Utility Construction Inspector

Utility Construction Inspector

Project Resources Group (PRG) is seeking a Utility Construction Inspector to support underground infrastructure and construction activities throughout New York City. In this role, you’ll inspect field conditions, identify utility conflicts and interferences, document construction activities, and help ensure work is performed in accordance with applicable drawings, specifications, permits, safety requirements, and construction standards.

This is a field-first position. You’ll spend most of your day in active construction environments around excavation, underground utilities, roadway work, and heavy civil operations. You’ll compare actual field conditions against available plans and records, coordinate directly with contractors, utilities, engineers, and construction teams, and follow identified issues through resolution. It is not a desk-based project management or administrative coordination position.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspect underground construction, excavation, and utility work for compliance with applicable drawings, specifications, permits, safety requirements, and established construction standards.
• Perform field investigations related to underground construction, utility conflicts, potential infrastructure interferences, and differing field conditions.
• Conduct site visits before, during, and following construction to evaluate existing conditions and construction progress.
• Identify and document conflicts between proposed construction and existing underground infrastructure, including electric, gas, telecommunications, water, sewer, and other subsurface facilities.
• Compare actual field conditions and construction activities against drawings, utility records, mark-outs, surveys, permits, and other available documentation.
• Monitor excavation, trenching, shoring, utility installation, backfilling, restoration, and related construction activities.
• Identify defective, noncompliant, or incomplete work and promptly communicate findings to the appropriate project stakeholders.
• Coordinate with contractors, utility representatives, engineers, construction management, other inspectors, and field personnel to address field issues and determine appropriate next steps.
• Document excavation areas, utility locations, interferences, construction progress, deficiencies, corrective actions, and other field conditions through detailed inspection reports, field notes, and photographs.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, findings, open issues, responsible parties, required follow-up, and final resolution; verify that deficiencies and outstanding field issues are appropriately closed.
• Escalate significant utility conflicts, safety concerns, construction deficiencies, constructability issues, and potential schedule impacts to project leadership.
• Participate in job walks, pre-construction meetings, field coordination meetings, and project status meetings as required.
• Work safely and professionally within active roadway, excavation, utility, and heavy construction environments, with regular travel throughout the five boroughs and assigned NYC project areas.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Direct field experience involving construction inspection, heavy civil construction, and underground infrastructure. Backgrounds that translate well include:
• • Construction inspection
  • Heavy civil construction
  • Underground utility construction
  • Utility interference or conflict investigation
  • Excavation and trenching operations
  • Electric, gas, water, sewer, or telecommunications underground construction
  • Utility relocation or subsurface utility engineering/investigation
  • Roadway, street, civil, or site construction
  • Underground telecommunications infrastructure or utility coordination
• Previous construction inspection or utility experience within New York City is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the complexity of NYC underground infrastructure, congested utility environments, roadway/right-of-way work, and street-opening construction is strongly preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, utility plans, specifications, permits, mark-outs, sketches, surveys, and field documentation.
• Knowledge of utility locating and mark-out practices and experience recognizing undocumented utilities, obstructions, conflicts, and differing field conditions.
• Experience documenting deficiencies, noncompliant work, corrective actions, and construction conditions clearly and accurately.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing, field conditions, inspection practices, and basic constructability.
• Sound judgment about when to escalate safety concerns, utility conflicts, construction deficiencies, and potential schedule impacts.
• Ability to work independently in the field while coordinating effectively with contractors, utilities, inspectors, engineers, construction management, and other stakeholders.
• Strong observation, communication, organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.

Work Environment & Requirements

• The majority of your time will be spent in the field, with regular travel throughout the five boroughs and assigned New York City project areas.
• Fieldwork includes active roadway, excavation, utility, and heavy construction environments and may involve trenching, shoring, backfilling, restoration, heavy equipment, and subsurface infrastructure.
• Candidates must be comfortable entering active construction areas, observing excavation and utility work, interacting directly with construction crews and utility personnel, and independently evaluating field conditions.
• This role requires the ability to recognize when construction activities or actual field conditions differ from drawings, specifications, permits, or available utility records and to clearly document and communicate those discrepancies through resolution.

Compensation & Benefits

We offer competitive hourly pay ($35 to $45 per hour based on experience) along with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• 401(k) retirement plan, with company match after one (1) year
• Short-term disability coverage after one (1) year
• Paid time off and holidays
• Additional perks such as company-paid life insurance and other supplemental insurances available

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About Project Resources Group (PRG)

As a leading provider of construction management, outside plant damage assessment & recovery, business outsourcing and consulting services, PRG offers services within the cable, telephony, construction and utility industries, including:

• Back Office Processing
• Technical Support
• Network Infrastructure
• Engineering & Design
• Project and Program Management
• Outside Plant Damage Cost Recovery Services

With 20+ offices and 825+ employees nationwide, we deliver industry-leading solutions with speed, accuracy, and expertise.