Supervisor: Head of Programs
Department: Vulnerable Group Housing
Location: Kampala-National Office with frequent travels to the field offices

Job Summary:
Reporting to the Head of Programs, the Construction Specialist will ensure that all CTA (construction technical assistance) and HSS (housing support solutions) are provided to clients; products and services promote and lead to the low-income households having better access to simple, decent, and affordable housing; Incremental housing solutions are done in a way that leads to the homeowner/client eventually achieving a complete decent home.

Key functions of the position:
• The Construction Specialist plans, monitors, oversees, directs and evaluates the implementation and quality of CTA/HSS activities, products and services.
• The Construction Specialist reports to the and functionally supervises construction in Habitat for Humanity Uganda.
Assess the suitability of the housing intervention, including:
• Security of land (tenure)
• Suitability of land (soil, position, etc)
• Stability and strength of structure to accommodate intended construction intervention.
• Appropriateness of intended intervention regulations, environmental concerns, local cultural norms, and other standards.
Costing:
• A short intervention description for simple construction activities; or a design and description, for more complicated activities.
• A list of materials needed (BOQ – bill of quantities), costed at prevailing market prices.
• A comparison of cost of intervention to the amount of loan size the client has requested and qualifies for.
Quality advice:
• The Construction Specialist will provide advice to clients of how to effectively carry out the construction intervention (including the choice of materials, building techniques). NB – The Construction Specialist does NOT take responsibility for the execution or the quality of the construction activity – his responsibility is to provide good advice.
Verification:
• A site visit to confirm that disbursed funds have indeed been used for construction / housing purposes. In case of fund diversion a report indicating this needs to be prepared.
• For specified, complicated construction of housing related interventions the Construction Specialist will also provide an assessment of how well the construction / building activity was done or is being done

Additional Construction Specialist Responsibilities:
• For full houses, ensure that HFH house designs are in conformity with the Central and/ or Local Government approved designs by reviewing Central and Local Government approved designs.
• Ensure that there is an approved Construction Manual, which is from time to time revised in order to be in line with the changes that may occur as a result of changing housing approaches or policies.
• Ensure the completed houses meet the global Habitat HQS (housing quality standards), as well as Uganda’s standards.
• For incremental housing improvements, ensure the particular intervention is according to acceptable minimum, local quality standards; and that incremental improvements are advised and designed in a way that will likely lead to a complete housing unit that meets global and national standards.
• To find new appropriate technology and effectively introduce those technologies. Such appropriate technologies should have benefits for low income Homeowners such as: help reduce costs, are more environmentally friendly, more culturally appropriate, advances local livelihoods, and so on.
• Guide and advise the Head of Programs, National Director and other staff on construction issues.
• Ensure that s/he is aware of the variety and prices of various building materials and that s/he, to the best of their ability, recommends materials that are of the suitable quality.
• Provide mentorship to other staff through effective training and skills enhancement.
• Design a range of standard house designs typical for the community and suited to context. Develop a range of other housing designs such as core house, sanitation or latrine construction etc.