Construction Managers

Career summary

Construction managers may be known as constructors.

#from wois 1152 nothing else brought over.

#review 3/20/19 lh

Construction managers are in charge of construction projects, such as buildings, roads, or bridges. They review plans for a project and figure out how to build it. Using pre-building tests, they show the long-term costs of construction including energy use and impact to the environment. They consider various construction methods and decide which one is best for the job.

Construction managers plan all activities for projects. They may create budgets to compare the costs of non-green to green construction methods. They plan how long each step of the project will take and when each team of workers will be needed. Construction managers hire employees. Construction managers make sure workers follow safety rules. They hire trade contractors to complete specific pieces of the project, such as plumbing or painting.

They must meet green building standards like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). They may hire workers with LEED certifications or train workers to use green building skills.

Construction managers check on the progress of construction activities. They make sure materials arrive on time and are what was ordered. They monitor the quality of the work and worker safety. Managers make sure they have all the necessary permits. They track and control construction costs in order to avoid overspending. They prepare reports about progress on the project. Construction managers meet on a regular basis with owners, contractors, and architects to monitor the project.

Related careers

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Blue-Collar Worker Supervisors
• Civil Engineers
• Cost Estimators
• Energy Engineers
• Environmental Engineers
• General and Operations Managers
• Project Managers
• Purchasing Managers
• Supply Chain Managers
• Wind Energy Project Managers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to construction managers.

• Meet with owners, contractors, and architects to monitor projects and solve problems.
• Obtain all necessary permits and licenses.
• Examine various construction methods and determine the best method for the job.
• Perform a pre-building check for energy efficiency and other long-term issues.
• Use green building methods to reduce environmental impact.
• Select contractors to complete specific pieces of the project.
• Create construction budgets that compare non-green building with green building. Compare short-term costs with long-term costs and environmental impact.
• Prepare a schedule of construction activities that meets budget and deadline requirements.
• Review engineering and architectural drawings to monitor progress.
• Track and control construction costs to avoid excess spending.
• Use computer software for job costing, scheduling, and estimating.
• Track delivery of materials and how fast they are used. Order new materials when needed.
• Supervise the hiring and firing of workers.
• Train workers to use green building methods.
• Hire workers with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificates to improve LEED ratings for projects.
• Make sure all work meets standards.
• Prepare progress reports.
• Monitor the quality of work and worker safety.
• Inspect work to make sure projects follow environmental rules.
• Create plans to make sure projects follow building, safety, and environmental regulations.

Common work activities

Construction managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Schedule work and activities
• Get information needed to do the job
• Use computers
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Develop and build teams
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Document and record information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Analyze data or information
• Process information
• Develop goals and strategies
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Think creatively
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Monitor and control resources
• Coach others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Perform for or work with the public

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, construction managers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work with owners, trade contractors, architects, and other design professionals.
• Are responsible for work outcomes and the results of other workers.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Are sometimes placed in conflict situations in which workers or clients may be unpleasant, angry, or rude.
• Work as part of a team. This is very important because they lead different types of work teams.
• Communicate with clients, employees, and contractors everyday by telephone, e-mail, and in person.
• Write letters and memos daily.

Physical work conditions

• Sometimes work indoors in an office, or outdoors at a construction site.
• Are often exposed to sounds and noise levels, such as from earth-moving equipment, that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Wear protective equipment often, such as hard hats, when touring a construction site.
• Are exposed to hot or cold temperatures, depending on the weather.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous equipment.
• Work somewhat close to other people, such as when sharing office space.
• Often work in buildings without heating or air conditioning, such as portable trailers or unfinished structures.
• Regularly visit job sites in a car and truck. They often use the vehicle as a traveling office.

Work performance

• Are highly accurate in performing their job. This is very important because they maintain the schedule and budget for the construction project. Errors may have serious financial and safety consequences.
• Often repeat the same mental activities. This is somewhat important when creating budgets and writing reports.
• Make decisions everyday that affect workers on the job site and the final outcome of the project they are working on.
• Work in a moderately competitive environment in which their company's reputation is often at stake.
• Must meet strict deadlines weekly.
• Rarely consult a supervisor before making a decision or setting tasks and goals.

Hours/travel

• Work more than 40 hours per week.
• May work nights and weekends. Construction may sometimes continue around the clock to meet deadlines.
• Must be “on-call,” often 24 hours a day.
• May travel to different job sites, or live temporarily at job sites away from home.

Physical demands

Construction managers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for construction managers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for construction managers to be able to:

• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.

Skills and abilities

Construction managers need to:

Communicate

• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.

Use math and science

• Use math skills to solve problems.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.
• Obtain needed equipment, facilities, and materials and oversee their use.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Look for ways to help people.

Work with things

• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.
• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Construction Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Architectural Engineering
• Business Management and Administration
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Engineering
• Construction Engineering Technology
• Construction Inspection
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Operations Management
• Structural Engineering

Training

To work as a construction manager, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

In the past, employers hired workers who had years of experience as construction workers. Now employers look for managers who have both experience and at least an associate degree. Many construction managers have a bachelor's degree. Recommended areas of study are construction science, construction management, or civil engineering. Colleges, universities, and community colleges offer these programs. Courses cover project control and development, site planning, and building design. You also study construction methods and materials. Other courses include value analysis, contract administration, and building codes.

