General Manager at N R Brothers Multitrade in Freetown West Africa

Role & responsibilities

1. JOB SUMMARY

The General Manager Civil will be responsible for the overall planning, execution, supervision, and completion of all civil and infrastructure works associated with the Hydro Power Project.

The role will provide strong technical and managerial leadership across civil construction activities, including dams, tunnels, powerhouses, intake structures, spillways, roads, bridges, canals, foundations, retaining structures, drainage, buildings, and associated infrastructure.

The position will ensure that all civil works are executed safely, efficiently, within approved budgets and schedules, and in accordance with approved engineering drawings, technical specifications, quality standards, contractual requirements, and applicable statutory regulations.

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Project Planning & Execution

• Lead the overall execution of civil works for the Hydro Power Project.
• Develop and implement project execution plans, construction schedules, resource plans, and work methodologies.
• Establish priorities and ensure timely completion of critical project activities.
• Monitor project progress against approved schedules, milestones, budgets, and construction targets.
• Coordinate construction activities with engineering, procurement, electrical, mechanical, geological, HSE, and project management teams.
• Identify project risks, delays, constraints, and bottlenecks and implement appropriate corrective measures.
• Ensure effective utilization of manpower, machinery, materials, and other project resources.

B. Hydro Civil Works

Provide technical and managerial oversight for major civil components, including:

• Dam and associated structures.
• Spillway and energy dissipation structures.
• Intake and diversion structures.
• Head race and tail race systems.
• Tunnels, shafts, adits, and underground structures.
• Powerhouse and substation civil works.
• Penstock foundations and related civil structures.
• Roads, bridges, culverts, and access infrastructure.
• Retaining walls and slope stabilization works.
• River diversion and cofferdam works.
• Drainage and water management systems.
• Residential, administrative, warehouse, and other project buildings.
• Concrete, reinforcement, excavation, grouting, rock support, shotcrete, and structural works.

C. Engineering & Technical Coordination

• Review and coordinate engineering drawings, design documents, BOQs, specifications, and construction methodologies.
• Coordinate with consultants, designers, structural engineers, geotechnical teams, and specialist contractors.
• Ensure construction activities are carried out strictly in accordance with approved drawings and specifications.
• Review technical issues and recommend practical engineering solutions.
• Manage design changes, technical clarifications, site instructions, and variation requirements.
• Ensure proper documentation of as-built drawings and project records.

D. Contractor & Subcontractor Management

• Manage and monitor civil contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and specialist agencies.
• Review contractor work programs, manpower deployment, equipment availability, and productivity.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and construction coordination meetings.
• Ensure contractors comply with contractual obligations, technical specifications, quality requirements, and HSE standards.
• Verify work measurements, quantities, progress claims, and variation works in coordination with the commercial and quantity surveying teams.
• Take corrective action where contractor performance does not meet project requirements.

E. Construction Quality Management

• Ensure high standards of workmanship and construction quality throughout the project.
• Coordinate with the QA/QC department for inspection and testing of civil works.
• Ensure compliance with approved Quality Assurance Plans, Inspection & Test Plans, method statements, and material specifications.
• Monitor concrete quality, reinforcement, excavation, rock mechanics, grouting, waterproofing, structural works, and other critical activities.
• Ensure timely closure of NCRs, quality observations, and inspection findings.
• Promote a zero-defect construction culture.

F. HSE & Environmental Compliance

• Ensure strict compliance with project Health, Safety, and Environmental policies.
• Promote a strong safety culture across all civil construction activities.
• Ensure risk assessments, method statements, permit systems, and safety procedures are implemented.
• Monitor high-risk activities such as excavation, tunneling, blasting, lifting, working at height, underground construction, and heavy equipment operations.
• Coordinate with the HSE team to investigate incidents and implement preventive measures.
• Ensure compliance with environmental management requirements applicable to the hydro project.

G. Cost & Budget Control

• Monitor civil project expenditure against approved budgets.
• Control construction costs without compromising safety, quality, or project requirements.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization and improved productivity.
• Review material consumption, equipment utilization, manpower costs, and subcontractor costs.
• Support commercial teams in evaluating variations, claims, and contractual matters.
• Ensure proper approval and documentation of additional works and variations.

