Buried Drop Technician – Independent Contractor

Compensation: Piece Rate – Rate structure provided during next steps

Work Location: On the road

THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT-CONTRACTOR POSITION ONLY – NOT AN EMPLOYMENT-BASED POSITION

Wherever you find advanced telecommunications infrastructure and leading-edge technology being installed, you’ll find Protel Industries.

Founded in 2012, Protel Industries brings extensive experience in telecommunications construction, electrical distribution, installation, maintenance, and field services. We are proud to provide high-quality service with the professional care our clients expect.

Our success is built on strong execution and continuous improvement, driven by safety, quality, expertise, and teamwork.

Summary

Protel Industries is seeking motivated Buried Drop Technicians to support current and upcoming telecommunications projects. Individual technicians and established crews are both encouraged to apply.

This opportunity is well suited to individuals with experience in telecommunications, buried-drop installation, landscaping, civil construction, utilities, excavation, or similar hands-on field work. Previous buried-drop experience is an asset; however, individuals with transferable field experience and a willingness to learn are also encouraged to apply.

Technicians will be responsible for completing assigned buried telecommunications installations, including site review, excavation, cable placement, restoration, documentation, and job closeout.

Successful applicants must be comfortable working independently and as part of a crew, following established installation and safety requirements, protecting customer property, and completing work to Protel and client quality standards.

Contractor Requirements

- Valid driver's licence and reliable transportation
- Ability to provide required background screening and contractor documentation
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and site conditions
- Physically capable of digging, lifting, bending, carrying materials, and performing repetitive field work
- Comfortable using hand tools and equipment associated with excavation and telecommunications installation
- Reliable mobile device capable of accessing required field applications
- Comfortable using digital work-management, safety,



and documentation systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a field crew
- Ability to manage assigned workload and communicate job status effectively
- Ability to follow client and Protel safety, quality, and installation standards
- Willingness to complete required project orientation and field training

Previous buried-drop, telecommunications, landscaping, utility, excavation, or civil construction experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

- Complete residential and commercial buried telecommunications drop installations
- Review assigned work and confirm job scope, utility locates, installation route, and required property authorization before beginning work
- Complete required Field Level Hazard Assessments (FLHAs) and follow all applicable PPE and site-safety requirements
- Excavate approved soft-surface routes using appropriate hand tools and equipment
- Install and route telecommunications drops from the designated feed point to the required termination location
- Complete required NIB/NID, elbow, conduit interface, and wall-finishing work
- Maintain required burial depths and installation standards
- Backfill and properly compact disturbed areas following installation
- Restore lawns and other disturbed soft surfaces using appropriate topsoil, grass seed, and restoration materials
- Protect customer property, landscaping, structures, and surrounding surfaces throughout the work
- Maintain a clean and professional worksite and remove waste following completion
- Capture required before, during, and after photographs, including installation and restoration evidence
- Complete required field reports, job documentation, and closeout information accurately and on time
- Perform a final quality check before reporting work as complete
- Identify and communicate site conditions, blockers, or additional work requirements that may affect completion




- Escalate hard-surface, saw-cutting, conduit, obstructed-route, or other non-standard work before proceeding
- Ensure incomplete or deficient work is identified and addressed rather than reported as complete
- Communicate effectively with supervisors, project teams, customers, and other field personnel as required
- Support other technicians and crew members as required
- Follow all Protel and client safety, quality, documentation, and restoration requirements

Tools & Equipment

Technicians are expected to arrive prepared with the standard tools and equipment required to perform their assigned work. Requirements may vary depending on whether the applicant is working individually or as part of an established crew.

Standard field equipment may include:

- Appropriate digging, trenching, and tamping equipment
- Standard telecommunications and hand tools
- Measuring and installation tools
- Site protection and cleanup equipment
- Traffic cones and basic work-area controls where required
- Required PPE and personal safety equipment
- Reliable transportation suitable for field work
- Mobile device capable of accessing required project applications and capturing clear field photographs

Specialty equipment may be required for certain approved scopes of work. Equipment expectations and project-specific requirements will be reviewed during onboarding.

Materials & Consumables

Technicians or crews may be responsible for maintaining routine consumable and restoration materials required to complete assigned work, including:

- Fresh topsoil
- Grass seed
- Tarps and protective materials
- Standard fastening materials
- Cleanup and waste materials
- Other routine restoration supplies required for assigned work

Project-specific material requirements and responsibilities will be reviewed prior to deployment.

Whether you are an experienced individual technician looking for your next chance or an established crew looking for additional telecommunications work, we encourage you to apply.

Ready to bring your field experience to a team that values safety, quality, execution, and accountability? Apply today and become part of Protel Industries' trusted contractor network.

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

📌 Buried Drop Crew – Independent Contractor (Canada)
🏢 Protel Industries
📍 Canada