Project manager in construction

Construction Project Manager job description

A Construction Project Manager is an experienced construction professional who is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the building process, working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans.

Nikoletta Bika

Nikoletta holds an MSc in HR management and has written extensively about all things HR and recruiting.

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Construction Project Manager responsibilities include:

Collaborating with engineers, architects etc. to determine the specifications of the project
Negotiating contracts with external vendors to reach profitable agreements
Obtaining permits and licenses from appropriate authorities

construction project manager job description

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Job brief

We are looking for an experienced Construction Project Manager to plan and supervise a wide range of construction projects from start to finish. You will organize and oversee construction procedures and ensure they are completed in a timely and efficient manner.

An excellent Construction Project Manager must be well-versed in all construction methodologies and procedures and able to coordinate a team of professionals of different disciplines to achieve the best results. The ideal candidate will have an analytical mind and great organizational skills.

The goal will be to ensure all projects are delivered on time according to requirements and without exceeding budget.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with engineers, architects etc. to determine the specifications of the project
Negotiate contracts with external vendors to reach profitable agreements
Obtain permits and licenses from appropriate authorities
Determine needed resources (manpower, equipment and materials) from start to finish with attention to budgetary limitations
Plan all construction operations and schedule intermediate phases to ensure deadlines will be met
Acquire equipment and material and monitor stocks to timely handle inadequacies
Hire contractors and other staff and allocate responsibilities
Supervise the work of laborers, mechanics etc. and give them guidance when needed
Evaluate progress and prepare detailed reports
Ensure adherence to all health and safety standards and report issues

Requirements and skills

Proven experience as construction project manager
In-depth understanding of construction procedures and material and project management principles
Familiarity with quality and health and safety standards
Good knowledge of MS Office
Familiarity with construction/ project management software
Outstanding communication and negotiation skills
Excellent organizational and time-management skills
A team player with leadership abilities
BSc/BA in engineering, building science or relevant field
PMP or equivalent certification will be an advantage

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Construction Project Manager do? Construction Project Managers have the ultimate authority to oversee every phase of a construction project. They make sure that they complete projects within the timeline and budget. What are the duties and responsibilities of a Construction Project Manager? The Construction Project Manager’s responsibilities are to manage relationships with key stakeholders, create benchmarks for success and deliverables (including managing budgets) and plan work assignments that meet deadlines requirements while considering changes in budget or scope during the execution of the contract. What makes a good Construction Project Manager? An effective Construction Project Manager should communicate with all different construction workers and managers across the project to ensure all tasks are performed promptly. They must create strong relationships between workers and managers, which are vital when dealing with such tense situations that can arise at any moment during a building project’s life cycle from start to finish. Who does the Construction Project Manager work with? The Construction Project Manager is in charge of every aspect of a project during construction, but they must still report to their Project Manager. Construction Project Managers also need to communicate with hands-on construction workers who work in the field to ensure the project remains within budget and timelines are met.

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10 key responsibilities of a construction project manager

What are the responsibilities of a project manager in construction?

Planning
Hire, fire and supervise
Set goals
Deliver on time
Stay on budget
Keep client and your boss on the loop
The dispute manager
Draft contracts
Manage risks

Not all construction project managers know what they do all the time. Sometimes, they get too overwhelmed with so many tasks and with the multiple stakeholders they have to communicate with.

The construction project manager is the key figure of the construction project team. Without the project manager, the team will fail hard. Imagine what would happen if the project manager doesn’t know what to do with the team?

1. Planning

The construction project manager not only needs to plan his work but also lay out the tasks for his team. A thorough project manager needs to forecast and determine the work that needs to be done for the proposed project. A project manager’s responsibilities include:

Preparing work for the whole team
Estimating costs
Developing deliverable schedules as a roadmap for the construction team
Following the project in case there is a need to handle or supervise some tasks
Reviewing the project in depth to determine if everything is done according to plan

Recently, lots of helpful and handy (smart) tools have been developed to help the project manager do a better job.

