Field Development Specialist

Whitaker Construction, founded in 1953, has over 70 years of experience in the heavy civil and underground utility construction industry. Whitaker, an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company, has become one of the largest contractors in the intermountain area with more than 600 employees and nearly 80 crews. We perform sanitary sewer, storm drain, culinary water, irrigation, earthwork, roadway construction, dams, landfills, natural gas pipelines, industrial piping, and telecommunication projects primarily in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, and Oregon.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Field Development Specialist ensures employee-owners across job sites receive hands-on training in safety, compliance, and operational best practices. This role collaborates with superintendents and foremen to onboard new hires, develop skills, and reinforce the “Whitaker Way”. By focusing on regulatory compliance, mentorship, and career growth, the specialist enhances workforce capability, reduces incidents, and strengthens employee engagement. Frequent travel to job sites is required.

Core Responsibilities:

 Including but not limited to the list below.

New Hire Training & Mentoring

• Assist onboarding sessions covering safety, compliance, company culture, and job expectations.


• Partner with foremen and superintendents to ensure smooth integration of new hires


• Collaborate with foremen and senior employees to facilitate knowledge transfer.


• Guide mentors on effective training strategies.

Career Growth Training

• Provide hands-on skill development and certification training (e.g., OSHA).


• Support career ladder coaching for employee advancement.

Corrective & Retraining Support

• Identify skill gaps and provide targeted training.


• Conduct follow-ups to ensure competency.

Learning Management System (LMS) Administration

• Track employee training progress and ensure compliance.


• Maintain accurate training records and generate reports.

Compliance & Regulatory Training

• Ensure employees meet OSHA, DOT, and industry regulations.


• Conduct field assessments to verify adherence to safety protocols.

Field Assessments & Training Effectiveness

• Evaluate job site training impact and employee competency.


• Work with field leadership to address training needs.

Retention & Employee Engagement

• Engage employees to address challenges and promote professional growth.


• Partner with field leadership to foster a culture of continuous learning.


• Identify and document trends in knowledge gaps by assessing worker performance, training feedback, and site evaluations to improve future training programs.


• Collaborate with Learning & Development team members to design training sessions that enhance employee-owner competency.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in construction, safety training, or field development. Preferred candidates will have 5+ years industry experience.  High School Diploma or GED required; advanced degree is preferred. Any vocational training is strongly desired.


• Those with an education and/or work-related credential from a secondary or post-secondary educational system will be given preferred interview status (Precision Exams, NOCTE, etc.).


• A clean driving record is required.


• Strong knowledge regarding the operation, safety, and maintenance of equipment being used.


• Ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of co-workers.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Problem solving abilities.

Physical Requirements:

• Able and willing to work long hours including day, night, weekend shifts as needed, and work outside of normal hours.


• Able to walk, lift, reach, stoop, stand, grasp, balance, climb, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 50 pounds frequently.


• Ability to travel to project sites that are typically within a 2-hour radius of the home office.


• Able to work in outside environments being subjected to weather changes, noise, vibrations, and job hazards

Whitaker Construction offers an exceptional benefit package including:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Employees earn shares in the company – All employees have ownership in the company and its success


• Competitive wages


• Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term Disability, Supplemental Insurance


• 401 K and Match


• Vacation


• Paid Holidays


• Paid Personal Days


• Quarterly Incentive Program (profit sharing)


• Referral Bonuses


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The ADA defines “reasonable accommodation” as a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that allows a qualified individual with a disability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of a particular job and does not cause an undue hardship for the employer.

Whitaker Construction is an “equal opportunity employer.” Whitaker will not discriminate and will take “affirmative action” measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, creed, color, national origin, or sex.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.