CONSTRUCTION CREW LEADER

Crew Leader

OVERVIEW

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International focused on providing affordable housing solutions in Thurston County. We believe that every person, no matter who they are, deserves a decent place to live. Our work includes building new, energy-efficient homes, preparing households for homeownership, guaranteeing affordable mortgages to homebuyers, performing critical housing repairs, and running two successful resale stores. It is an exciting time at South Puget Sound Habitat as our immediate goals for the future include three new developments and hundreds of repair projects, drastically outpacing our past production—and we are working to scale our operations to meet these goals.

POSITION SUMMARY

The crew leader receives on-the-job construction training, and uses it to help drive South Puget Sound Habitat’s production goals by leading small volunteer work crews in assigned build-site tasks. They ensure a safe, productive, and fun build site experience that is welcoming to all. Crew leaders are public-facing representatives of our mission, and frequently engage with volunteers, homebuyers, and donors with respect and enthusiasm.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

You have an interest in construction and volunteerism and you want to work for a mission-focused organization. You’re organized, detail and goal-oriented, and eager to build your skills. You get that people learn in different ways, and you have a talent for helping others take on new tasks quickly and competently. Most of all, you like working with people and embrace the idea of helping bring a lot of new people closer to this mission through sheer enthusiasm and thoughtful site experiences.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Responsibility: Construction Progress and Crew Leadership (80%)

The crew leader is primarily responsible for ensuring assigned task completion through effective work-crew leadership. They also help to maintain organized site inventory. Responsibilities generally include:

• Prepare for daily assignments ahead of volunteer arrival (day(s) before, morning of); work with production lead to verify understanding of technical components and quality standard expectations; work with production lead and other crew leaders to ensure all tools, materials, and steps are prepped.
• On volunteer work days, lead small crews of volunteers and homebuyers in completing assigned tasks:
  • Provide appropriate safety, tool, and method orientation for task
  • Use “tell, show, do” principle to engage all volunteers in task activities
  • Stay with assigned crew members to coach, facilitate, encourage, gather extra materials, reinforce safety standards, or work side-by-side
  • Help volunteers understand the mission and its work; engage in light social conversations
  • Actively monitor and work to engage and/or manage any disengaged, overzealous, or out-of-line crew member
  • Model appropriate safety protocols, production methods, language, and site culture standards
  • Direct end-of-day/task clean-up efforts
• On non-volunteer work days, complete assigned tasks independently or with other staff members.
• Report on daily progress and proactively seek end-of-task quality assurance check from site leadership.
• Support site lead in tool organization, inventory, and ongoing maintenance and replacement.

Key Responsibility: Site Culture and Safety (20%)

The crew leader supports inclusive, welcoming, accountable, and safety-focused environments that offer meaningful, mission-focused experiences for all staff, homebuyers, and volunteers. Responsibilities generally include:

• Champion all safety standards, demonstrating appropriate use of PPE, tools, materials, etc. at all times.
• Proactively scan and monitor work environments, tools, volunteers, etc. for safety hazards; explain and resolve issues, or escalate to site leadership; report on any serious or recurring issues.
• Encourage an inclusive build site environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, stereotypes, and cliques; correct behavior or escalate as needed.
• Manage any assigned components of the daily on-site volunteer experience; present improvement ideas to production lead.

Key Responsibility: Leadership, Teamwork, and Inclusivity

As an important team member, the crew leader contributes to overall organizational health through positive collaboration, leadership, personal integrity, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. Responsibilities generally include:

• Maintain a “team first” outlook, supporting the success of the team and the mission in attitude, ideas, and actions; lead by example and with active, creative input for growing and improving the organization.
• Meet and endorse organization standards for record keeping and information sharing.
• Contribute to organization events, helping as necessary with set up/take down, management, networking, various tasks, etc.
• Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding institutional racism and building cultural competency.

REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience

• At least one year of work or volunteer experience
• At least one year of work or volunteer/social experience in coaching, teaching, customer service, volunteer management, or similar focus (can be part of above)

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to follow technical verbal and/or written directions
• Ability and willingness to learn and teach construction skills and tasks
• Eye for detail and accuracy with a commitment to quality output
• Organized and self-starting with the ability to prioritize for scheduled and unexpected deadlines
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship building skills with an ability and willingness to serve as a frontline representative for the organization and work constructively with a variety of people and abilities
• Willingness to use organization technology systems
• Ability to pass a background and reference check
• Commitment to the South Puget Sound Habitat mission and core values and a willingness to embrace and enhance non-traditional volunteer-centric building practices

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Ability and experience planning, prepping, and leading group activities

CORE VALUES

Successful team members share the following core values:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion: We value diversity and aim to make our workplace and services accessible and welcoming to all, especially those who are most often marginalized and misunderstood.
• People First: We consider the human impact of our decisions and prioritize well-being as well as closing equity gaps.
• Community: We understand that we are connected to one another and that we must root our efforts in trust and collective achievement.
• Future Generations: We strive for lasting change. Our plans, our designs, our decisions don’t just impact the here and now; they are opportunities to serve future generations as well.
• Integrity: We do what we say we will do, and we do it honestly, ethically, and equitably. We hold ourselves accountable for our actions.

DETAILS

Reports to: Production Lead

Supervises: N/A

Hours: 40 hours per week. Construction site hours are Tuesday-Saturday, and typically 7am – 3:30pm.

Compensation: Hourly: Position range: $18.10-$25.25 per hour (equivalent of $37,648-$52,520 annually); expected hire range: $18.10-20 per hour (equivalent of $37,648-$41,600 annually).

FLSA Status: This position is not exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); it earns overtime for additional time worked.

Benefits: 23 vacation/sick/personal days initially; 15 holidays; 75% employer-paid health/dental/vision; Simple IRA with 3% match.

Environment: This position will be primarily based on our active construction sites in our service area. Current active sites are located in Tumwater and Yelm, and both require use of personal or company vehicle to access efficiently. Active sites have typical construction hazards of changing and uneven ground, obstacles, machinery, exposure to weather conditions, etc. Sites have water and all required tools. The position will regularly visit our warehouse in Tumwater and our offices in Olympia.

Conditions: Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly, walk on uneven ground, climb to and stand at heights, stand for long periods of time, periodically work at a computer, and drive all construction vehicles and trailers. This position requires bending, kneeling, lifting, grabbing, and carrying items.

Training: This successful candidate will be onboarded and initially trained through a combination of in-person, online, and written trainings; they are expected to take the initiative to review materials as needed and seek understanding of new developments in order to perform their responsibilities. The successful candidate may be required to secure and maintain a Competent Person safety designation. Additionally, crew leaders will be trained on task-specific technical skills on an ongoing basis and as needed for scheduled production goals. These trainings will be on site or in a warehouse, and up to one day a week will be designated for this.

Disclaimer: This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties nor required skills. Employees may occasionally perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities to meet the needs of the organization.

APPLY

Submit your cover letter and resume through the portal found at: spshabitat.org/learn-more/careers by Jan. 15, 2025. No phone calls, please.

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity values a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applications form individuals of all backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented.

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity is an equal opportunity employer. This organization does not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Updated: December 2024