Residential Construction Intern

Description

The Residential Construction Intern will be an integral member of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha’s (HFHO) Construction team, which is primarily responsible for completing three phases of new home building: 1) framing, 2) installation of exterior siding, storm doors and porch railings; and building decks, and 3) installation of interior doors, trim and cabinets. This Intern position will receive material on-the-job training from Senior Construction Supervisors and other skilled team members and gain experience in all areas of HFHO’s construction program. The Intern will be expected to assist with worksite preparation and setup as well as cleanup at the end of each day. Safety is a key component of any construction worksite, so the Intern will be provided with training to safely operate all tools. Upon successful completion of training, this role will also provide the Intern with the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills by guiding volunteers through one or more of the building phases during a workday.

Internship Dates: September 2026 - December 23rd, 2026 (opportunity for renewal)

Schedule: Up to 29 hours per week 

Requirements

What You’ll Do

Learn & Support Residential Construction

• Assist with hands-on construction tasks including framing, siding, doors, windows, decks, trim, and cabinets.
• Work under the guidance of Senior Construction Supervisors and experienced construction staff.
• Safely operate and help maintain construction tools and equipment.
• Support daily site setup, preparation, and end-of-day cleanup.

Practice Safety & Quality

• Follow all Habitat Omaha safety procedures and safe work practices.
• Protect tools, equipment, and materials and practice good resource stewardship.
• Help maintain a clean, organized, and professional job site.

Collaborate & Communicate

• Work cooperatively with Habitat Omaha staff, construction teams, contractors, volunteers, and family partners.
• Follow oral and written instructions accurately and ask questions to learn.
• Communicate daily progress and record work completed in the project management system.
• Demonstrate reliability by arriving on time and prepared for each workday.

Support Volunteers & Mission

• With training, assist in guiding volunteers through construction tasks.
• Help ensure volunteers and family partners have a meaningful, positive experience on site.

What You’ll Experience

Hands-on learning:
Gain real construction experience across multiple phases of home building.

Mentorship:
Learn directly from skilled construction professionals invested in your growth.

Leadership development:
Build confidence guiding volunteers and working as part of a team.

Mission in action:
See firsthand how your work contributes to affordable housing and stronger communities.

What Success Looks Like

• Job sites are safe, clean, and ready for daily work.
• Construction tasks are completed accurately, safely, and on schedule.
• Tools and materials are handled responsibly and returned properly.
• Volunteers feel welcomed, supported, and engaged.
• Intern demonstrates growth, reliability, teamwork, and initiative.

What You Bring

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current or past enrollment in a construction or skilled trades program preferred.

Experience

• Prior construction experience helpful but not required.
• Willingness to learn and take direction essential.

Skills & Strengths

• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Basic math skills and comfort with measurements preferred.
• Ability to safely use hand tools with training.
• Dependable, motivated, and eager to learn.
• Basic computer literacy preferred.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly.
• Ability to stand, walk, climb, kneel, and work with hands and tools throughout the day.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to work around construction equipment, ladders, power tools, and uneven terrain.
• Noise levels may be loud at times.

Why It Matters

As a Residential Construction Intern, you’re not just learning a trade, you’re helping families build a future. This internship offers practical skills, mentorship, and meaningful experience while contributing to Habitat Omaha’s mission of ensuring everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit, use their hands and fingers to handle and maneuver or feel objects, tools or controls. They must reach with their hands and arms, climb or balance themselves; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; must be able to talk and hear. The employee must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or more. Vision requirements are that the employee must see well, either naturally or with correction, and must have good peripheral vision. The employee must be able to hear well either naturally, or with correction.

Work Environment

The employee will predominantly be working outside. There is frequent exposure to wet, hot, cold, and /or humid conditions. The employee must be comfortable safely climbing a ladder to a second level height. The employee frequently works near heavy machinery, power tools and saws. At times, the noise level may be very loud. The worksite terrain may be rough and uneven.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (Habitat Omaha) actively recruits, employs, trains and compensates employees regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetics or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, Habitat Omaha complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including workplace harassment.

At Habitat Omaha, we have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and to do their best work. Our vision is to see a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live, and we know our company runs on the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees. Our dedication to promoting diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion is clearly reflected in the work that we do externally in the community, as well as internally with our employment practices.