedule, and support the successful execution of underground transmission projects in accordance with company standards, procedures, safe work practices, and applicable regulations. The ideal candidate has utility construction, engineering, operations, or project management experience, strong field judgment, and the ability to work effectively with contractors, client representatives, project teams, and field stakeholders. Experience with underground transmission work, including pipe-type cable, HPFF, XLPE, civil construction, or electrical construction, is preferred but not required. This is a field-based, project-based assignment requiring travel to project sites throughout New Jersey. The initial assignment is expected to be one year, with potential extension based on underground transmission project workload. **Key Responsibilities** - Support day-to-day field construction activities for underground transmission projects. - Coordinate with contractors, client representatives, project managers, engineering, safety, operations, and other project stakeholders. - Monitor contractor performance, work progress, safety compliance, quality, and schedule adherence. - Help ensure field work is performed in accordance with project requirements, company standards, safe work practices, procedures, and applicable regulations. - Review work quality and quantity to support project execution and identify required follow-up. - Track field conditions, construction progress, issues, risks, and schedule impacts. - Support the resolution of construction-related issues and escalate concerns to project leadership as needed. - Provide regular updates on field status, milestones, risks, and required actions. - Support constructability input, work sequencing, access planning, field readiness, and construction coordination activities as needed. - Maintain project documentation, reporting, tracking logs, and other field records, including use of Microsoft Excel. - Promote a strong safety culture and help ensure work is executed in a professional, disciplined, and utility-compliant manner. **Qualifications** - Minimum of 5 years of experience in utility engineering, construction, operations, project management, or a related field. - Experience supporting utility, infrastructure, civil, electrical, or construction field work. - Strong understanding of field construction coordination, safety expectations, quality control, and project execution. - Ability to coordinate day-to-day field construction activities and work effectively with multiple stakeholders. - Proficiency in Microsoft Excel. - Strong communication, documentation, coordination, and issue-resolution skills. - Ability to work independently in the field and represent CARIAN professionally with clients, contractors, and project stakeholders. - Ability to travel to project sites throughout New Jersey. - Availability to support field-based project needs, including off-hours or outage-driven work as required. - Underground transmission construction experience **Preferred Experience** - Underground transmission construction experience. - Knowledge of pipe-type cable systems, including HPFF. - Knowledge of XLPE underground cable work. - Civil and/or electrical construction experience. - Experience with major electric utility clients. - Prior experience as a construction specialist, field specialist, construction coordinator, field coordinator, construction inspector, assistant construction manager, or owner’s representative supporting utility or infrastructure projects. **Why CARIAN** - **Purpose-driven work** – Help deliver infrastructure that powers communities - **Industry reputation** – Trusted by leading utilities for our reliability and results - **Career growth** – Opportunities to lead major programs and mentor high-performing teams - **Collaborative culture** – Join a team that values delivery excellence and long-term relationships - **Competitive total rewards** – Strong compensation, full benefits, 401(k) match, and meaningful work **Equal Employment Opportunity** CARIAN is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire and develop talent based on qualifications, performance, and business needs. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. As a woman-owned firm dedicated to the power sector, we are committed to building a team that reflects professionalism, expertise, and integrity at every level. **Compensation** The hourly rate range for this role is $40 – $55 per hour. This range represents a good-faith estimate at the time of posting; actual compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, assignment requirements, schedule, and other factors permitted by law. In addition to base compensation, the role includes eligibility for applicable overtime, a comprehensive benefits package, and a company 401(k) match.