2. Hire, fire and supervise

The project manager is considered the boss on the construction site. The project manager is responsible for getting the right people to handle all the tasks for a single project. Hiring and firing people are probably the hardest things to do. Supervising comes as the cherry on top – this part sometimes gets a little difficult and complex because of the need to pay attention to the details that someone in the team has missed. The project manager has to do all the coordinating and directing the construction workers.

3. Set goals

Setting goals is what the construction project managers often forget about. It’s one of the most important responsibilities that the project manager usually end up skipping.

The project manager needs to set specific goals signed by the client and do everything to meet the goals. On top of that, the PM is in charge of reviewing the contractual conditions of performance, determining the precision of the work, handling requirements and deliverables, etc. The goals establish how many workers and types of supplies are needed. Project managers who got everything ready with set goals usually end up being the most successful ones.

4. On time

There are several construction project managers I’ve worked with in the past. They were always on time. The project was completed even ahead of time. I still collaborate with the same people. It was a difficult path I needed to walk to find them. The previous construction project managers were always a week or month late with one single project and that’s unacceptable.

A job comes with a specific set of constraints and objectives. There is a huge time frame in which everything needs to be ready. Time is crucial because there are many penalties included against the builder if the project is late.

5. Stay on budget

Construction projects are commercial endeavours. As the project manager, you need to keep the money in mind while planning the whole project and work. The key is in estimation. There are software that could help you get the job done more effectively.

When the project starts, you are the one who needs to make sure the crew doesn’t go above the budget. See costs, estimate, compare and cut unnecessary costs to stay within budget limits.

6. Keep client and your boss on the loop

No one is on the construction site except you and your team. The project manager is the boss, but he has someone above him. Most of the project managers do things on their own. They forget that they need to update the client and his boss about the progress of the project. Or, the thing that I hate the most, they hide things from the client/boss when something is not going according to plan. The project ends up with a huge failure because of that.

Free ebook: How to improve productivity on your construction site

Keeping your boss and client in the loop means giving them daily or weekly reports of the job status, equipment, policies and upcoming procedures with all the issues that came from the work. If an issue comes up, the project manager’s work is to inform all parties with how this will affect timing, extra costs and how he plans to fix/adjust that.

7. The dispute manager

Playing the role of a project manager is probably the same as playing a dispute manager. Putting everything under control is a key. Sometimes it requires you to be the judge who will bring order in the courtroom (construction site).

The construction project manager resolves many disputes that could come on his construction site. Disputes could come in different forms:

Between fellow construction workers
Subcontractors
The client
Third parties
Within the project management team

An unresolved dispute could lead to failure. A smooth engine needs all its features to run smoothly! The key to successfully resolving issues is to “nip the disagreement in the bud”. You need some clear preventive measures and a mechanism to resolve conflict fast and steady!

8. Draft contracts

All the work that needs to be done in the project should be written in a draft contract. That’s the contract between the owner and builder. That’s the contract all construction project managers know about. However, there are more that need to be handled by the PM.

I’m talking about the draft contracts with:

The architects
Materials suppliers
Subcontractors (electricians, carpenters, heating and cooling professionals)
Other third parties involved in the project

Keeping all these parties covered with draft contracts is important for completing the whole puzzle called construction project.

9. Manage risks

This is more like a skill every successful project manager needs to have. It was really hard for managers to manage risk. Now there are software helpers that could help him do that more efficiently. Knowing the possible risks and informing the builder and client about that, can reach a mutual agreement of how this risk could be handled or shared.

10. Other responsibilities

Last but not least, here are a few other responsibilities that will make a successful construction project manager:

Plan and arrange visits to new potential clients
Ensure every client receives enough support and establish an unbreakable relationship
Develop contacts with senior staff, directors and other influential people around you
Coordinate support and do the training

How do you become a construction manager?

