Careers

Construction Management is a term for a career that is either a business model or a salaried position. As a business model, the construction management company manages trade workforces who are not their own employees. For example, a company might deliver a project by contracting others, such as a concrete contractor who, in turn, provides the resources. In salaried positions, a Construction Manager (CM) does not perform any of the construction but is responsible for making sure the work is done properly. In the past, experience was enough to become a CM, but, today, a Construction Manager normally needs both a degree and experience.

Courses in construction management are offered at most colleges and universities as two- or four-year undergraduate degree programs. Various institutes and associations offer education courses and certifications. Although some certifications can be achieved without college, individuals must have years of experience – four to eight years of experience in construction, following designs and working on site is not unusual.

Important skills required for this career are the ability to listen and understand, to motivate workers, to negotiate contracts and to appease conflicts. An understanding of the systems and processes of construction is essential. A CM must be able to work well under pressure, see the big picture, pay attention to the small details and work well with people.

Other helpful tools include computers for email and documentation, software for estimating and planning, cell phones for communication and a notepad. Because the job site is not the only place a CM is required to be in a workday, some sort of vehicle, normally a truck, is required and normally provided to salaried CMs.

Since CMs have no set location in which to perform their work, meeting locations will often vary. For instance, when a project is being planned, the job will determine the location of the initial meeting. Sometimes meetings are held in the job trailer on site and other times they are held at business offices. At times, CMs must tolerate less than ideal environments to conduct their work; CM’s have even been known to do paperwork in their trucks. Most construction is performed outdoors in remote locations without utilities, and it is the CM’s job to work part or all of the day at these locales.

This career requires individuals to be ready 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. A CM is often on call to meet the needs of the project, and there are many responsibilities. Each project has its own set of demands and requirements, and a project may be as simple as a driveway installation or as complex as a nuclear reactor.

At the beginning of a project, a CM may be involved in estimating and preparing a proposal to win the project. During this time, the CM becomes familiar with the details of the project such as the soil conditions, the type of structure (masonry or steel supported) and the roof material. Once on a job, understanding the project completely is the CM’s main focus. Since the CM will be responsible for the project from start to finish, he or she needs to know and pay attention to the smallest details. For example, the CM may often be involved in the design, discussing constructability issues with the architect – a crane will be necessary, but the placement is too close to existing buildings. He or she also makes value-engineering decisions – asphalt prices are much higher today due to the cost of oil, so concrete is a better bargain. The CM interacts with the clients, too, making sure that they get what they want and need – those windows are discontinued, but this window looks the same and has better insulation properties.

CMs are involved in setting the budget for the project and in keeping spending under control. They know their contracts, what their responsibilities are and what others are expected to do. Using the estimates from subcontractors, CMs select companies to build the project and write contracts for these subcontractors. CMs review the subcontractors’ orders for specified materials, ensuring these meet all requirements. CMs also make sure that workers and manufacturers have the proper credentials. After acquiring and assigning all resources, the CMs make sure that everything gets to the site on time. Making a schedule and sticking to it is one of the most important roles of a CM.

During the course of the project, the CM will be responsible for making sure that the design and the end product match as closely as possible. Any problems on site with materials, fit or finishes will be the CM’s responsibility to resolve to the owner’s satisfaction. If there are discrepancies, the CM discusses the differences and negotiates the owner’s approval. On site safety is everyone’s responsibility, and another part of the CM’s function is reviewing safety plans and equipment. As the project progresses, the CM checks to be sure the work continues as planned.

As the project is built, the budget continues to be monitored by the CM. He or she makes sure that material deliveries and workers are paid on time and that all areas of the budget, including profit, are taken care of. Finally, at the end of the project, the warranties and close out documents are reviewed by the CM. All of the above responsibilities may be the function of one person, if the project is large enough.

Some construction management positions are:

There are also planners, schedulers and project coordinators. The Occupational Handbook lists “project managers, constructors, construction superintendents, project engineers, construction supervisors, or general contractors” under the category of construction management positions, too.

The prospects for construction manager careers are “faster than average” and there is estimated growth in employment: from 14 to 19 percent each year, according to the 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). The OOH also states, “Construction managers held 551,000 jobs in 2008. About 61 percent were self-employed, many as owners of general or specialty trade construction firms.”

Contributor: Jessica Bell

Sources:
Occupational Outlook Handbook
O*net Online
Career Overview
Civil Engineering Website
Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
American institute of Constructors and Construction Certification Commission

Copyright 2012