Habitat for Humanity of Orange County brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Our mission is to create access to affordable homeownership for families across Orange County. Every role at Habitat OC contributes to this mission and supports our long-term impact in the community.
The Director of New Construction is responsible for leading all aspects of Habitat OC’s construction activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within budget while meeting Habitat’s standards for quality, affordability, and care for future homeowners.
This is a senior, entrepreneurial leadership role for a highly capable construction professional who can build a best-in-class construction department and operating practice from the ground up. The Director will establish systems, standards, staffing structures, reporting tools, and field practices that create predictable, scalable, and high-quality outcomes across Habitat OC’s growing housing pipeline.
The successful candidate will be strategic and hands-on, able to lead at the executive level while stepping in to self-perform critical project management, estimating, scheduling, procurement, field coordination, or consultant oversight work when needed. The Director will report directly to the CEO and serve as Habitat OC’s subject matter expert on construction, design, project delivery, and construction-related risk.
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Direct all construction projects to ensure they remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with Habitat OC quality standards.
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Develop and oversee comprehensive project plans, including CPM schedules, resource allocations, procurement strategies, project budgets, and risk-management plans.
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Personally manage key project responsibilities when staffing capacity, project urgency, or organizational needs require a hands-on approach.
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Evaluate, select, negotiate with, and manage contractors and subcontractors based on qualifications, capacity, performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
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Monitor project progress, track KPIs, identify risks early, and provide clear, timely status updates to leadership and stakeholders.
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Ensure compliance with applicable safety regulations and legal requirements, including OSHA, CalOSHA, EPA, and other relevant standards.
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Manage construction documentation, including contracts, permits, drawings, submittals, RFIs, change orders, schedules, and closeout materials.
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Ensure liens, releases, and payment documentation are accurately tracked and maintained in accordance with legal and industry requirements.
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Review staff recommendations and approve payment releases consistent with industry practices and project requirements.
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Lead the design process from consultant selection through permit issuance and construction administration.
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Ensure compliance with all applicable city, state, federal, and non-governmental Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
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Serve as the internal construction and design subject matter expert, including leading value-engineering efforts during design and preconstruction.
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Negotiate consultant agreements and prepare contracts for CEO approval.
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Prepare feasibility analyses—including site constraints, zoning, density, design concepts, unit yield, schedules, and preliminary budgets—for sites under review by the VP of Housing Development.
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Monitor consultant performance, deliverables, and schedules to ensure projects advance efficiently through entitlement and permitting.
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Establish and maintain design criteria, construction standards, and green building practices appropriate to Habitat OC projects.
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Review project financial projections, identify potential cost overruns, and promptly escalate material risks to the CFO and CEO.
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Develop initial site and project pro formas to assess financial feasibility in partnership with the CFO and Housing Development team.
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Create, maintain, and update long-range project schedules across the active development and construction pipeline.
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Partner with the CFO to develop annual construction and entitlement department budgets.
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Prepare or review project schedules prepared by consultants, contractors, and field staff.
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Establish disciplined cost-control, forecasting, procurement, and change-management practices.
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Oversee local government entitlement, permitting, inspection, and approval processes to facilitate project advancement.
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Serve as liaison between Habitat OC and governmental and non-governmental compliance agencies, including CASQA, OSHA, EPA, CNRA, labor unions, and other relevant entities.
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Provide regular, accurate project updates and reports to senior leadership, board members, committees, funders, and other stakeholders.
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Integrate meaningful volunteer opportunities into construction projects while maintaining safety, productivity, quality, and schedule priorities.
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Partner with local schools, colleges, trade associations, and community partners to create volunteer and workforce-development opportunities.
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Supervise construction staff, including Project Managers, Superintendents, and field personnel, and oversee the work of design and construction consultants.
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Provide clear leadership, coaching, accountability, and direction to foster a collaborative, high-performance team.
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Develop field training materials for staff, volunteers, and crew leaders.
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Collaborate closely with Fund Development, Housing Development, Finance, Homeowner Services, and Human Resources on project budgets, schedules, volunteer engagement, safety, and homeowner readiness.
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Assist HR with safety documentation, training, and compliance with applicable state and federal standards.
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $130,200 - $140,000 annually
Location: Santa, Ana, CA
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Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
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Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible construction project management experience, with a demonstrated record of delivering projects on time and within budget.
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Significant experience managing the full project lifecycle, from feasibility, design, and entitlement through construction, closeout, and warranty.
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Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to build systems, teams, processes, and operating practices in a growing or evolving organization.
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Willingness and ability to self-perform critical project management, estimating, scheduling, procurement, field coordination, and owner’s representative responsibilities when needed.
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Proven ability to create and lead a high-quality construction department or substantially improve an existing construction operation.
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Experience navigating entitlements and working with multiple city, state, federal, and other Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
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Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering contracts, change orders, consultant agreements, and purchase agreements.
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Strong knowledge of construction contracts, negotiation, risk management, construction accounting, scheduling, and industry best practices.
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Proficiency in Procore, Bluebeam, Microsoft Project, Excel, and other construction management tools.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present effectively to executive leadership, boards, funders, and public stakeholders.
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Strong knowledge of financial feasibility, budget management, cost forecasting, and project controls.
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Project Management Professional certification.
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LEED credential or demonstrated experience with sustainable construction and green building practices.
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Experience managing mixed labor forces that include subcontractors, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
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Prior experience in nonprofit, affordable housing, public-sector, or mission-driven construction organizations.
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Familiarity with affordable housing development, California housing legislation, and public funding requirements.
This role requires frequent bending, reaching, standing, walking, and lifting up to 50 lbs. Constant hearing and sight are required.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Habitat OC is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances of the conviction, provide mitigating information, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
