How to hire a field crew chief

How to hire a field crew chief, step by step

Here's a step-by-step field crew chief hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a field crew chief job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new field crew chief
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The field crew chief hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect field crew chief also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of field crew chiefs.

   Type of Field Crew Chief	Description	Hourly rate
   Field Crew Chief		$13-25
   Project Supervisor	A project supervisor is someone employed in industries like engineering, construction, manufacturing, as well as design and marketing industries to coordinate all aspects of a project. Common duties include participating in project planning, acting as a communication liaison, coordinating labor needs, and training employees... Show more	$13-46
   House Supervisor	A house supervisor is responsible for supporting the medical facilities' operations on behalf of the unit management. House supervisors ensure that the medical staff provides the highest quality care services for the patients by responding to their inquiries and concerns and assisting their medical needs... Show more	$17-48

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GPS
   • Data Collection
   • Construction Layout
   • Survey Equipment
   • Construction Projects
   • GIS
   • Boundary Surveys
   • Mowing
   • Topo
   • Field Maintenance
   • Auto CAD
   • Athletic Fields
   • Softball Fields
   • Mowers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with and lead operators, effectively conveying information, ensuring successful wireline operation performance.
   • Conduct dry weather outfall inspections utilizing data collection units to electronically record GPS location and basic parameters of inspect outfalls.
   • Skil in Autocad, and Carlson software.
   • Crowd management, CPR and rescue breathing certify.
   • Experience with Trimble and Leica systems, along with conventional method.
   • Inspect, troubleshoot and repair defects find, and pilot write ups.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your field crew chief job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A field crew chief salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, field crew chiefs' average salary in mississippi is 40% less than in illinois.
   • Seniority. Entry-level field crew chiefs earn 46% less than senior-level field crew chiefs.
   • Certifications. A field crew chief with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a field crew chief's salary.

   Average field crew chief salary

   $39,875yearly

   $19.17 hourly rate

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   Entry-level field crew chief salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a field crew chief job description

   A field crew chief job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a field crew chief job description:

   Field crew chief job description example

   RES is the nation's largest and most experienced provider of ecological restoration and water resource solutions. To date, we have restored over 328 stream miles, 58,024 wetland acres, and rehabilitated, preserved, and/or managed over 15,000 acres of special-status species habitats. RES operations include planting over 17,400,000 restorative trees and reducing over 267 tons of polluting nutrients. RES navigates and streamlines the environmental permitting process with solutions that balance economic development and ecological sustainability through the establishment of mitigation/conservation banks, permittee responsible turnkey mitigation, and corporate social responsibility projects.
   
   The primary function of the Restoration Technician is to complete ecological restoration work in the field. This includes all aspects of restoration work such as planting, seeding, erosion control methods, brush cutting, prescribed burns, light equipment operation, herbicide application to control invasive species, and various other tasks.
   What your day-to-day might look like? Prepare soil for planting seeds, trees, and plant plugs by the following methods: Apply herbicide to areas for planting/seeding; Scarification of soil by hand or with tractor; and mowing tall vegetation. Sow native plant seed install native plant plugs, trees and shrubs according to instructions and planned design of landscaped area. Implements erosion control methods such as, but not limited to: Straw mulching; Erosion blanket; Silt fencing. Cut, stack and chip or burn trees and brush. Operate company equipment (Tractors, ATVs, skid-steers, chainsaws, brush saws, etc.). Perform maintenance and field repairs on equipment. At times, direct temporary labor from an outside third party. Complete project and administrative paperwork in a timely manner. Communicate status of projects to supervisors and project managers. Water seeded areas, trees, and plants. Trail construction. Maintain natural areas by: Hand pulling weed species; Spot herbicide weed species; Mowing; and Prescribed burning. Cross train with Nursery with daily operations as needed, including: Seed Collection and Seed Cleaning etc. Qualifications
   Required:
   High School degree or equivalent 1 or more years working in naturtal resources field operations Solid understanding of basic ecological restoration techniques. Willingness to work in all weather conditions to conduct ecological restoration. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Valid driver's license Pesticide License within 30 days of hire (in relevant state(s) and categories) Ability to travel from home location up to 75% of the time Ability to attain Federal Medical Card for DOT driving is preferred but not required for position
   Physical Requirements:
   
   The working conditions and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   Willing and able to perform and comply with the following items:
   Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; talk and hear. Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Frequent exposure to outside weather conditions. Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, extreme heat, and vibration. Frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The employee is expected to be able to conduct field work that may require walking up or down steep grades or on uneven ground, operating in inclement, not dangerous, weather conditions, exposure to direct sun and other weather, and may be in areas occupied by wild or domestic animals. Exposure to thorny or poisonous plant materials is not uncommon in the field. The employee may be requested to wade or participate in work conducted on open water. VEVRAA Federal Contractor
   
   RES is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right field crew chief for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with field crew chiefs they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit field crew chiefs who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your field crew chief job on Zippia to find and recruit field crew chief candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit field crew chiefs, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new field crew chief

   Once you've decided on a perfect field crew chief candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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