Working to the Estates Manager, and with advice from the BHC’s UK-Based technical adviser, the Technical Works Coordinator (TWC) is responsible for the maintenance of the compounds and buildings which make-up the British High Commission estate in Freetown.  At present this comprises the main office at Spur Road, the satellite office at Bah Drive, the High Commissioner’s Residence and 31 houses spread over two residential compounds.

 To support these properties the BHC also maintains several workshops and amenities and  facilities.To deliver the maintenance of the estate, the TWC will provide oversight of the BHC in-house team of tradesmen, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, generator mechanics, painters and groundsmen.  Where appropriate maintenance activities may be outsourced to local contractors.  The TWC will be responsible for identifying suitable contractors to work on the BHC estate and manage contractor relationships.  You will be required to take a hands-on approach, undertaking some aspects of maintenance works yourself (appropriate to your skill set), lead by example and be prepared to invest in the development of your team and the range of contractors available to the High Commission.   The TWC will also be required to ensure that all maintenance activity on the BHC estate must comply with relevant technical and health & safety standards.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide technical quality control, oversight and acceptance of all maintenance work undertaken in BHC Offices and Residential properties to ensure that works are delivered on time. All tasking to comply with Technical, and Health & Safety standards incorporated with the global Property Compliance Assessment (PCA) as per FCDO Health and Safety policy.
• Learn and understand the current UK Technical, and Health & Safety Standards and FCDO policy, and be proactive in keeping their knowledge up to date.
• Supervise and direct a team of tradesmen (e.g. electricians, plumbers and general technicians) on a day-to-day basis ensuring that that customer work requests are prioritised and there is good communication with customers and, where necessary, other residents regarding the progress of their requests and likely disruption.
• Keep maintenance programmes up to date and well documented, and that all work is carried out as per UK standards & FCDO policy and in a timely manner.
• Implement long term Planned Preventative Maintenance programme for essential building services and equipment (including for water services, electrical installations, A/Cs, generators, fire protection systems, swimming pools and security lighting) using the in-house maintenance team or appropriate contractors and maintain accurate and organised records of conducted works.
• Working within BHGC procurement policies, source quotations for maintenance projects which provide value for money.
• Draft the specifications of required materials, techniques and methods to be used by tradesmen and contractors in technical works.
• Financial management of the Estate’s maintenance budget lines, including accurate forecasting and monitoring of spend.
• Assist the UK-Based technical adviser in drafting Terms of Reference on major works mainly giving technical advice to ensure scope of work is clearly specified.
• Control maintenance stock, maintaining stock levels and ensuring proper stock control procedures are in place and stock properly accounted for.
• Conduct safety checks on all tools and equipment to be used by the technical works team and report any faulty or non-compliant equipment to the UK-Based technical adviser so that it can be replaced.
• Carry out health and safety inductions or briefings for in-house tradesmen and contractors working at BHC properties and document evidence of said briefings. To also include hazard checks and controls before works permits can be issued to contractors.
• To organise regular training sessions and toolbox talks with in-house tardesmen and contractors to ensure they do work as per FCDO standards.
• Undertaking other duties as assigned and agreed by the line manager.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure) 

Management of in-house Technical Works Team of electricians, plumbers generator technicians, air-con technicians.

Oversight of technical works stores

Level of language required: 

Good written and spoken English (minimum GCSE equivalent).  Ability to converse in Krio also important for communications with CBS staff and local suppliers

We are looking for someone with strong technical skills including

• A strong and proven understanding of the technical aspects of property and grounds maintenance and the Freetown trades and materials marketplace.
• Experience of working in the building trade in at least one area of specialism
• Leadership and management of a team of trades people, including the Application of acceptable working practices and standards through a system of statements of requirement, method statements and risk assessments.
• Contract management for works being undertaken by third parties
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to clearly explain estates challenges to non-specialist audiences; and identify the implications for effective delivery of operational goals around the BHC estate.
• Ability to look ahead to identify issues and pinch points ahead of time
• A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service delivery, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.