About This Role
This role leads concrete finishing operations on pours, ensuring the quality and durability of the final product. The Concrete Finisher builds on prior experience as a laborer, mastering all finishing processes, confidently operating power trowels, and training and directing junior laborers. This position requires the ability to make real-time decisions, adapt methods to site conditions, and ensure finishing meets project standards.
Responsibilities
- Direct Tier 1-3 laborers during finishing operations, assign tasks, and keep the crew moving efficiently
- Make real-time decisions and adjustments as conditions change while staying aligned with the Foreman's direction
- Maintain a full understanding of concrete processes from preparation through curing
- Spot problems early with mix, grade, or finish, correct them immediately, and ensure work is done to the highest safety and quality standards
- Teach and model proper practices for lower-tier laborers
- Safely and skillfully operate walk-behind and ride-on power trowels throughout all stages of finishing, adjusting blades, speed, and technique to achieve a flat, durable surface
- Take responsibility for training other crew members in power trowel use
- Perform daily checks and maintenance on equipment
- Execute every stage of finishing – striking, bull floating, edging, jointing, power troweling, curing, and detailing – with precision and consistency
- Adapt techniques to site conditions and concrete behavior
- Train lower-tier laborers in support roles, ensuring the entire crew contributes to a high-quality finish
- Plan and perform saw cutting with precision, ensuring correct depth, spacing, timing, and alignment to prevent cracking and maintain structural integrity
- Coordinate cutting with the pour and finishing plan
- Oversee and train lower-tier laborers in supporting tasks while maintaining final accountability for results
- Lead finishing with the mindset that the whole crew wins or loses together
- Help lower-tier laborers improve through clear direction and hands-on coaching during pours
- Step in and do what's needed to protect the pour outcome
- Stay coachable and always improve finishing craft, techniques, timing, and decision-making
- Adjust approach based on job conditions, mix behavior, weather, and foreman direction
- Learn from mistakes quickly and pass that learning down to the rest of the crew
- Bring consistent pace and urgency during finishing windows
- Stay engaged from the first strike-off through final detail work, curing, and protection
- Ensure the finish stays sharp through the end of the pour
- Treat the final surface quality like your name is stamped into the concrete