Construction Managers

Construction Management

Level 6639 of 1200 points

Job description

Construction Managers

Job purpose

To plan, direct and coordinate the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities and systems through subordinate supervisory personnel, overseeing scheduling, budgeting and implementation, so that work is completed to specification, on time, on budget and in compliance with building, safety and environmental codes.

Skills

Knowledge of construction materials, methods and tools across the trades, of engineering and technology and of technical drawings and specifications; of quality control, estimating mathematics and the building, safety and environmental codes and permit regime; and of the accounting and management principles needed to budget and lead a function. A bachelor's degree is the most common single qualification though held by a minority, with school-level entry, post-secondary certificates and two-year degrees together accounting for more; several years of related experience and on-the-job or vocational training are expected.
Confers with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors and design professionals over work procedures, complaints and construction problems, and interprets plans and contract terms for owners' representatives, workers and clients. Directs and supervises construction workers, coaches subordinates, delivers training and deals with the public.
Studies job specifications to determine the appropriate construction method and tests the cost-effectiveness of alternatives using computer models; investigates damage, accidents and delays on site; and implements modified plans when delays, bad weather or emergencies require. Codes and contract terms set the frame, but problems arrive unpredictably and are settled on site against cost, safety and completion consequences.
Plans, schedules and coordinates project activities to meet deadlines, determines labour requirements and dispatches workers to sites, requisitions supplies, and obtains permits and licences. Prepares progress and cost tracking reports and runs quality control and environmental programmes. Schedules are reworked under time pressure as delays, bad weather and site conditions change.
Moves about sites and part-built structures to inspect equipment, structures and materials, handles materials and tools, and drives site vehicles. Hard hat, safety footwear, glasses, gloves and hearing protection are worn.

Responsibilities

Directs and supervises construction and related workers, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, setting performance standards and coaching. Determines labour requirements, dispatches workers to sites and recruits. Carries direct responsibility for their health and safety and for the output of subcontracted trades such as painting and plumbing.
Prepares budget estimates and cost tracking reports, carries out or commissions conceptual and order-of-magnitude estimating, and develops budgets comparing green and non-green construction alternatives. Negotiates contract revisions with architects, consultants, clients and suppliers, and may direct land acquisition. Spend is committed against a budget and contract sum agreed with the owner.
Accountable for the structures, facilities and systems under construction or maintenance, the materials requisitioned for them and the plant and equipment on site, inspected against the quality control programme.
Owns the project record: specifications and contract terms, permits and licences, progress and cost reports, inspection findings and investigation reports on accidents and delay, with third-party verification such as LEED. These evidence compliance and support payment claims.

Effort required

Sustained attention to code compliance, gained by inspecting structures and materials and monitoring site conditions, alongside estimating and cost analysis that must be exact. Decisions are frequent, taken under time pressure and often on incomplete information about ground, weather or supply, and bear on co-workers' safety.
Handles disputes with owners, contractors and suppliers, competitive pressure in tendering, and investigations following accidents or delay. Responsibility for the safety of others is continuous and personal, and holding a position under schedule pressure calls for composure.
Standing and moving about sites for much of the day, in close proximity to others, using hands to handle materials and tools, with time spent in enclosed vehicles. Not a predominantly seated role.

Working conditions

Work divides between environmentally controlled offices and sites outdoors in all weather, outdoors under cover or indoors without environmental control, with exposure to temperature extremes, distracting noise, contaminants, hazardous equipment and high places; protective equipment is worn throughout. Conflict situations arise with contractors and clients.
Most incumbents work more than a forty-hour week, and for the majority the schedule is irregular, shifting with weather, production demands and contract duration; the rest work a regular established routine. Time pressure is constant, the contracting market competitive, and errors carry cost and safety consequences. The postholder determines tasks, priorities and goals with considerable freedom of decision, within contract terms, codes and the client's requirements.

Skills

40% · 225 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 4 of 8
72 of 144 points
Factual and theoretical knowledge in broad contexts within a field of work. The job requires a range of thinking and practical knowledge to find solutions to specific problems in the job or study area.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Effective communication and interpersonal relationships. The job holder is required to adapt communication to different audiences and foster trust, cooperation and positive working relationships.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Standard problems. The job involves solving problems with defined alternatives. Some judgement is needed, but help is usually available.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate organisational skills required. The job requires the organising and prioritising of multiple tasks, with some level of adjustment to plans on the basis of changing circumstances or deadlines.
Physical skillsLevel 1 of 5
14 of 72 points
Minimal physical skills required. The job requires basic physical skills, such as handling light objects or using simple tools.

Responsibility

35% · 252 points▾

PeopleLevel 3 of 5
86 of 144 points
Moderate responsibility for people. The job includes overseeing or coordinating the work and well-being of others. This may involve supervising, providing regular support, managing conflicts, responding to an individual's needs and ensuring the personal and professional development of individuals.
Goods and equipmentLevel 3 of 5
50 of 84 points
Moderate responsibility for goods or equipment. The job involves the regular use and maintenance of more valuable equipment or materials. It may include managing resources or ensuring equipment stays in good condition.
InformationLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Moderate responsibility for information. The job involves managing information to ensure it is accurate, of high quality and secure. The job holder may make decisions about the handling of sensitive data.
Financial resourcesLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Moderate responsibility for financial resources. The job requires handling significant financial resources, including managing budgets, overseeing expenditures, being accountable for spending and participating in financial decision-making.

Effort

15% · 98 points▾

Mental effortLevel 3 of 5
36 of 60 points
High level of mental effort. The job involves frequent concentration on complex tasks that require considerable mental effort, such as interpreting complex data.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires the regular management of emotional responses, such as dealing with sensitive or challenging individuals or situations.
Physical effortLevel 2 of 5
19 of 48 points
Low physical effort. The job involves moderate physical effort, such as standing for long periods, occasional lifting, or repetitive or monotonous movements.

Working Conditions

10% · 64 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 3 of 5
50 of 84 points
Regular exposure to hazards or stress. The job requires regular exposure to physical hazards (e.g. exposure to chemicals, temperature extremes or minor risk of injury) or moderate psychological risks (e.g. isolation, repetitive tasks or occasional threats of violence). It may occur monthly or as a build-up of milder hazards.
Organisational environmentLevel 2 of 5
14 of 36 points
Occasional organisational demands. The job may involve occasional irregular hours (e.g. the requirement to work weekends or holidays), minimal travel or limited digital connectivity outside normal working hours.