Most construction managers usually have academic backgrounds in construction engineering, building science, construction science, or more generic degrees like engineering, architecture, and mathematics. If you don’t have these degrees, don’t fret.

You can get courses in project control and management, design, building codes and standards, construction methods and materials, and other related areas that would provide you with an understanding of the construction industry and its needs.

In other parts of the world, an associate degree in construction management coupled with work experience also is a great foundation. For those with no academic degrees, work experience is fundamental. Other countries value the apprenticeship route, wherein the candidates go through all the minor roles in the scope of project management and climb up the career ladder.

Certifications are another way of gaining knowledge and credentials as a candidate to be a construction project manager. For instance, in the United States, the American Institute of Contractors and the Construction Management Association of America offer certificates for construction project management.

The role of a construction project manager is getting more specialised and critical as the industry transitions into a digitalised era. Even with all the automation, the construction manager’s role is here to stay to bridge construction knowledge with technology.

What is the difference between a project manager and a construction manager?

Although casually used interchangeably, a project manager is completely different from a construction manager. The project manager oversees the entire project starting at the initial planning up until completion and handover. The project manager is the one responsible for ensuring that the project is delivered on time and on budget, which involves them in marketing, client meetings, and administrative tasks other than the construction phase.

The construction manager, on the other hand, is the one in charge of supervising and managing the entire construction phase and all construction processes on a project. The construction manager’s primary responsibility is ensuring that the building project is meeting the agreed standards and technical requirements and is within budget. The construction manager is also the link to managing subcontractors, project personnel, and making sure that the project is compliant with building codes and regulations.

Project managers usually have a bigger scope of management and oversight than construction managers, and both jobs are significantly crucial to completing a project successfully.

Complement this useful article with an informative piece on the basics of construction project management and download for free our ebook on how how to digitise your construction processes and finally meet your objectives of deadlines, budget and compliance.

Project manager

Project managers oversee the planning and delivery of construction projects. They ensure that work is completed on time and within budget. They organise logistics, delegate work and keep track of spending. As a project manager, you’d liaise with clients and construction professionals to arrange schedules and direct activities.

Average salary*

How to become
What will you do?
How much could you earn?
Career path and progression

How to become a project manager

There are several routes to becoming a project manager. You can gain the qualifications you need by doing a university or college course, or an apprenticeship. If you already have some experience you may be able to apply for a job directly. You should explore these options to find out which is the right one for you.

You may need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work on a construction site.

University

You could do an undergraduate degree in construction management, project management, business or IT.

If you already have a first degree you could study for a postgraduate qualification in construction project management.

Equivalent entry requirements explained
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Funding advice

College/training provider

You could do NVQ Levels 4 and 5 in Project Management or Levels 3, 4 and 5 in Business Improvement Techniques.

Some training providers also offer NVQ levels 3, 4 and 5 specific to construction project management.

Find a course near you
Funding advice

Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship with a construction firm is a good way into the industry.

Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16. As an apprentice, you will be fully employed by your company and expected to work a minimum of 30 hours a week. Your time will be split between on-the-job experience and a college or training provider.

An intermediate apprenticeship takes around two years to complete. You could follow a higher apprenticeship in construction management.

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Guide to apprenticeships

Work

Many project managers start their careers as craftspeople in a particular trade. If you have experience of managing small projects, you could study part-time to gain project management qualifications and get a job in a construction project support team.

Work experience

Work experience is essential to gaining employment within the construction industry. You could gain this at school, or by working weekends and holidays with a company or relative who works as a project manager. Potential employers will always be pleased to see work experience listed on your CV.

Skills

Additional skills which may benefit anyone looking to become a project manager include:

Leadership and business management skills
Knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
Persistence and determination
Able to use your initiative
Be thorough and pay attention to detail
Maths knowledge
Excellent verbal communication skills

Qualifications

England

To become a Project Manager you’ll need GCSE’s 9 — 5 including Maths and English. Some may require A-Levels, a Project Management qualification and previous experience.