H. Resource & Equipment Management

• Plan manpower requirements for all stages of civil construction.
• Ensure availability and optimum utilization of construction equipment and machinery.
• Coordinate deployment of excavators, cranes, batching plants, concrete pumps, drilling equipment, compressors, dumpers, and other project machinery.
• Monitor equipment productivity, maintenance, and downtime.
• Coordinate with procurement and logistics teams to ensure timely availability of construction materials.

I. Progress Monitoring & Reporting

• Establish effective systems for monitoring daily, weekly, and monthly construction progress.
• Review productivity and achievement against planned targets.
• Prepare and present management reports covering progress, cost, quality, safety, resources, risks, and critical issues.
• Escalate major project risks and delays to senior management with recommended solutions.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, records, minutes of meetings, progress reports, and construction statistics.

J. Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate effectively with Project Director, Management, consultants, government authorities, local administration, contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the civil division in project review meetings.
• Maintain professional relationships with key project stakeholders.
• Support management in resolving contractual, technical, operational, and site-related issues.

3. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

Performance will be evaluated based on:

• Achievement of project milestones and construction schedules.
• Timely completion of major civil works.
• Project cost control and budget adherence.
• Construction productivity and resource utilization.
• Quality of civil works and reduction of defects/NCRs.
• HSE performance and accident prevention.
• Effective contractor and subcontractor management.
• Timely resolution of technical and construction issues.
• Effective utilization of manpower, materials, and equipment.
• Compliance with approved drawings, specifications, contracts, and statutory requirements.
• Quality and timeliness of project reporting and documentation.

4. QUALIFICATION

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from a recognized university/institution.
• Master's Degree in Civil Engineering / Construction Management / Project Management will be an advantage.
• Professional certifications in project management or construction management will be preferred.

5. EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 15–20 years of relevant experience in large-scale infrastructure, hydro power, dam, tunneling, or major civil construction projects.
• Significant experience in managing large civil construction teams and multiple contractors.
• Strong exposure to hydro power project construction, preferably covering dams, tunnels, underground works, powerhouse structures, spillways, and associated infrastructure.
• Experience in international projects / remote project locations will be an advantage.
• Proven experience in handling large project budgets, manpower, heavy construction equipment, and complex construction activities.

6. TECHNICAL & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of civil construction and hydro power project execution.
• Excellent understanding of structural, geotechnical, concrete, tunneling, excavation, and infrastructure works.
• Strong knowledge of construction planning, scheduling, quantity estimation, and cost control.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, BOQs, and technical documents.
• Strong contractor and subcontractor management skills.
• Knowledge of Primavera P6 / MS Project and other project management tools.
• Proficiency in MS Office and construction/project reporting systems.
• Strong understanding of QA/QC and HSE requirements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership capabilities.

7. LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strategic project leadership.
• Strong decision-making ability.
• Excellent team management and delegation skills.
• Commercial and cost awareness.
• Strong negotiation and coordination skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet demanding project deadlines.
• High level of accountability and ownership.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage multicultural and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and project delivery.

8. AUTHORITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

The General Manager – Civil will have authority and accountability for the effective management of civil construction activities within the approved project framework, including:

• Civil construction planning and execution.
• Deployment and utilization of civil manpower and resources.
• Coordination and supervision of civil contractors.
• Construction quality and productivity.
• Civil project schedule and milestone achievement.
• Identification and escalation of project risks.
• Compliance with project HSE and quality requirements.
• Recommendations relating to manpower, equipment, contractors, and construction methodologies.

Major financial commitments, contractual decisions, design changes, and variations shall be subject to the company's approved authorization and delegation matrix.

9. WORKING CONDITIONS

• Full-time position based at the Hydro Power Project site.
• The position may require extended working hours depending on project requirements.
• Frequent coordination with construction teams, contractors, consultants, and management.
• Willingness to work in remote and challenging project environments.
• Periodic travel may be required for project coordination, inspections, meetings, and procurement activities.

10. OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of the General Manager – Civil is to provide overall leadership for the civil construction function and ensure that the Hydro Power Project's civil works are delivered safely, efficiently, within approved cost and schedule, and to the highest standards of quality and engineering excellence, while ensuring effective coordination among all project stakeholders.