What a site supervisor does
Site supervisors, sometimes called site superintendents, run day-to-day operations on a construction project. They coordinate trades and deliveries, keep the schedule on track, lead safety meetings and inspections and act as the link between the field and the project manager. When the supervisor is organized and respected, problems are caught early. When they are not, delays and safety issues tend to follow.
Because supervisors carry duties under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, you need someone who understands those responsibilities, not just someone with years on site. Finch screens candidates for leadership style, project type and scale, scheduling ability and safety practices. You meet a shortlist of people who can manage your trades and represent your company well with clients and inspectors.
Typical responsibilities
- Coordinating subcontractors, trades and material deliveries on site
- Tracking progress against the schedule and reporting to the project manager
- Running safety orientations, toolbox talks and site inspections
- Making sure work follows the drawings, specifications and Ontario Building Code
- Keeping daily logs, records and site documentation up to date
- Working with inspectors, consultants and client representatives on site
Qualifications and credentials
- Experience supervising construction sites of a similar type and size
- Ontario supervisor health and safety awareness training, plus Working at Heights and WHMIS
- Strong knowledge of construction methods, sequencing and the Ontario Building Code
- A college diploma in construction or a related field is often preferred
- Gold Seal Certification as a superintendent is valued by some employers
- Comfort with scheduling software, email and digital site reporting
Who hires a site supervisor
- General contractors
- Residential and condominium developers
- Commercial and institutional builders
- Design-build firms
- Large renovation contractors
Where we recruit site supervisor candidates
We fill site supervisor roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Size and type of projects supervised
- Leadership approach with trades and subcontractors
- Understanding of a supervisor's health and safety duties in Ontario
- Scheduling, documentation and communication skills
- References from project managers and past employers
Interview questions to ask
- Tell me about a time a trade fell behind schedule. What did you do?
- How do you run a safety talk so crews actually pay attention?
- What does your daily site log include, and who reads it?