The Construction Project Manager is arguably the most important role within a project, and requires an experienced and well-educated professional who is well equipped to deal with a wide spectrum of people, problems, deadlines and budget constraints.
The Construction PM will be responsible for all aspects of the build, from start to finish, ensuring all goals are met on time and to budget.
Whether the project consists of a small project such as a building estate, a complicated factory, to a sky scraper, no building project would be successful without a Construction PM leading the way.
Duties may include:
- Set up estimates, lay out a budget and timetable, and develop a construction strategy.
- Recruit and manage builders, spending a lot of time on site overseeing day to day running.
- Negotiate with and ensure a good deal is made with outside contractors
- Provide help and explanations to architects, engineers, specialists, and all other professionals involved in the project.
- Be the first port of call if any problems occur, and ensure that the project complies with building codes, as well as legal and regulatory requirements.
- Allocate resources – from bricks and mortar to tools and amenities.
- Ensure health and safety standards are met.
- Arrange and lead regular team and stakeholder meetings.
- Set benchmarks to monitor progress, and create reports.
Desirable skills:
- Excellent communicator
- Superior knowledge of the industry and an expert in the field
- Previous experience of project management and understanding of specific problems and solutions
- Patient and understanding
- Motivating
- Approachable
- Hard working
- Committed
- Quick thinking and uses initiative
- Time management
- Analytical mind
- Highly organised
- Budgeting skills
Qualifications and experience required:
Usually, a degree in a related area is preferred – such as civil engineering, building science, construction management, and architecture.
On top of this, a project manager will have plenty of work experience and be exceptional in multi roles and disciplines. A construction manager can often start their career as an assistant construction manager.
It is possible to enter this occupation via an apprenticeship route, yet this is less common. Those who want to do this must work their way up and gain years of experience before assuming the role of a construction project manager.
Further opportunities:
As you gain even more experience working in the building industry, you could move into management or consultancy. You may also wish to undergo further training which allows you to specialise in areas such as health and safety, or building regulations for example.
Does this sound like you? For a confidential chat with one of our friendly Construction Consultants at Integra People, please call 01925 875 900 today.