Scotland

To become a Project Manager you’ll need Scottish Nationals 5 A — C’s including Maths and English. Some may require A-Levels, a Project Management qualification and previous experience.

Wales

To become a Project Manager you’ll need GCSE’s A* — C including Maths and English. Some may require A-Level’s, a Project Management qualification and previous experience.

What does a project manager do?

As a project manager you will be responsible for helping to keep projects on a realistic timescale and budget. This involves selecting and leading a project team and ensuring you are aware of all details so you can keep a client up to date.

The job role of a project manager involves the following duties:

Understanding what the client or company wants to achieve
Agreeing timescales, costs and resources needed to deliver a project
Drawing up a detailed plan for how to achieve each stage of a project
Selecting and leading a project team
Negotiating with contractors and suppliers
Directing a multi-disciplinary team
Communicating with staff at every level, in a calm, personable way
Overseeing several projects at the same time
Ensuring that each stage of the project happens on time, on budget and to a high standard
Reporting regularly on progress to the client and stakeholders
Coordinating market and customer research
Resolving any issues or delays
Demonstrating knowledge of all areas of construction
Writing bids for tender
Managing several projects simultaneously with the support of junior project managers
Working in an office or on a construction site.

How much could you earn as a project manager?

The expected salary for a project manager varies as you become more experienced.

Newly trained project managers can earn in the region of £25,000 — £30,000
Trained with experience project managers can earn in the region of £30,000 — £50,000
Senior or chartered project managers can earn in the region of £50,000 — £60,000.*

Hours and salary depend on location, employer and any overtime you may do.

* Salaries have been collected from multiple industry sources

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Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships in England

Apply for apprenticeships in England

Apprenticeships in Scotland

Apply for apprenticeships in Scotland

Apprenticeships in Wales

Apply for apprenticeships in Wales

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Jobs

Check out the latest project manager vacancies:

As these are external websites, the number of vacancies related to your preferred role may vary. New opportunities will be posted as they come up.

Career path and progression

After studying, you could start off as a trainee, junior or associate project coordinator.

With time, you could take on more responsibilities and progress into contract management or project consultancy.

You could undertake further training to specialise in an area such as IT or digital, engineering, contracts, health and safety, estimating or building inspection.

To become a senior project manager, you could study for additional qualifications with the Association for Project Management (APM), Project Management Institute (PMI) or Chartered Management Institute (CMI). You could apply for chartered status to increase your salary.

You could go set up your own business and work as a freelance consultant.

Related roles

Construction managers are required to handle the practical side of managing & planning the building process. Discover the various duties & full job description here.

Discover the important role that facilities managers play in the smooth running of buildings. Explore a career as a facilities manager.

Calculate & manage the finances for building & maintaining projects throughout the process. Learn more about the role of a construction Quantity Survey.

Be the main technical advisor on site, overseeing quality control & offering guidance. Learn more about a career as a setting out engineer here.

A Project Manager’s Role in Construction

Photo of a construction project manager in a hard hat looking at a tablet and documents

The project manager (PM) on a construction project is vital in delivering a successful project. The PM is responsible for providing the project the clients expect to receive safely and within a reasonable time and budget.

A construction project manager is not at the top of the leadership ladder — that would fall farther up in the construction firm’s executive structure. However, the PM is ultimately responsible for the successful delivery for a specific construction project. It can be stressful and time-consuming, but a rewarding job.

This article will discuss the role of the project manager throughout a typical construction build, what it takes to be successful in the role and the career path to become a project manager and beyond.

Table of contents

What is a PM’s Role on a Project?

A good project manager takes ownership of a project, accepting accountability for everything about its success or failure. Below are some of the tasks the project manager takes on over the course of a project.

Bidding

A contractor may not name a project manager until bids are submitted, but in many cases, the PM will be involved in project planning very early on.

