Project Lift Director

About the role

The Lift Director is responsible for the overall planning, safety, oversight, and execution of all crane, hoisting, and rigging operations on the project site. This role is responsible for verifying that all lifting activities comply with OSHA standards, ASME requirements, contract specifications, and Yates site-specific safety policies, while driving a culture of safety leadership across all crane and rigging operations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain continuous full-time presence on the jobsite before crane assembly, through testing, active lifting operations, and crane disassembly.
• Develop, review, and approve comprehensive lift plans, evaluating site logistics, ground bearing capacities, crane setup locations, power line clearances, and swing radii.
• Oversee all crane setup, assembly, rigging, counterweight positioning, and disassembly operations in compliance with manufacturer manuals, engineering requirements, and OSHA guidelines.
• Verify rigging selection, capacity calculations, hitch configurations, and load weight estimates.
• Conduct/Attend mandatory pre-lift safety meetings and daily briefings with crane operators, riggers, signal persons, and surrounding site crews before initiating operations.
• Exercise immediate stop-work authority if unsafe ground conditions, adverse weather, equipment deficiencies, or unapproved scope deviations occur.
• Understand contract requirements, scope boundaries, technical specifications, and site-specific safety protocols related to lifting and crane management.
• Maintain written logs of daily lift activities, crane inspection reports, rigging inspection tags, operator certifications, and pre-lift meeting minutes.
• Interface with project management, field superintendents, trade partners, and client representatives to ensure lifting operations align safely with the overall construction master schedule.

Safety Responsibilities and Expectations

Responsible for refusing unsafe work and for carrying out all work in accordance with the established Yates Safety Procedures and Work Practices. Report all incidents, near hits, and hazards to management immediately. Required to wear and maintain personal PPE. Advise fellow employees and trade partners of hazardous situations. Participate in workplace inspections and crane safety audits. Comply with statutory requirements, including duty of care under federal, state, and local safety codes.

Qualifications

• Lift Director Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a Lift Director or in a directly similar supervisory role.
• Crane & Rigging Experience: Minimum of ten (10) years of hands-on crane and rigging experience in heavy commercial, industrial, or infrastructure construction.
• Certification: National Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) or able to sit for NCCCO Lift Director Certification
• Logistics & Planning: Proven experience in site logistics, rigging design, ground support evaluation, and crane planning.
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; an undergraduate degree or technical diploma in Construction Management, Engineering, or Occupational Safety is desirable (equivalent industry experience may substitute).

Requirements

• Requirement to be on-site full time before and during crane assembly, operation, and disassembly.
• Comprehensive understanding of OSHA standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC - Cranes and Derricks in Construction) and ASME B30 safety standards (ASME B30.5, B30.3, B30.20).
• Deep technical knowledge of crane load charts, boom angle calculations, load weight distribution, and rigging hardware selection.
• Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate technical specifications, structural blueprints, rigging drawings, and manufacturer installation manuals.
• Implementation and management of Yates safety procedures, standards, and crane protocols on site.

Competencies

• Safety Leadership: Leading by example, holding oneself and others accountable, and coaching crews in proactive safety practices.
• Communication: Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with crane crews, client representatives, and site leadership.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Strong ability to analyze complex lifts, anticipate site hazards, and execute safe logistics solutions.
• Collaboration: Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to work constructively in a multi-trade project environment.
• Time Management: Meticulous organizational and time management skills to ensure lifting operations run safely and according to schedule.

About Yates Construction

Yates Construction is family-owned and provides a wide range of construction and building services. Incorporated in 1964 by William G. Yates Jr., we have steadily grown to become one of the top commercial and industrial construction companies in the nation.