Building Manager
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Exec. / Management, Engineer - Civil
- Schedule:Full-time
- Salary: Negotiable
Department: Program Department/Construction
Location / Duty Station: Phnom Penh, with frequent travel to school projects in remote communities
Role Purpose / Summary
The Building Manager will be responsible for overseeing and monitoring the planning, implementation, and day-to-day management of construction team, maintenance, and improvement works across multiple school infrastructure projects, including new primary school construction, school maintenance and repairs, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facility upgrades.
The role will ensure that all projects are implemented efficiently, safely, and in accordance with approved architectural and structural drawings, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), technical specifications, construction schedules, contractual requirements, established quality standards, and applicable Cambodian laws and regulations. The Building Manager will monitor project progress, manage resources, control costs, identify and address implementation risks, and ensure that works are completed to the required quality standards, within the approved budget and agreed timelines.
The postholder will work closely with UWS teams, contractors, suppliers, relevant government authorities, school management, and local communities to ensure effective planning, coordination, and delivery of construction activities. The role will also promote compliance with occupational health and safety, environmental protection, safeguarding, gender equality and social inclusion (GESSI), and child protection requirements throughout the project cycle, contributing to the development of safe, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable learning environments for children in the communities served by UWS.
Reports To: Senior Programme Manager
Type of Contract: Full – Time, Renewable (Annually according to performance)
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
Remuneration: Negotiable according to qualifications and experience
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Construction Planning and Site Management
- Develop and monitor detailed construction workplans, implementation schedules and key milestones in coordination with UWS and the appointed contractor.
- Conduct regular site visits and oversee day-to-day construction activities to ensure that work progresses according to the approved schedule.
- Review construction drawings, BoQs, work methods and technical specifications to understand the required scope, quality standards and responsibilities of each party.
- Coordinate the delivery, storage, distribution and use of construction materials, equipment and tools, ensuring that UWS-supplied and contractor-supplied items are properly accounted for.
- Identify construction delays, technical challenges, resource constraints and implementation risks, and recommend timely corrective actions.
- Maintain accurate site records, including daily activity logs, attendance records where required, site instructions, material records and photographic evidence of progress.
- Construction Quality Assurance and Technical Supervision
- Monitor construction works to ensure compliance with approved drawings, technical specifications, BoQs and relevant building standards.
- Inspect construction activities at critical stages, including foundations, structural works, reinforced concrete, masonry, roofing, flooring, doors and windows, electrical installations, plumbing and sanitation, as applicable.
- Verify the quality and quantity of materials delivered to the site against approved specifications and delivery records.
- Identify defective or non-compliant work and promptly report it to UWS, recommending corrective measures and monitoring their implementation.
- Coordinate required technical inspections and testing with qualified engineers, specialists, contractors and relevant authorities.
- Ensure that any proposed design changes, variations or additional works receive the required technical review and written approval from UWS before implementation.
- Support the preparation of snagging lists, completion inspections, defect rectification records and final handover documentation.
- Ensure that construction completion and acceptance are supported by the necessary inspections, approvals and technical documentation.
- Contractor and Stakeholder Coordination
- Coordinate regularly with the construction contractor, site supervisor, engineers, suppliers, local authorities, school directors and community representatives.
- Monitor contractor performance against contractual obligations, agreed timelines, workmanship requirements and health and safety standards.
- Organize and participate in site coordination meetings and document agreed actions, responsibilities and deadlines.
- Communicate construction progress, emerging issues and proposed solutions to UWS management in a timely manner.
- Facilitate coordination with provincial and district education offices, local authorities and school management committees where relevant.
- Promote constructive community engagement and address site-related concerns through appropriate UWS reporting and communication channels.
- Ensure that all instructions affecting cost, scope, quality or schedule are documented and approved by the authorized UWS representative.
- Budget, Materials and Resource Management
- Monitor construction activities and material consumption against the approved Building of Quantities (BoQ), budget, and implementation plan.
- Maintain records of materials received, issued, used, stored, damaged or wasted.
- Support verification of completed works and quantities for payment certification in accordance with the contract and UWS procedures and internal compliance accountability.
- Identify potential cost overruns, material shortages, wastage and discrepancies, and report them promptly.
- Ensure that no unauthorized procurement, material substitution, additional work or variation is undertaken.
