Recruitment and Selection of Senior and Junior Structural Designers for Bechtel: Sample of a Job Analysis

Human Resource Management

TO: Human Resource Manager

DATE: 8 July 2011

SUBJECT: Recruitment and Selection of Senior and Junior Structural Designers for Bechtel

Executive Summary

In this report, job analyses including job descriptions and job specifications of Junior and Senior Structural Designers position as required by Bechtel are discussed. The discussion includes a pre-drafted advertisement in the ‘The National’ which is one of the leading newspapers in United Arab Emirates. Selection strategies are identified as internal recruitment, industry events participation and online job listings. An orientation plan which spans immediately after the selection and the first week of work is detailed at the end.

Job Analysis

This job analysis is representative of position to be filled in an engineering-specialising company named Bechtel. Bechtel is a privately owned company headquartered in San Francisco but it has offices worldwide including in Abu Dhabi. Such a company is a global leader in engineering, construction and project management. In fact, Bechtel has record revenues for the past five years and Engineering News Record had named Bechtel as the top US Construction Contractor for 12 straight years. Bechtel employs about 52,700 employees worldwide.

Nonetheless, because of project bookings in 2010-2012 particularly in Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, Bechtel currently requires Junior and Senior Structural Designers.

Job Title: Senior Structural Designer

Classification: Full-time Employee

Business Unit: Civil

Department: Engineering

Location: Taweelah, Abu Dhabi

Pay Grade: Level VI

Reports to: Junior and Senior Structural Engineer

Job Description

A. Summary of Position

The Senior Structural Designer is responsible for performing civil and/or structural design and drafting duties on assigned projects.

B. Job Duties

The Senior Structural Designer is responsible for:

• Assisting the project manager in developing estimates, schedules, material lists, design concepts, design drawings and other project documentation per customer and corporate guidelines
• Performing field related work collecting design information and verifying tie- ins, function and clearances
• Performing temporary field support activities, where assigned, for engineering support during construction
• Assisting engineers with cost and material estimates and preliminary design studies
• Checking the accuracy and quality of drawings

Job Specification

A. Education and Experience

1. Diploma in Civil Engineering is a minimum requirement
2. Ten or more years of direct related experience or technology-oriented associate degree with equivalent experience
3. Working knowledge of OSHA, IBC, AISC, ACI-318, ACI-530, and ASCE-7 codes 
4. Experience in preparing structural and civil construction plans and specifications
5. Should be acquainted with engineering practices followed in the engineering industry

B. Skills and Aptitude

1. Being knowledgeable of basic civil material specifications to the extent that all
   information required for material purchase, fabrication and construction is
   reflected on the finished drawings
2. Performing temporary field support activities, where assigned, for engineering support during construction
3. Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all civil/structural deliverables
4. Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, various CAD software packages

Job Title: Junior Structural Designer

Classification: Full-time Employee

Business Unit: Civil

Department: Engineering

Location: Taweelah, Abu Dhabi

Pay Grade: Level V

Reports to: Senior Structural Designer

Job Description

A. Summary of Position

The Junior Structural Designer is responsible for assisting the Senior Structural Designer in preparing drawings and updating them as required during the design process. It is also the responsibility of the Junior Structural Designer to ensure that drawings produced are checked, approved and filed in accordance with the relevant quality system procedure.

B. Job Duties

The Junior Structural Designer is responsible for:

• Assisting in the development of civil or structural drawings for a project or proposal
• May occasionally exercise work direction to draftspersons involving guidance and instruction on work methods and checking finished work
• Works under direction with scope for independent judgment in planning and organization of methods.  Receives assignments is terms of objectives and priorities. Work is reviewed for general acceptability and accomplishment of objective
• Makes specific recommendations on the utilization of new drafting technology normally within an area of specialization. Makes technical recommendations within an area of specialization
• Checking the accuracy and quality of drawings 

Job Specification

A. Education and Experience

1. Diploma in Civil Engineering is a minimum requirement
2. Should have at least 8 years of direct related experience or technology-oriented associate degree with equivalent experience
3. Working knowledge of OSHA, IBC, AISC, ACI-318, ACI-530, and ASCE-7 codes 
4. Experience in preparing structural and civil construction plans and specifications
5. Should be acquainted with engineering practices followed in the engineering industry

B. Skills and Aptitude

1. Being knowledgeable of basic civil material specifications to the extent that all
   information required for material purchase, fabrication and construction is
   reflected on the finished drawings
2. Performing temporary field support activities, where assigned, for engineering support during construction
3. Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all civil/structural deliverables
4. Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, various CAD software packages
5. Experience in preparing structural and civil construction plans and specifications
6. Working knowledge of static and dynamic load applications

