Shovel Operator - Syncrude Aurora - 14 Days On / 14 Days Off
North American Construction Group (NACG) is hiring experienced Hydraulic Shovel Operators for the Syncrude Aurora site near Fort McMurray, Alberta. This unionized position under IUOE Local 955 operates on a 14/14 schedule rotating between day and night shifts. Although camp accommodations are not provided, bussing is available from Fort McMurray. Operators will earn up to $54.82/hour plus a night shift premium, receive weekly pay, and be eligible for full benefits after 400 hours worked. This is an excellent opportunity for skilled operators seeking long-term work on one of the largest contracts in the region.
Position
Field
Equipment OperatorsWork Rotation
Accommodations
Responsibilities
As a Hydraulic Shovel Operator, you'll work on heavy earthworks and production support tasks:
- Operate EX2500 to EX8000 hydraulic shovels (Hitachi, CAT) in a mining environment
- Conduct pre-use inspections and safety assessments
- Safely refuel and service equipment
- Work with cleanup and hauling crews on production support
- Comply with all site safety rules and PPE requirements
- Report equipment issues, damage, or incidents promptly
Requirements
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum 2 years of experience operating 5500-class hydraulic shovels
- At least 1 year experience in a mining or overburden removal environment
- Comfort working in high-output production settings
- Valid Class 5 Driver's License and clean abstract
- High school diploma or GED preferred
- Strong English communication skills (verbal and written)
- Valid CSO or BSO Certification
- Ability to pass drug/alcohol testing, fitness evaluation, and background screening
Perks and Benefits
NACG offers top-tier benefits and compensation for 5500 Shovel Operators:
- Up to $54.82/hour + $1.20/hour night shift premium
- Vacation and stat holiday pay included in each paycheck
- Up to 61 overtime hours per 14-day rotation
- Weekly pay schedule
- Bussing from Fort McMurray to site provided
- Full medical, dental, and pension benefits after 400 hours
- IUOE Local 955 union membership
- PPE provided (bring own CSA steel-toed boots)
- Growth and advancement opportunities
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