General contractors may bring in project managers right at the outset of each bidding process, where they become integral to winning a contract on a design-build or a design-bid-build project. Projects benefit from having early and consistent input from the PM, which provides continuity and a greater understanding of all facets of the project.

Schedule Creation

By the time a project owner awards a contract to a builder, the work has an assigned start date, some specific milestone dates, and a substantial completion date. From those constraints, the project manager builds out the project schedule and then becomes responsible for completing the work by those milestone dates.

Staying on budget requires a lot of insight and proactive problem-solving. The PM will work with the superintendent to build look-aheads to ensure that every aspect of the work is set up for success – that the equipment, materials, and labor will all be ready when they’re needed and that all the tasks and subtasks get completed on time to stick to that schedule.

Facilitating the Work

The PM plays a supporting role in ensuring everything is in line for employees and subcontractors to do their work. Superintendents report to project managers daily regarding what’s happening on the site so they can facilitate all upcoming tasks.

PMs also facilitate work by procuring supplies for the jobsite, including office supplies, signage, and security equipment. On some projects, PMs are in charge of all materials procurement for the entire site. In those cases, the project manager must oversee ordering, delivery, inspection and storage of materials as needed.

Reporting and Communications

Together, the PM and the superintendent lead a weekly meeting with specialty contractors to establish work progress and understand the challenges of ongoing and upcoming work. The superintendent may take the lead during these meetings, with the PM offering support when needed.

The PM uses superintendent reports to compile another report to add to the agenda of a weekly owner, architect, and constructor (OAC) meeting to touch base and report on where the project stands.

The Face of Leadership

PMs stay updated with project sites through their superintendents’ daily reports and by visiting sites regularly. While on-site, the project manager can get a first-hand view of how the building is coming along, find out if there is anything else the site staff or subcontractors need and courier paperwork or supplies between sites and the office and warehouse.

A seasoned project manager may be working on two to five jobs at a time, and regular site visits are necessary to maintain a connection with each. Site staff and specialty contractors may feel more accountability after seeing and interacting with the project manager.

Make it easier to manage construction.

Illustration showing framers assembling a wooden wall

What Makes a Good Construction Project Manager?

The success of some projects relies heavily on the performance of the PM. Talented project managers can make a name for themselves and have owners seek them out specifically for their projects.

Leadership Skills

A project manager works not only with a team, but with a team of teams — and serves as a conduit between construction stakeholders, including the owner, subcontracting teams and materials suppliers.

Part of being a good leader is earning the trust of colleagues. That means taking the blame when something goes wrong and passing the praise when something goes right. Working harmoniously with so many people means having the humility to understand that the general contractor depends on the hard work of the subcontractors doing the building in the field. Project managers who run a safe, clean site and respectfully interact with subcontractors will have a better rapport and motivate better work from their teams.

Communication

Project managers need solid and empathetic communication skills. Smooth project operations require proactive reporting to owners and executives within their organization about challenges and changes to the project. PMs relay information between superintendents, subcontractors, and office staff, actively listening to concerns and brainstorming solutions.

In short, the best project managers preemptively share everything going on with their jobs with everybody who needs to know, as project success may depend on it.

Eagerness to Learn

Construction is ready for change and growth. Construction professionals who succeed in leadership roles analyze, think critically and are prepared to try something new. Inevitably, those who rely solely on set standard operating procedures without interest in improvement will be surpassed by those with fresh ideas. Project managers should be eager and hungry to learn ways to get better.

Great project managers are built by learning from mistakes and moving on. PMs who remain curious and able to adapt to new methodologies and technologies could be the driving force for change across the construction industry.

How One Project Manager Earned the Client’s Goodwill and Saved a Project 7 Figures

A construction firm was tasked with renovating an entire city block in Washington D.C. in buildings that housed a major law firm. The construction company was charged with creating a project plan that moved the lawyers out of their offices two floors at a time while offices were renovated. Each move created a lot of upheaval for the law offices, but a plan was set and agreed to.

