Construction Manager

The Community Development Department (CDD) is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Encompassing the Housing, Economic Development, Community Planning, Zoning and Development, and Environmental and Transportation Planning divisions, CDD’s mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. CDD engages and collaborates with community partners, other government agencies, and residents to make Cambridge a desirable place to live, work, learn, play, and innovate.

Under the supervision of the Housing Director, the Construction Manager works with City staff and affordable housing providers and managers to ensure affordable housing units assisted by the City are built according to approved plans, meet relevant building and safety codes and City standards, and will inspect housing for compliance with applicant housing quality standards.    The Construction Manager will work closely with other CDD staff, other City departments, non-profit and private housing organizations, and the Cambridge Housing Authority.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Overseeing/managing the construction and/or rehabilitation of affordable housing by providing regular monitoring of construction work in progress on City-assisted affordable housing ranging from single-unit rehabilitation to large new construction projects, inspecting City-funded housing operated by non-profit and private affordable housing providers, and approving progress payments for completed work, case, and project completions.
• Conducting property evaluations and inspections of City-assisted housing and/or potential opportunities to add housing the affordable housing stock.
• Preparing construction cost estimates and feasibility analyses.
• Working with CDD staff and affordable housing providers to develop and review construction scope and estimates, reviews construction plans, specifications, cost estimates, and bids on City-assisted housing and City-funded home improvement program for eligible owners.
• Working with project teams to develop solutions to building, construction, and rehabilitation challenges.
• Evaluating and inspecting condition of City-assisted affordable housing; working with housing providers and contractors to ensure City and HUD standards are met and records are kept.
• Works with residents and other CDD, City and staff from affordable housing providers to respond to concerns about conditions of City-assisted affordable housing.
• Performs other duties as requested.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Construction Manager should be a self-motivated, detail-oriented professional who is ready to work as part of a team in a fast-paced office environment to provide construction and rehab expertise needed to assist with the full range of the City’s affordable housing programs. We seek candidates with a strong commitment to equity and respect, both in the provision of services and in the workplace.

• Minimum of 10 years demonstrated experience with construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, or equivalent combination of education, training, and professional experience. A Bachelor’s degree in construction management, project management or a related field may be substituted for 3 years of experience, a Master’s degree for an additional 2 years of experience.
• Experience developing construction and rehab scopes of work, drafting of construction specifications, plan reading, and cost estimating; ability to prepare written standards for residential construction and rehabilitation.
• Experience in construction management, bid negotiating, and oversight of general contractors and/or sub-contractors.
• Comprehensive knowledge of State building code.
• Knowledge of the availability, quality, and sustainability of materials used in residential construction and rehab.
• Ability to inspect occupied housing units using HUD Housing Quality Standards and/or other housing condition requirements; familiarity with HUD Housing Quality Standards, State Sanitary Code, and other housing condition requirements.
• Ability to understand, interpret, summarize, and communicate City and program policies and guidelines to project sponsors and contractors.
• Good judgement; superior customer service skills, excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills (written and oral).
• Excellent organizational, time management, and project management skills; ability to set priorities and to work independently and efficiently to manage multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced office environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively and proactively as a team player to achieve team goals.
• Ability to understand and interpret program policies and guidelines; ability to explain complex information to other staff, partners, residents and in public settings.
• Access to reliable transportation for travel to buildings and sites that are in review and/or under construction.
• Strong computer skills with essential software (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse; Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies; Commitment to working in a community that values diversity and experience working with diverse community groups.

Preferred:

• Experience with Housing Developer Pro and/or other construction management software.
• Experience with sustainable building approaches.
• Massachusetts Construction Supervisor license.
• Experience with and/or certification or accreditation with Passive House (PHIUS).
• Experience with USGBC LEED rating and/or LEED AP accreditation.
• Proficiency in Amharic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and/or Spanish.