Terms of Reference

Construction Management Officer

Project Overview

The Kaizen Company (Kaizen) is an international development consulting firm and an incubator for innovative, scalable solutions that address emerging market challenges and opportunities. Our proven solutions catalyze locally driven organizational and institutional performance improvements and establish communities of practice that facilitate peer-to-peer learning and the achievement of shared goals. We aspire to transform the nature and impact of development assistance and work to strengthen organizations and institutions through innovative approaches to organizational development, reform, and change.

The Kaizen Company is seeking applications for a Construction Management Officer position under a USAID-funded activity in Jordan. The Enhancing School Management and Planning (ESMP) Project objective is to develop sustainable system and process improvements related to school planning, design, construction, and maintenance and enhance the staff capabilities within Jordan’s Ministries of Education (MOE) and Public Works and Housing (MPWH) to improve the school management and planning process, and the quality of school environments in Jordan. 

The scope of this project is to provide assessment expertise, technical assistance, capacity building, collaboration, facilitation, and training to targeted stakeholders and counterparts to improve existing management systems and procedures used by the Government of Jordan (GoJ) in the education sector, improve performance and sustain these improvements. 

Purpose of Assignment

The Jordanian Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MPWH) manages the school design and construction process through contracts with specialized architectural engineering firms and contractors selected through MPWH tendering processes for school building design, construction, supervision, and construction management. After schools are built, the MPWH forms a committee, and the Ministry of Education (MOE), is a member of this  committee to take over the works before officially transferring the responsibility of the schools’ operation to the MOE. There is, typically, a two-year defects liability period during which the construction contractor is responsible for repairing any defects in the building.

MPWH manages hundreds of construction projects, yet project management and document retention systems could be more optimal. As a result, contract timelines are not enforced, project delays go unanswered until they escalate, documentation needs to be better cataloged, and the Ministry is often responsible for contract-related financial penalties.

ESMP is working with MoE and MPWH to look at the construction management process institutionalized at both ministries from a holistic perspective, starting from project inception to closeout and taking over, and provide technical expertise and support to enhance the ongoing procedures and processes. The goal is to develop and conserve the built environment through clients/donors, public and private sector organizations, and individuals to meet the changing needs and increased challenges of school infrastructures in Jordan and achieve better control over project delivery, cost, and quality of the school facilities. 

To improve the existing contract and construction management processes of the public schools’ construction projects in Jordan, Kaizen is seeking to hire a Construction Management Officer to direct the School Infrastructure (SI) projects toward adopting improved processes and procedures. The Officer will coordinate and collaborate with the ESMP team to identify relevant technical improvement opportunities and coach MPWH and MOE in achieving intended objectives.

Scope of Assignment 

The Construction Management Officer will provide technical knowledge to improve project management and contract management for GOJ school construction at MPWH and MOE, as well as school construction managed by governorates. The successful candidate must have a fundamental knowledge of using FIDIC and other contract tools to ensure minimal project delays and the ability to transfer knowledge to government officials through the development and use of instructional manuals, training, and coaching. The Officer must also be knowledgeable on the processes of utilization, development, deployment, and overall functionality of project management information systems.

Responsibilities

• Identify process gaps and use GOJ's web-based Construction Management Information System (CMIS) data to propose and implement process improvements collaboratively. 

• Support the MPWH and MoE technical counterparts to complete the content of decision-makers' dashboards and management reports.

• Work with the MoE and MPWH focal points on monitoring compliance with the developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

•  Assist in engineering staff assessment of core competencies on construction-related contract and project management tools at the central ministry, field directorate, and site supervision levels.

• Monitor the implementation of the revised taking-over, design, defect liability, variation orders, and payments SOPs, collect feedback from end users, and change as necessary.

• Identify improvements in construction project management, resulting in greater alignment on contract work schedules and actual completion.  

• Understand and be aware of FIDIC and GOJ contract timelines and available enforcement tools, and use CMIS project management tracking information to promote data-driven project management.

• Assist MPWH and MOE in utilization and analyzing CMIS data to improve contract and project management, providing support as needed. 

• Identify and evaluate the improvements in site supervision, taking over, and defects liability, mainly related to construction site contracts and project management, as well as quality, health, and safety. 

• Investigate international best practices and techniques for information systems and policy improvements.

• Identify system and process improvement efforts related to school infrastructure engineering, in partnership with MOE and MPWH, including drafting standard operating procedures, instructional manuals, and other process documents related to the position. 

• Contribute to identifying, disseminating, and sharing best practices and lessons learned.

• Work with relevant stakeholders on the contractors/consultants’ Key Performance Indicators identified in the Performance Based Contracting framework in the Construction Management Information System (CMIS) 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or Cost Engineering. Master’s degree preferred.

• A minimum of 4 years of experience supporting the implementation of medium to large construction project(s) in the public/development sector (quality buildings) is preferred.

• Knowledge of FIDIC, GOJ contracting, and contract management policies and procedures.

• Technical and administrative knowledge of engineering/construction industry contracting practices, government and commercial procurement regulations and practices, policies, procedures, and work practices.

• Proven skills in managing non-construction systems and policy improvement activities, including process and system improvement.

• Experience in developing and managing relationships with donors and government/public sector partners and engaging with bilateral and multilateral partners preferred.

• Ability to work with various government and donor community stakeholders

• Familiarity with donor-funded school construction projects implemented in the education sector in Jordan is preferred.

• Knowledge of local design context and material price and awareness of budget restrictions 

• A cultural understanding of project management within Jordan is a must.

• Critical thinking abilities with strong analytical and systematic skills. 

• Effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills.

• Possession of logical thinking with strong analytical and systematic skills.

• Prior experience working with USAID-funded projects is preferred.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft, Google Suite, and Smartsheet products.

• Ability to organize work with minimal supervision.

•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Arabic and English.

At Kaizen, A Tetra Tech Company, we find strength in our diversity. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive working environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. We know that we can only do development differently if we are open to and inclusive of new and unique perspectives. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations to apply. Further, we urge parents and non-parents, married and unmarried, those from different or non-traditional educational backgrounds, and persons of all other diverse identities or experiences to apply. Kaizen is an equal opportunity employer.