Long months into project planning, a project manager came in with fresh eyes and claimed that a better plan could reduce disruption to the lawyers and save money in the process. Sure enough, a few days later, the PM produced a plan for saving 2,800 individual office moves throughout the project by restaging the project sequences.

Not only did the new plan save the project more than a million dollars, it earned a great deal of goodwill from the lawyers who had to move significantly fewer times over the course of the work. Impressively, the project manager was able to look at the project critically to discern a better way of doing things. Further, he was also able to speak up to challenge superiors to rethink the plan.

How can I become a project manager?

There’s no single path to becoming a construction project manager. Some project managers work their way from skilled trades workers to construction project leaders. Others take a course in construction management and emerge as a PM straight from school. Below are some typical career paths PMs can take to get the role.

Get a construction project manager degree.

Many schools offer construction management degrees and certificates to prepare students for a role as a project manager. A new graduate may expect to get a role as an assistant project manager, working on multiple projects over the course of a few years under an experienced project manager.

The next step might be to work as a project engineer on a few projects before being given a project manager role on a very small, tightly controlled project and with oversight from a more experienced colleague.

Arrive from another sector.

Some project managers arrive from entirely different industries and must learn the ropes of construction on the job. These construction managers may expect to remain assistant project managers for longer before progressing to project engineer and, finally, project manager.

Professionals from outside the construction world should expect to spend a great deal of time learning how construction works. Knowledge gleaned in the field tends to be harder to come by because it’s time and schedule-driven, so dedicated time on-site can help cover the basics for an industry novice.

In any scenario, project managers are given smaller, simpler, and shorter projects, with significant oversight from superiors. As experience grows, the PM’s projects gradually increase in size, duration, and complexity.

Start in another construction role.

Some construction project managers begin in skilled trades positions and work their way into management over time. Here’s how that progression could look:

A person working in pipefitting who shows responsibility and leadership qualities can be put in charge of other pipefitters.

Eventually, the pipefitter could be offered a position as a foreman and then a superintendent on a single project.

The employee could then become a general superintendent who oversees multiple projects simultaneously or a project manager.

The construction profession favors hard work and consistency. A worker who comes to work ready to do clean, careful, and safe work and has an open mind can learn and rise through the ranks.

Is previous construction experience necessary?

Project management is a huge field that exists across industries. It’s tempting to think that project managers straight out of school and experienced professionals from other industries could pop into the construction world and do the job.

After all, the fundamentals are the same, no matter whether you’re managing huge marketing teams or a construction project.

Leadership, scheduling, and problem-solving are common among them all. However, the bigger and more complex the project becomes, the more critical it is that the PM has some background industry knowledge.

While it’s possible to move straight from schooling or another industry into an assistant project manager role or even into a position as a project engineer, a project manager on a construction site would benefit greatly from some years in the construction industry. No matter how strong the communication skills, a project manager won’t understand the flow of work on a construction project or the needs of the laborers and subcontractors without some time on the job.

On the other hand, extensive construction experience could actually be detrimental to successful project management. A seasoned pro needs to stay flexible and ready to learn rather than relying on set ideas, which leaves little room for growth within the role.

The Future Outlook for Project Managers in Construction

Because of the labor shortfall experienced in recent years, the main challenge within the construction industry in coming years may be adequately training new hires before putting them in leadership positions.

Talented construction project managers will remain critical within construction companies into the future. Without a knowledgeable, capable leadership team, construction firms will be limited in the number of projects they can take on.

Technology has already changed a project manager’s role within the construction landscape. Already, the PM can visit sites virtually, hold meetings via Zoom, and share documents across sites at the touch of a button.

As time goes on, more project managers may be assisted by artificial intelligence tools that can help schedule, strategically match up workers to tasks according to their skill sets, and create look-aheads that sense time crunches earlier on. However, technology is here to aid — not replace — project managers as leaders, communicators and critical thinkers.