Construction Project Manager

Organization Background:

Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) global health organization operating in Burundi, East Africa, with offices in New York City. Founded in 2006, VHW’s mission is to build a healthier and more just, peaceful, and prosperous society by providing quality health care (a prerequisite to productive life) in a dignified environment. We seek to be a center of excellence in global health where we work. We believe quality health care must address the root causes and social determinants of disease. Accordingly, we offer additional programs in education, agriculture, and economic and community development, in response to community needs.
For more information, please visit www.villagehealthworks.org

Guardian article written by VHW Founder Deo Niyizonkiza (2014): http://bit.ly/1Q392Wh

VHW seeks a construction manager to assist in the planning and pre-construction services of the Women’s Health Pavilion (WHP), a 75,000 square foot District Level Hospital in Kigutu, Burundi. This position offers a unique opportunity for an individual to leverage his or her expertise in construction management to improve the lives of one of the most impoverished communities in the world and to provide a healthcare foundation for an entire region.
The WHP designed by New York-based Bergen Street Studio in collaboration with Silman Associates (Structural), JB&B (MEP), and Level Infrastructure (Civil Engineering), will be a 120 bed hospital with four surgical suites primarily geared to provide operations associated with birth complications. The hospital has been designed using international hospital standards. The campus water, power, sanitation, and roads are currently being upgraded to support the demands of the future hospital.
Now, as VHW approaches implementation of the WHP, it seeks to hire a full-time construction manager to collaborate with and to lend international level professionalism to pre-construction services. The assignment is in Burundi. Pre-construction services will span the next three months, with construction to commence May 1, 2016.

Job Description

This position is based in Kigutu, Burundi. It effectively manages the new construction of the Women’s Health Pavilion (WHP), a state-of-the-art teaching hospital, and all other construction projects associated with the WHP and other VHW health programs. Project manager will report to the chair of the WHP committee.

The Project Manager will work closely with hospital leadership team to evaluate and prioritize projects, will evaluate and manage the performance of design and construction teams, will track project costs and schedules to achieve project budget and timelines, and will mitigate risk through assessment of quality, scope, safety and regulatory requirements. Project Manager will coordinate system and facility resources to achieve system priorities and facility project goals.

Essential Functions
Construction Manager will:

• Support the procurement process of a General Contractor for the WHP;
• Support refining the design to meet budget targets and local constructability issues;
• Support managing the overall project implementation schedule;
• Bring his/her individual passion and knowledge, in pre- construction services such as construction costs, budgeting, means and methods, GC references, and project scheduling. Once GC is selected, the role will entail working with VHW team and GC to ensure the construction is carried out practically, cost effectively and in conformance with the design intent and aspirations of the project.
• Serve as the “client face” of Village Health Works in interactions with the contractor, sub-contractors, architect and engineers.
• Ensure effective communication throughout project life.
• Interact positively with facilities personnel, administration, medical staff members, department managers, vendors, and other outside agencies.
• Evaluate and proactively identify potential project issues such as disruptions to operations, contract work, emergency repairs and potential damage situations.
• Ensure that these issues are addressed during project planning and design and managed during construction.
• Prepare and evaluate projects, read and interpret design documents, and review for completeness and quality, i.e. maintenance, construction, and function.
• Prepare and manage budgets creating cost projections and performing project cost tracking for assigned projects.
• Assure contractors and vendors work complies with regulatory requirements and organization-wide interim Life/Safety policies and procedures.
• Monitor and maintain project related documents including RFIs, Proposal Requests, Change Orders, testing and inspection reports, lien notices and purchase requisitions.
• Review and approve contractor pay applications and Change Orders within prescribed limits.
• Mitigate project risk by identifying potential issues including site logistics, disruptions to operations, existing conditions and maintenance concerns.
• Monitor contractor performance for quality and ensure appropriate level of independent testing and inspection of materials and conditions.
• Ensure safety standards are met in all aspects of performance of the above functions.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidate must possess a strong knowledge of architecture, construction, and engineering as normally demonstrated through the completion of a bachelors degree in architecture, construction management, civil engineering or related field.

Minimum of ten years of progressive project management experience preferably in health care related construction. Qualified applicant to this position must have proven experience directing and managing multiple resources and big construction projects.

Construction manager must possess a strong ability to read and interpret blue prints, specifications and related contract regulatory documents. S/he must possess a thorough working knowledge of materials and standards and project tracking tools. Construction manager must be able to compute job costs, prepare and monitor project budgets and schedules, a well as use and interpret typical contracts and agreements. S/he must possess strong written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills to motivate team performance. Must be a gifted listener, negotiator, and able to resolve conflicts. Successful applicant must be able to work independently and effectively align resources to achieve system goals, must exercise independent judgment and be able to maintain confidential information.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience; competitive full benefit package provided.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Applicants should submit a resume and a two-page cover letter to jobs@villagehealthworks.org.
• Applications will be considered until the post is filled.
• Only selected applicants will be contacted for interviews. Those applicants will be informed whether or not their application will move forward after the interview. We will be unable to respond to candidates who are not called for interview. The job posting will be removed from the VHW website when the post has been filled.

VHW considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. VHW is an equal opportunity employer.