- Support the preparation of progress reports, budget reforecasting, expenditure forecasts and documentation required for internal monitoring, donor reporting and financial accountability.
- Team Management and Leadership:
- Lead a dynamic construction team (2 x Building Officers) to deliver the construction department in line with USW’s values
- Coach the team to excel and play a role as future leaders in their areas
- of expertise.
- Encourage the culture and practice of learning, creativity, and innovation amongst the team members
- Reporting, Documentation and Project Handover
- Prepare regular construction progress reports covering physical progress, completed activities, upcoming milestones, quality issues, safety incidents, risks and corrective actions.
- Maintain an organised project file containing approved drawings, BoQs, contracts, site records, inspection reports, material records, photographs, meeting minutes and relevant approvals.
- Notify UWS management promptly of any material deviation from the approved construction plan, budget, specifications or contractual requirements.
- Coordinate final inspections and verify the completion of agreed works and outstanding defects.
- Support the preparation of as-built drawings, warranties, operation and maintenance information, completion certificates and other handover documents, as applicable.
- Facilitate the formal handover of the completed school building to UWS and the designated government or school authority.
- Support post-completion defect inspections during the applicable defect’s liability period.
- Safeguarding, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESSI)
- Ensure that construction activities comply with UWS safeguarding, child protection, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and relevant codes of conduct.
- Ensure that workers, contractors and visitors understand and comply with applicable safeguarding and workplace conduct requirements.
- Maintain appropriate child-safe site arrangements, including restricted access to hazardous construction areas and appropriate supervision of site visitors.
- Promote respectful and non-discriminatory treatment of workers and community members, including women, people with disabilities and members of Indigenous communities.
- Monitor whether school facilities incorporate approved accessibility, gender-responsive design, safe sanitation, privacy and other inclusive design requirements.
- Report safeguarding concerns, suspected misconduct and serious complaints through UWS reporting channels, while maintaining confidentiality and protecting affected individuals.
- Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management
- Ensure that appropriate site health and safety procedures are established, communicated and implemented by the contractor and workers.
- Monitor the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), safe working practices, site access controls, warning signs and emergency arrangements.
- Identify and report unsafe conditions, accidents, near misses and environmental hazards, and ensure that corrective actions are taken.
- Monitor the safe storage of construction materials, tools, fuel and equipment, where applicable.
- Ensure appropriate management of construction waste, dust, noise, drainage and other environmental impacts.
- Maintain appropriate separation between active construction areas and children, teachers, school activities and community members.
- Immediately report serious safety incidents and suspend or escalate unsafe activities in accordance with delegated authority and UWS procedures.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering, Construction Management, Building Technology, Architecture or another relevant technical field
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
- Professional Experience: At least 5-7 years of relevant experience in building construction, site supervision, construction management or infrastructure project implementation.
- Construction Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of building construction methods, structural works, construction materials, architectural and structural drawings, BoQs, and technical specifications.
- Computer Utilization Skills: MS Office 365 applications, CAD and Preferences for 3D programs such as Autodesk Revit 2026, Google SketchUp or another relevant computer programs like ETAP, Prota Structure and Autodesk Robot.
- Site Supervision: Proven ability to monitor construction progress, inspect workmanship, identify defects, and follow up on corrective actions.
- Contractor Management: Experience coordinating contractors, construction workers, suppliers, engineers and other project stakeholders.
- Planning and Reporting: Ability to prepare or monitor work plans, construction schedules, site reports, inspection records, and material tracking documents.
- Budget and Materials: Understanding of construction cost control, quantity verification, materials management and basic payment verification.
- Experience constructing schools, educational facilities, community buildings or other public infrastructure.
- Experience working with NGOs, international development organizations, government institutions or donor-funded construction projects.
- Familiarity with relevant Cambodian building regulations, permitting requirements, construction practices and applicable labour and safety requirements.
- Experience monitoring contractor compliance with construction contracts, BoQs and approved technical drawings.
- Knowledge of accessible and inclusive infrastructure, gender-responsive WASH facilities and child-friendly school design.
- Experience working with Indigenous communities and local authorities in rural or remote areas of Cambodia.
- Knowledge of construction-related environmental and social risk management.
- Familiarity with construction software, AutoCAD, project scheduling tools or digital site-monitoring systems.
- Additional technical training or professional certification in construction supervision, occupational health and safety or quality assurance.
