Field Assistant Jobs in Commack, NY (NOW HIRING)

Gilbane Development is an established affordable housing developer and owner-operator committed to preserving and improving homes for New Yorkers.  Through the NYCHA Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program under HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), we deliver complex, occupied rehabilitation projects that modernize building systems, improve quality of life, and protect long-term affordability.  Our teams are held to a high bar: safe execution, predictable outcomes, and respectful, transparent engagement with residents and public partners.

The Assistant Owner's Representative - Resident & Construction Liaison is an owner-side, field-forward role supporting NYCHA RAD/PACT work across occupied developments in New York City.  This position strengthens resident coordination, documentation, and day-to-day field oversight to improve quality, safety, access logistics, and responsiveness during active renovation.  The role reports to the Owner's Representative (OR) / Senior Project Manager and spends significant time on-site, bridging day-to-day conditions between residents, property management, the general contractor (GC), and the owner team.

NYCHA RAD/PACT renovations succeed when construction is executed with discipline while treating residents with respect and consistency.  This role supports that goal by:

• Increasing field presence to identify issues early (cleanliness, protection, logistics, workmanship).
• Improving resident responsiveness through organized intake, follow-up, and clear communication.
• Strengthening owner documentation for trend tracking, corrective actions, and reporting.

Field Oversight Support (Owner-Side)

• Conduct regular site walks across common areas, work zones, and building perimeters to observe progress versus plan, sequencing impacts, and day-to-day site conditions.
• Document visible safety, quality, and logistics concerns; escalate priority issues to the OR/GC.
• Track and help verify contractor corrective actions ("close-the-loop" follow-up).
• Support coordination of unit access plans (stacks, lines, apartment lists) with the GC and property management for in-unit work.

Field and Resident Coordination

• Coordinate with the GC's field team on upcoming work areas and resident-impact activities.
• Verify unit readiness prior to in-unit work.
• Participate in site coordination meetings where resident-impact work is discussed.
• Serve as an on-site owner representative presence to receive resident concerns respectfully and route them through defined channels.
• Support a consistent process for response timing, documentation, and follow-through.
• Assist with resident access coordination for in-unit scopes (e.g., kitchens, baths, MEP upgrades, doors/windows): confirm appointment windows and readiness conditions as appropriate, and coordinate with property management on making reasonable accommodations and addressing sensitive situations.
• Support pre-work and post-work condition documentation (photos, notes, checklists) to reduce disputes and improve closeout quality.
• Observe and report resident-impact risks (loss of access, noise/dust issues, protection failures, communication gaps) and propose practical mitigation steps.

Documentation, Reporting, and Issue Tracking

• Follow-up on missed access or incomplete work situations.
• Review look-ahead schedules to anticipate access and logistical needs.
• Maintain organized observation logs, photo documentation, and field notes suitable for owner reporting.
• Assist the OR with issue tracking logs (quality, safety, logistics, resident concerns) and weekly reporting inputs (site conditions, resident issues, recurring themes).
• Coordinate apartment lists, stacks, and sequencing with the GC and property management.
• Coordinate follow-up with the GC and property management to confirm accountability and closure.
• Support the OR in documenting patterns that affect cost, schedule, resident satisfaction, and reputation risk.

Professional Conduct in Occupied Housing

• Represent ownership with a resident-first mindset: calm, respectful, consistent, and solution-oriented.
• Maintain discretion and professionalism in sensitive resident interactions.
• Reinforce project "rules of the road" (access, cleanliness, protection standards) through observation and escalation, without taking on GC means-and-methods responsibilities.

Success Measures

• Earlier identification and escalation of field issues before they become resident complaints or cost/schedule drivers.
• High-quality, consistent documentation supporting corrective actions and owner reporting.
• Improved resident responsiveness and reduced "no follow-up" instances.
• Clearer coordination among GC, property management, and ownership around unit access and resident-impact work.

Experience/Education

• 2-5 years of experience in construction, property management, affordable housing operations, or owner's rep support.
• Exposure to occupied renovation environments; affordable housing or NYCHA experience strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to track issues, actions, and follow-ups across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to de-escalate and communicate clearly with residents and site teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Ability to work on active construction sites across NYC developments (travel between sites may occasionally be required).
• Familiarity with NYCHA RAD/PACT operating context, resident engagement practices, and coordination between property management and construction teams.
• Procore experience or similar construction management platforms.
• Photo documentation and field reporting experience (clean, consistent, timestamped logs).
• Bilingual capability is a plus.

Core Competencies

• Resident-facing professionalism: empathy, patience, clarity, follow-through.
• Field awareness: ability to recognize cleanliness/protection failures, incomplete work, and resident-impact risks.
• Documentation discipline: accurate notes, organized photos, consistent tracking.
• Coordination: ability to connect unit access, sequencing, and resident concerns.
• Judgment: knows what to handle directly versus escalate; understands owner role boundaries.

Reporting Structure & Work Environment

• Reports to Owner's Representative / Senior Project Manager.
• Work environment: Active construction sites in occupied residential buildings; frequent walking, stair climbing, and exposure to typical construction conditions.
• Schedule: Primarily weekday field coverage aligned to construction activity; occasional early starts or extended days based on resident access windows and project needs.

Physical Requirements (Typical)

• Ability to traverse buildings and sites for extended periods, including stairs.
• Ability to wear required PPE and work safely in construction environments.

Salary to be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience of the applicant, as well as the internal equity and alignment with the team.

For New York this ranges from $112,400.00 -$159,500.00 plus benefits and retirement program.

Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees' education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Note to Recruiters, Placement Agencies, and Similar Organizations: Gilbane does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our jobs alias, website, or to any Gilbane employee. Gilbane will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Gilbane and will be processed accordingly.