Excavator Operator - Syncrude Aurora - Drive In/Out - 14x7 Rotations
North American Construction Group (NACG) is hiring experienced Excavator Operators for work at the Syncrude Aurora site in Fort McMurray, AB. This position follows a 14-day on, 7-day off rotation, alternating between day and night shifts. Camp accommodations are not provided, but bus transportation is available from Fort McMurray to the site. Responsibilities include operating large excavators, reading stakes for grading, working in soft ground conditions, and maintaining compliance with safety policies. Overtime is paid after 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week. Successful candidates will join the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955.
Position
Field
Equipment OperatorsWork Rotation
Accommodations
Responsibilities
The Excavator Operator will be responsible for operating heavy equipment to complete assigned tasks safely and efficiently.
- Operate various sizes and models of excavators
- Read stakes and accurately place grades
- Ensure compliance with all safety policies and procedures
- Use proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Review safe work plans and hazard assessments before beginning tasks
- Conduct equipment walk-arounds, safety checks, and field-level risk assessments
- Report necessary repairs to the maintenance team immediately
- Report all incidents, near misses, or equipment damage immediately
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have experience operating large excavators in a mining or reclamation environment.
- Minimum 2-3 years of experience operating large excavators
- Minimum 1 year of experience in a mining atmosphere (preferred)
- Minimum 1 year of experience in reclamation work
- Experience safely loading from windrows
- Ability to work in soft ground conditions (Muskeg) and rip frost above shovels
- Ability to ditch/slope and carry grade
- Proficiency in English (verbal and written)
- Strong organizational and safety-oriented mindset
- Valid Class 5 Driver's License with a recent Driver's Abstract
- Valid CSO or BSO Certification
- High school diploma, GED, or post-secondary education (preferred)
Perks and Benefits
NACG offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Up to $53.82/hour in combined pay
- Vacation and statutory holiday pay included in each paycheck
- Earn up to 61 hours of overtime per 14-day rotation
- Night shift premium of +$1.20/hour
- Weekly pay schedule
- Union membership with IUOE Local 955
- Medical and dental benefits after 400 hours worked
- Bus transportation provided from Fort McMurray to site
- PPE provided (excluding steel-toed boots)
- Opportunities for career growth and advancement
Worksite/Project
Syncrude Aurora
The Syncrude Aurora Mine, located approximately 35 kilometers north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, is a significant component of Syncrude Canada's oil sands operations. The Aurora North Mine was the first stand-alone oil sands mine and processing plant, producing bitumen froth that is transported to the Mildred Lake processing plant. The mine has a bitumen production capacity of 225,000 bpd and is expected to be depleted by about 2040 at current mining rates. Syncrude is a joint venture operated by Suncor Energy, with partners including Imperial Oil, Sinopec, and Nexen/CNOOC.
Syncrude AuroraEmployer 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