Overview
The Gradesperson is responsible for establishing, verifying, and maintaining line and grade for all earthworks, granular, drainage, and roadway operations. Working from engineered drawings, survey control, and layout stakes, the Gradesperson provides continuous grade direction to equipment operators and crew members to ensure excavation depths, subgrade elevations, granular lifts, pipe inverts, and finished surfaces are constructed to specified tolerance. Work is performed on municipal road reconstruction, watermain and sewer installation, curb and sidewalk preparation, and related civil projects carried out under Strada's standing offer with the City of Ottawa and other municipal and private clients.
Duties
- Grade Control & Layout
- Establish and maintain line and grade for excavation, subgrade, granular placement, drainage structures, and finished surfaces.
- Interpret survey stakes, offsets, cut/fill notations, benchmarks, and control points; transfer design elevations accurately to the work area.
- Set grade hubs, blue tops, string lines, and batter boards as required by the work method.
- Provide continuous grade direction to equipment operators during production.
- Verify cross-fall, crown, superelevation, and drainage flow to ensure positive drainage is achieved.
- Re-establish lost or disturbed control points and notify the Site Supervisor when survey layout is required.
- Confirm proposed grades against existing conditions and flag conflicts or drawing discrepancies before work proceeds.
Earthworks, Granular & Drainage Support
- Check excavation depths, trench bottoms, bedding thickness, and pipe invert elevations prior to placement.
- Verify granular A and granular B lift thicknesses and confirm compaction lifts meet specification.
- Set and confirm rim elevations for maintenance holes, catch basins, valve boxes, and other surface structures.
- Provide grade for curb, sidewalk, and asphalt base preparation in coordination with the concrete and paving crews.
- Identify over-excavation or under-excavation conditions early and direct corrective action to minimize rework.
- Assist with locating and protecting existing utilities in accordance with locate documentation.
Instruments & Equipment
- Operate, set up, and maintain rotating lasers, laser receivers, builder's levels, grade rods, and hand levels.
- Operate GPS rover and machine control systems (Trimble, Topcon, or equivalent) where assigned to the project.
- Perform daily instrument checks and benchmark verification; report any suspected loss of calibration immediately.
- Maintain instruments, tripods, prisms, and batteries in clean, charged, and serviceable condition.
- Secure all survey and grade equipment at the end of each shift.
Quality Control
- Verify all grades meet drawing tolerances prior to sign-off for the next phase of work.
- Ensure grading and granular works comply with OPSS 206 (Grading), OPSS 314 (Granular Base, Subbase and Surface), OPSS 401 (Trenching, Backfilling and Compacting), and applicable City of Ottawa standards.
- Record as-built elevations and document any approved field deviations from design grade.
- Coordinate with inspection and testing agencies during compaction and material testing.
- Report grade-related deficiencies to the Site Supervisor promptly, with proposed correction.
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Work in compliance with OHSA and Ontario Regulation 213/91 at all times.
- Maintain constant awareness of heavy equipment swing radius, blind spots, and travel paths; establish and confirm eye contact with operators before entering the work zone.
- Observe trench and excavation entry requirements, including protective systems, access/egress, and soil type restrictions; never enter an unsupported excavation.
- Participate in daily pre-shift safety talks and hazard assessments.
- Maintain traffic control integrity and remain within protected work areas when working adjacent to live traffic.
- Wear all required PPE, including high-visibility apparel, hard hat, safety footwear, and eye protection.
- Report all incidents, near-misses, and hazards to the Site Supervisor immediately.
Administration
- Complete daily grade sheets, cut/fill records, and as-built elevation notes.
- Track quantities associated with grading and granular operations for production reporting.
- Maintain organized records of stake sheets, layout notes, and revised drawings issued to the field.
- Record field changes and client-directed extras; communicate to Site Supervisor promptly.
Experience
- Education
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Post-secondary training in civil engineering technology, survey technology, or a related field is an asset.
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of grade or layout experience on civil, roadbuilding, or heavy construction projects.
- Demonstrated experience providing grade for excavation, granular placement, and underground services.
- Experience on City of Ottawa or regional municipality road and infrastructure programs is a strong asset.
- Familiarity with OPSS standards applicable to grading, granular, and trenching works (OPSS 206, 314, 401, etc.).
Certifications & Licences
- Valid Ontario Driver's Licence (Class G minimum; DZ preferred).
- WHMIS 2015 certification (current).
- CSTS-09 or equivalent health and safety certification.
- Standard First Aid & CPR – Level C.
- Traffic Control Person (TCP) certification.
- Working at Heights training (if applicable to assigned projects).
- Confined Space entry awareness training (if applicable to assigned projects).
- Ground disturbance, trench safety, or surveying certification (strong asset).
Technical Skills
- Proficiency in reading engineering drawings, plan and profile sheets, cross-sections, and grading plans.
- Strong applied mathematics: cut/fill calculations, percentage grade, slope ratios, and elevation conversions.
- Competency with rotating lasers, laser receivers, builder's levels, and grade rods.
- Working knowledge of GPS rover and machine control systems; ability to load and verify design files (asset).
- Understanding of granular materials, compaction requirements, and subgrade preparation.
- Basic use of field reporting tools and tablets for production records (Corfix or equivalent).
Physical Demands & Working Conditions
- Physically demanding outdoor work in all weather; must be capable of working in early-season cold and mid-summer heat.
- Extended standing, walking, and climbing over uneven ground, excavations, and stockpiles.
- Frequent bending, kneeling, and repeated entry to and exit from trenches and excavations.
- Regular lifting and carrying of grade rods, stakes, tripods, and materials up to 50 lbs; heavier team lifts as required.
- Exposure to silica and construction dust, diesel exhaust, noise, vibration, and live vehicular traffic; PPE mandatory.
- Work in close proximity to operating heavy equipment throughout the shift.
- Extended hours, early starts, and weekend availability as production schedules require.
Pay: $33.00-$38.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 – 55.0 per week
Benefits:
- Company car
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Profit sharing
- Vision care
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Ottawa, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Land surveying: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person
