Driver / Heavy Equipment Operator - CFS Alert - 8 /8 Fly-In & Fly-Out
Nasittuq Corporation is hiring a Driver/Heavy Equipment Operator for operations at CFS Alert, the northernmost permanently inhabited location in the world on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. This full-time fly-in fly-out position follows an 8-week on / 8-week off rotation, offering a rare opportunity to work in a high-priority Department of National Defence (DND) environment. The site involves maintaining airfields, gravel roads, and critical Arctic infrastructure in extreme northern conditions. Employees receive private accommodations, meals, Wi-Fi, laundry, recreational facilities, paid flights, competitive hourly pay, isolation allowance, benefits, pension matching, and opportunities for certification and career advancement.
Position
Field
Equipment OperatorsWork Rotation
Accommodations
Responsibilities
The Driver/Heavy Equipment Operator supports transportation, road maintenance, and airfield operations at CFS Alert while ensuring safe and efficient heavy equipment use.
- Operate heavy equipment safely and efficiently in Arctic conditions.
- Maintain gravel surfaces, roads, and surface drainage systems.
- Perform snow and ice control (SNIC) operations across the site and airfield.
- Operate aircraft handling equipment and assist with aircraft loading and unloading.
- Inspect airfield surfaces and complete minor repairs.
- Conduct soil erosion control and perform surface maintenance activities.
- Submit all PM/CM work orders for maintenance tracking.
- Drive a variety of heavy vehicles, buses, and specialized equipment as required.
Requirements
Candidates must meet Nunavut and DND requirements for heavy equipment operation and be able to work in extreme northern environments.
- Valid provincial license for GVW 11,000+ kg with air brake endorsement.
- Qualified to operate heavy equipment: loaders, excavators, graders, dozers, dump trucks, forklifts, passenger buses, etc.
- Valid Airfield RAMP DC qualification.
- Eligible for DND 404 Driver Permit.
- Reliable security clearance and valid Canadian passport.
- Ability to operate vehicles with hazardous materials.
- Training for de-icing procedures per Transport Canada requirements.
- Experience driving with trailers and safe backing.
- Minimum 1 year experience operating each required vehicle type.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work alone or in a team.
- Ability to live harmoniously in a remote, multicultural environment.
Perks and Benefits
This Arctic HEO role includes strong compensation, full camp accommodations, paid travel, and comprehensive benefits.
- Hourly pay: $53.10–$55.89 plus $27/day isolation allowance.
- Fly-in fly-out rotation: 8 weeks on / 8 weeks off.
- Paid travel from anywhere in Canada, including overnight stays as needed.
- Private room with meals, Wi-Fi, TV, laundry, and recreational access.
- Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Employer-matched pension up to 6%.
- 40-hour workweeks with overtime opportunities.
- 6% vacation pay on every paycheck.
- Arctic clothing and annual safety footwear allowance ($175).
- Training, certifications, and professional development support.
Worksite/Project
Canadian Forces Station Alert
Canadian Forces Station Alert (CFS Alert) is the northernmost permanently inhabited settlement in the world, located on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada, just 817 km from the North Pole. Operated by the Canadian Armed Forces, CFS Alert plays a critical role in signals intelligence, Arctic surveillance, and supporting NORAD and NATO operations. The station is also a hub for scientific research and weather monitoring, supporting government and academic agencies working in extreme polar conditions. Day-to-day operations and site support—such as logistics, accommodations, maintenance, catering, and snow clearing—are managed by civilian contractors including Nasittuq Corporation, providing remote work opportunities in technical, skilled trades, and support service roles. CFS Alert is a vital part of Canada’s national defense and Arctic sovereignty strategy, with continuous operations in one of the harshest and most strategically important regions on Earth.
Canadian Forces Station AlertEmployer Hiring
Nasittuq Corporation
Nasittuq Corporation is a majority Inuit-owned company providing technical site services, facility management, and logistics across Canada's Arctic. Founded in 2000 as a joint venture between the Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics Corporation (PAIL) and ATCO Frontec (part of the ATCO Group), Nasittuq is registered as an Inuit firm in Nunavut, with Inuit shareholders holding majority ownership and an active role in its governance. Its name, an Inuktitut word meaning "looking out from a high place," reflects its central role operating the North Warning System — a 5,000-kilometre chain of 47 remote radar sites stretching across the Canadian Arctic from the Yukon to Labrador that provides aerospace surveillance for Canada and the United States as part of the NORAD agreement. Under a Government of Canada contract awarded in 2022, Nasittuq operates and maintains these remote sites, which include helipads, gravel runways, more than 100 buildings, and hundreds of bulk fuel storage tanks, delivering maintenance, logistics, airlift coordination, environmental systems management, and engineering services. The company also provides site support and management services at Canadian Forces Station Alert on Ellesmere Island, the northernmost permanently inhabited base in Canada.
Nasittuq Corporation