OVERVIEW

H.E. Jackson Engineering Ltd (HEJ) is one of the leading providers of engineering solutions in Malawi and serves all sectors of the economy including mining, energy, agriculture, construction and manufacturing.

The company has vacancies at its Rumphi Project Site:

Job Title:

Earthworks Foreman (1)

Nature of Contract:

One Year Fixed Term

Duty Station:

Rumphi

Reporting to:

Site Engineer/Project Manager

Department:

Construction/Operations

Job Purpose

The Earthworks Foreman is responsible for supervising and coordinating all earthworks activities on construction projects to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and in accordance with project specifications, engineering drawings, and quality standards. The Foreman manages site personnel, equipment operators, and subcontractors involved in excavation, embankment construction, grading, backfilling, and related earthworks operations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Site Supervision

• Supervise daily earthworks activities including excavation, filling, grading, levelling, backfilling, and compaction.
• Allocate work to operators, labourers, and subcontractors.
• Ensure work is executed according to approved drawings, specifications, and method statements.
• Monitor daily productivity and ensure project targets are achieved.

Earthworks Operations

Oversee:

• Site clearing and stripping
• Bulk excavation
• Cut and fill operations
• Embankment construction
• Trench excavation
• Road formation
• Drainage excavation
• Layer placement and compaction
• Ensure correct levels, gradients, and alignment are maintained.

Equipment Coordination

Coordinate the use of construction plant including:

• Excavators
• Bulldozers
• Motor Graders
• Rollers
• TLBs
• Water Bowsers
• Dump Trucks
• Ensure equipment is used efficiently.
• Report equipment breakdowns promptly.

Quality Control

• Ensure earthworks comply with project specifications.
• Monitor moisture conditioning before compaction.
• Ensure required compaction standards are achieved.
• Work closely with surveyors and laboratory technicians during testing.
• Rectify defective work immediately.

Planning and Reporting

• Plan daily work activities.
• Maintain daily site records.
• Report progress to the Site Engineer.
• Record labour, equipment, materials, and production outputs.
• Participate in site meetings.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Civil Engineering, Construction, or a related field
• NCIC Certificate in Firemanship is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in earthworks or civil engineering construction.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory or foreman role.
• Experience on road, bridge, dam, airport, or large civil infrastructure projects is an advantage.
• Earthworks construction methods.
• Excavation and embankment construction.
• Soil classification and compaction principles.
• Reading engineering drawings.
• Survey setting-out principles.
• Construction plant operations.
• Occupational Health and Safety requirements.
• Environmental management practices.
• Malawi labour and construction regulations.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.
• Planning and organisational ability.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to read construction drawings.
• Time management.
• Teamwork and conflict resolution.
• Quality and safety awareness.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• Supervise daily earthworks activities including excavation, filling, grading, levelling, backfilling, and compaction.
• Allocate work to operators, labourers, and subcontractors.
• Ensure work is executed according to approved drawings, specifications, and method statements.
• Monitor daily productivity and ensure project targets are achieved.
• Oversee site clearing and stripping, bulk excavation, cut and fill operations, embankment construction, trench excavation, road formation, drainage excavation, and layer placement and compaction.
• Ensure correct levels, gradients, and alignment are maintained.
• Coordinate the use of construction plant including excavators, bulldozers, motor graders, rollers, TLBs, water bowsers, and dump trucks.
• Ensure equipment is used efficiently.
• Report equipment breakdowns promptly.
• Ensure earthworks comply with project specifications.
• Monitor moisture conditioning before compaction.
• Ensure required compaction standards are achieved.
• Work closely with surveyors and laboratory technicians during testing.
• Rectify defective work immediately.
• Plan daily work activities.
• Maintain daily site records.
• Report progress to the Site Engineer.
• Record labour, equipment, materials, and production outputs.
• Participate in site meetings.

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.
• Planning and organisational ability.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to read construction drawings.
• Time management.
• Teamwork and conflict resolution.
• Quality and safety awareness.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• Degree or Diploma in Civil Engineering, Construction, or a related field
• NCIC Certificate in Firemanship is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in earthworks or civil engineering construction.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory or foreman role.
• Experience on road, bridge, dam, airport, or large civil infrastructure projects is an advantage.
• Knowledge of earthworks construction methods.
• Knowledge of excavation and embankment construction.
• Knowledge of soil classification and compaction principles.
• Ability to read engineering drawings.
• Knowledge of survey setting-out principles.
• Knowledge of construction plant operations.
• Knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety requirements.
• Knowledge of Environmental management practices.
• Knowledge of Malawi labour and construction regulations.