Work experience

Regardless of your major, experience working in construction is important. You can get experience through an internship, a cooperative education program, or working in the industry. These experiences offer you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. They also allow you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

On-the-job training

With a degree in building science or construction management you generally start as an assistant. You work with project managers, cost estimators, schedulers, and field engineers. The length of on-the-job training you receive varies by employer and your skills. In general, construction managers receive up to one year of training.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Blueprint Reading
• Carpentry
• Computer Fundamentals
• Construction
• Drafting
• Industrial Arts
• Electricity

Many construction managers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

An increasing number of employers prefer workers who have a combination of experience and college training in civil engineering or construction management. This often depends on the type of employer. Firms specializing in construction management look closely at education, while general contractors look for experience in the construction trades. Both require some experience working at a job site. Employers also prefer applicants with strong communications skills who can work with diverse groups of people.

Some managers may start out as estimators or purchasing agents to gain experience in the construction industry. Other workers, especially those employed by general contractors who look for field experience, first complete apprenticeships and, after working as skilled workers, advance to foremen. From there a worker becomes a supervisor and then a manager. Education and experience in the office tasks of managers, such as computer skills and familiarity with budgeting and spreadsheet software, are important in this approach.

Voluntary certification through the Construction Management Association of America or American Institute of Constructors listed in the Other Resources section of this description can be valuable. Certification as an aging-in-place specialist through the National Association of Home Builders may be an asset for workers in the residential remodeling industry. This certification provides the technical knowledge, resources, and tools for working with older and maturing adults who want to modify their homes so that they can live in them as long as possible as they age. Some workers may also benefit from a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professional credential which is awarded to workers who have shown a thorough understanding of green building techniques, the LEED green building rating systems, and the certification process. The LEED program is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

Costs to workers

Workers may have to pay fees for certification and membership fees to participate in professional organizations.

#The COA tool statement is at least 11 years old and the reference book note seemed silly to me, so didn't use. Lh

#Verified that these assns still offer certification. 3/20/19 lh

#Added comment about aging-in-place specialsts from April 22, 2010 article in Journal of Business, 5/6/10, cj.  still offered 3/20/19 lh

Tips

It is important to get exposure to all types of construction work. Experience as a cement mason, carpenter, laborer, or other craft worker would be helpful. (See architecture and construction occupations.) This experience can be obtained through internships or part-time jobs. Entry-level work as a cost estimator is important for understanding the bid process, the interpretation of plans and specifications, and other aspects of a building project. Find a knowledgeable person in the industry to act as your mentor. Courses in accounting, stock control, building inspection, and health and safety laws are helpful.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Construction Managers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages depend on the size and nature of the construction project. The area of the country and economic conditions can also affect earnings.

Many salaried managers receive benefits such as paid vacations and life and health insurance. Some receive bonuses when projects are completed on time or ahead of schedule. In addition, managers may be able to use a company vehicle. Construction managers who are self-employed must provide their own insurance and retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 40% of construction managers are self-employed. Almost all managers work in the construction industry.

Major employers:

• Office and industrial building construction companies
• House construction companies

National outlook

As the construction industry continues to grow, new jobs for managers will be created. New construction of residential homes, office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, schools, and restaurants will all provide job growth in this occupation.

Changes in building technology and the move toward environmentally-friendly building practices require supervisors with experience in these fields. However, employment of construction managers also depends on the economy. Many workers are laid off during periods of low construction activity.

People who have a bachelor's degree or higher plus construction experience, should have the best chances of finding jobs.

Other resources

A Career in Construction Management  

American Concrete Institute 
38888 Country Club Drive
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
248.848.3700

American Institute of Constructors 
PO Box 26334
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.683.4999

American Wood Council 

APA-The Engineered Wood Association 
7011 South 19th Street
Tacoma, WA 98466
253.565.6600

Associated Builders and Contractors 
440 - 1st Street NW, Suite 200
Washington DC 20001
202.595.1505

Associated General Contractors of America 
2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
703.548.3118

Associated General Contractors of Washington 
1200 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 301
Seattle, WA 98109
206.284.0061

Building Industry Association of Washington 
111 - 21st Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98501
800.228.4229
360.352.7800

Construction Management Association of America 
7926 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 800
McLean, VA 22102
703.356.2622

Construction Management links 

Design-Build Institute of America 
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20004
202.682.0110

Engineer Girl! 
National Academy of Engineering

Green Building Certification Institute 

International Code Council 
500 New Jersey Avenue NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20001
888.422.7233

Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties 
335 - 116th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.451.7920

National Association of Home Builders 
1201 - 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
800.368.5242
202.266.8200

National Association of Women in Construction 
327 South Adams Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104
800.552.3506
817.877.5551

Society of Women Engineers 
130 East Randolph Street, Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60601
877.793.4636

US Green Building Council 

References

Career cluster

• Architecture and Construction

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Construction Managers (11-9021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Contractor (182.167-010) 
• Railroad-construction Director (182.167-018) 
• Superintendent, Construction (182.167-026) 
• Superintendent, Maintenance of Way (182.167-030) 
• Supervisor, Bridges and Buildings (182.167-034) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Realistic/Conventional

COPSystem

• Business Professional