Haiti Design and Construction Area Manager

WORK FOR AN AWARD-WINNING NON-PROFIT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN HAITI.

POSITION OPENING: Design and Construction Area Manager
Industry: Non-profit/International Development Function: Management and Oversight Employer: Build Change Job Title: Design and Construction Area Manager Job Location: Greater Port-au-Prince, Haiti Start Date: Immediate
Term: 8 months minimum with possibility of extension Salary: Competitive, with medical insurance benefits and housing in Haiti

Organization Description Build Change (www.buildchange.org) is an international non-profit social enterprise that designs earthquake-resistant houses in developing countries and trains builders, homeowners, engineers and government officials to build them. Build Change’s designs are affordable, culturally appropriate, and use materials and techniques that will continue to be used after our intervention is finished. Build Change works with the public and private sector to leave in place long-term change in construction practice. So far, Build Change has improved the design and/or construction of over 18,000 houses worldwide and trained 12,000 people.

Build Change has been operating in Haiti since July 2010, where its team of Haitian construction professionals has trained over 1,400 builders, 2,440 homeowners, and 100 engineers in safe construction techniques. Build Change has also partnered with the Ministry of Public Works and NGO community to develop earthquake-resistant design and construction guidelines for new buildings and retrofits. Build Change is now provide hands-on technical assistance to homeowners and on-the-job training for builders during construction. Build Change is providing training, engineering design, and construction supervision services to other relief agencies and materials testing services.

Build Change is a US-based 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise in operation since 2004. Build Change has won grants from Echoing Green, Draper Richards Foundation, Mulago Foundation and Ashoka-Lemelson and was named a 2008 Laureate in the Equality Category for Technology Benefiting Humanity by the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation Tech Awards. Recently, Build Change’s founder won the 2011 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability and was named a US Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Schwab Foundation. Build Change’s work has been featured on ABC News World News Tonight, BBC Website, National Public Radio All Things Considered, the New York Times, ELLE Magazine and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

Responsibilities: For the position of Design and Construction Area Manager, Build Change is seeking at least two experienced construction management professionals with extensive construction and retrofitting experience for confined masonry, unreinforced masonry, and reinforced concrete frame buildings. The successful candidate will possess the ability to apply existing earthquake-resistant design rules, demonstrate good construction techniques in a developing country context, teach builders and engineers how to execute construction projects successfully, document construction quality and complete progress reports. The successful applicant will have a proven management track record, history of successful mentorship, and demonstrated ability to communicate technical terms and concepts to technical and non-technical persons.

It should be noted that Build Change’s role is that of engineering consultant rather than construction manager; homeowners and partner agencies purchase building materials and hire builders. As such, logistics and large-scale procurement experience is less relevant to this position.
 

• Recruit, mentor and oversee Build Change Haitian engineering and construction supervision staff to provide hands-on training to builders, homeowners, and materials producers
• Develop thorough, comprehensive understanding of the structural engineering design resources developed by Build Change for confined masonry, reinforced masonry, multi-story reinforced concrete frame, timber frame, and retrofitting solutions. Oversee the application of such rules during the design process. Be willing and confident to apply engineering judgment in the absence of code-based guidance.
• Check design documents, drawings, bills of quantity, and construction inspection checklists. • Implement safety procedures and check shoring and bracing plans prior to start of construction
• Demonstrate good quality concrete block masonry, concrete mixing, bar bending, timber joinery, materials quality inspection and testing, and other construction skills during training courses and on the construction site • Maintain and expand relationships with local and national governments, partner agencies, and academic institutions.
• Prepare weekly, monthly, project, and final reports.

Basic Qualifications: • Bachelors degree in civil engineering, construction management, or related field • Minimum 5 years professional experience in construction, construction management, or construction training, with demonstrated experience managing a team of support staff and delivering outcomes on time • At least 3 years experience at a supervisory level • Valid passport • Fluent English

Preferred Qualifications: • Understanding of earthquake-resistant design, construction and retrofitting of confined masonry, reinforced masonry, and timber buildings in a developing country context • Skills in masonry, carpentry, concrete mixing, and bar bending, and other construction techniques • Project management skillset that includes ownership over milestones, work plans, reporting, using computer tools such as Excel and Word • International development experience with experience in Haiti a strong plus
• Willingness and physical ability to live and work in a post-disaster setting, which often requires work in excess of 40 hours per week under difficult conditions • No ego, drama, or pessimism; the successful candidate will be flexible, humble, patient, and have a good sense of humor.
• Working knowledge of French and Creole strong pluses.

How to apply:

To Apply Email cover letter and resume to recruiting@buildchange.org with Subject Line: Haiti Design and Construction Area Manager. Applications will be reviewed as they are received; positions will remain open until filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Qualified women, Haitian citizens, members of the Haitian diaspora, and candidates with French and Creole language skills are strongly encouraged to apply.