Excavator Operator - Fort Hills Oil Sands - 14 Days On / 7 Days Off - FIFO
North American Construction Group (NACG) is hiring Finish Excavator Operators for their remote mining operation at Fort Hills near Fort McMurray, Alberta. This unionized role under IUOE Local 955 includes a 14/7 schedule with day and night shifts. Camp accommodations, flights from Edmonton or Calgary, and bussing from Fort McMurray are all provided. With a combined pay of up to $54.86 per hour plus a night shift premium, weekly pay, and overtime after 8 hours daily, this opportunity includes full benefits after 400 hours and offers significant potential for advancement.
Position
Field
Equipment OperatorsWork Rotation
Accommodations
Responsibilities
As a Finish Excavator Operator, you will be responsible for precision excavation and safe operations:
- Operate various sizes/models of excavators on site
- Read and follow grade stakes for accurate grading
- Work in soft ground and frost ripping conditions
- Perform pre-task hazard assessments and safety inspections
- Report equipment issues and safety incidents promptly
- Ensure compliance with site and legislative safety standards
- Use and maintain appropriate PPE and follow safe work plans
Requirements
Candidates must meet the following qualifications to be considered:
- 2-3 years of excavator operation experience
- At least 1 year experience in a mining environment preferred
- Experience working on muskeg and frost conditions
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- Proficient in English (verbal and written)
- Strong organizational and safety-first mindset
- Valid Class 5 Driver's License with clean abstract
- Valid CSO or BSO Certification
- Silica, H2S, and Wildlife Awareness training
- Knowledge of OHS Alberta Legislation
- Must pass drug and alcohol screening, fitness testing, and background checks
Perks and Benefits
NACG provides a comprehensive package for Finish Excavator Operators including:
- Up to $53.83/hour + $1.20/hour night premium
- Vacation and statutory holiday pay on every paycheck
- Up to 61 overtime hours per 14-day rotation
- Weekly pay
- Camp accommodations and meals included
- Flights from Edmonton or Calgary and bussing from Fort McMurray
- Full benefits and pension after 400 hours worked
- IUOE Local 955 union membership
- PPE provided (own CSA-certified steel-toed boots required)
- Advancement opportunities available
Worksite/Project
Fort Hills Oil Sands Project
The Fort Hills Oil Sands Project is a major open-pit mining operation located in the Athabasca region of northern Alberta, approximately 90 km north of Fort McMurray. Operated by Suncor Energy—which holds the majority ownership—the site began production in 2018 and is one of Canada's most modern and efficient oil sands operations. With a production capacity of 194,000 barrels of bitumen per day, Fort Hills utilizes paraffinic froth treatment technology to produce a partially de-asphalted product with lower greenhouse gas emissions. This advanced method allows Suncor to deliver market-ready oil without the need for on-site upgrading, reducing environmental impact and improving efficiency. The project offers fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) employment opportunities with rotational schedules and modern remote camp accommodations. It employs over 1,400 workers, including heavy equipment operators, millwrights, electricians, and other skilled trades, making it a key employer in Alberta’s oil and gas industry. With an estimated mine life of 50 years, Fort Hills supports long-term economic growth in the region while maintaining strong commitments to sustainability, water recycling (93%), and Indigenous partnerships.
Fort Hills Oil Sands ProjectEmployer Hiring
North American Construction Group
North American Construction Group (NACG) is one of Canada's largest mining and heavy civil construction contractors, publicly traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the ticker NOA. Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Acheson, Alberta, the company provides contract mining, overburden removal, site development, earthworks, tailings management, and mine reclamation services across Canada, the United States, and Australia. Its core operations are concentrated in the Fort McMurray oil sands region of northern Alberta, where it delivers large-scale earthmoving and mine support to major oil, natural gas, and resource producers. NACG operates one of the largest independently owned fleets of haul trucks, shovels, and earthmoving equipment of any contractor in the region, and provides heavy equipment maintenance, rebuild, and support services through subsidiaries such as ML Northern Services. Its Australian operations, expanded through the acquisition of the MacKellar Group, serve the mining sector as a Tier 1 contractor. The company also works through several Indigenous partnerships, and holds a 49% interest in the Nuna Group of Companies, Canada's largest majority Inuit-owned mining and heavy civil contractor.
North American Construction Group