Job Advert

Job Advert for Senior Structural Designer

CLASSIFIED ADS Senior Structural Designer Bechtel is looking for a Senior Structural Designer who will be responsible for performing civil and/or structural design and drafting duties on assigned projects. Responsibilities: Assisting the project manager in developing estimates, schedules, material lists, design concepts, design drawings and other project documentation per customer and corporate guidelines Performing field related work collecting design information and verifying tie- ins, function and clearances Performing temporary field support activities, where assigned, for engineering support during construction Assisting engineers with cost and material estimates and preliminary design studies Checking the accuracy and quality of drawings Requirements: Diploma in Civil Engineering is a minimum requirement Ten or more years of direct related experience or technology-oriented associate degree with equivalent experience Working knowledge of OSHA, IBC, AISC, ACI-318, ACI-530, and ASCE-7 codes  Experience in preparing structural and civil construction plans and specifications Should be acquainted with engineering practices followed in the engineering industry Being knowledgeable of basic civil material specifications to the extent that all information required for material purchase, fabrication and construction is reflected on the finished drawings Performing temporary field support activities, where assigned, for engineering support during construction Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all civil/structural deliverables Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, various CAD software packages Required are letter of intent, application letter, resume with no personal information, copies of transcripts and five professional references. For further details, you may call of Abu Dhabi office at: (971-2) 699-8400.

Job Advert for Junior Structural Designer

CLASSIFIED ADS Junior Structural Designer Bechtel is looking for a Junior Structural Designer who will be responsible for assisting the Senior Structural Designer in preparing drawings and updating them as required during the design process. Responsibilities: Assisting in the development of civil or structural drawings for a project or proposal May occasionally exercise work direction to draftspersons involving guidance and instruction on work methods and checking finished work Works under direction with scope for independent judgment in planning and organization of methods.  Receives assignments is terms of objectives and priorities. Work is reviewed for general acceptability and accomplishment of objective Makes specific recommendations on the utilization of new drafting technology normally within an area of specialization. Makes technical recommendations within an area of specialization Checking the accuracy and quality of drawings  Requirements: Diploma in Civil Engineering is a minimum requirement Should have at least 8 years of direct related experience or technology-oriented associate degree with equivalent experience Working knowledge of OSHA, IBC, AISC, ACI-318, ACI-530, and ASCE-7 codes  Experience in preparing structural and civil construction plans and specifications Should be acquainted with engineering practices followed in the engineering industry Being knowledgeable of basic civil material specifications to the extent that all information required for material purchase, fabrication and construction is  reflected on the finished drawings Performing temporary field support activities, where assigned, for engineering support during construction Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all civil/structural deliverables Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, various CAD software packages Required are letter of intent, application letter, resume with no personal information, copies of transcripts and five professional references. For further details, you may call of Abu Dhabi office at: (971-2) 699-8400.

Recruitment Strategy

There are various recruitment strategies that will be utilised in finding appropriate candidate for the Senior and Junior Structural Designers positions. Internally, the company can consult its manpower profile to determine potential candidates. Employee referrals or the process of mentioning someone who they think is suited for the job will be accomplished (Kleynhans, 2006). This forms part of the succession planning within Bechtel.

Externally, there are two ways by which selection will be administered. First is through joining industry events. Industry events are major activities by which may industrial players participate in (Kaufman, 2008). Industry events may provide an opportunity for Bechtel to speak with several potential candidates. Other than this, only the most interested candidate will approach the booth of Bechtel.

Second, Bechtel can resort in online job listings. This is a form of online recruitment with the increasing number of human resource service providers in the Internet (Hinton, 2005). Online job listings are convenient for job seekers thus more and more applicants are resorting online for finding the perfect job for them. There are also specialty sites that provide for specific niche such that in the engineering job.

Third, Bechtel will also make use of classified advertising. Through advertising, Bechtel could communicate its employment needs to the public using various methods of advertising as newspapers and industrial journals (Kleynhans et al, 2009).

Candidates will be screened based on interviews, personality tests, skills test, references, academic performance, job simulations and on-the-job assessment. The primary motivating factor is the compensation as well as career opportunities and bonus and stock option opportunities and growth and learning opportunities.

Orientation Plan

Once the Senior and Junior Structural Designers are chosen there will be a need for an orientation plan. An orientation plan will help the new designers in adjusting with their respective positions and the culture of Bechtel. A basic orientation plan for the Senior and Junior Structural Designers is as follows:

Activities	Person(s) Responsible	Remark
Before the 1st day:
Get the work areas ready
Talk with the current members in the Design Department  about the roles and duties of the new employees
Make lunch plans for the first 3 days
Send an email to other departments about the arrival of the new employees
On the 1st day:
Welcome new employees upon their arrival
Discuss the orientation plan with the new employees
Give the new employees a copy of the email announcement
Introduce the new employees to the co-workers
Show the new employees their work area
Give a tour to the new employees
Issue keys, tools and equipments
Order business cards for both
Describe regular meetings or other scheduled meetings
Give initial work assignment
Meet with the new employees at the end of the day to answer questions and know how their days went
On the 2nd day:
Review organisational chart with the new employees
Review reporting structures
Review job descriptions and performance standards
Review work schedule
Discuss overtime needs and assignments
Review dress code
During the 1st week:
Begin the performance planning process
Schedule periodic progress reviews

References

Hinton, M. (2005). Introducing information management: the business approach. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Kaufman, B. E. (2008). Managing the human factor: the early years of human resource management in American industry. Cornell University Press.

Kleynhans, R. (2006). Human resource management. Pearson South Africa.

Kleynhans, R., Markham, L., Meyer, W., O’Neill, C., Schlecter, A. & Van Answegen, S. (2009). Human resource management: fresh perspectives. Pearson South Africa.