Jobs in construction management are growing at a steady pace, and there is an increasing need for intelligent, well-educated, experienced and certified people in this field.
Types of Jobs
There are a variety of job titles in the construction management field, including:
- construction manager
- senior construction manager
- project manager constructors
- construction superintendents
- project engineer
- construction supervisor
- managing director of construction
- facilities administrator
- project scheduler
- plant projects manager
- construction planning
- scheduling manager
Since construction projects are often complex and multi-faceted, construction managers might be in charge of one or more activities involved in the project, such as land clearing and excavation, laying the foundation, erecting the structural framework, installing sewage systems or installing plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems.
Working Conditions
Construction managers can be either salaried or self-employed. If salaried, they might work for a construction management firm, a builder or an owner. If self-employed, they might own their own construction management firms and contract out their services. A large number of construction managers, in fact, are self-employed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011, 61 percent of construction managers fall into this category.
Construction managers often work in a main office or at a construction site’s field office. Often, construction managers will be required to travel extensively to and from the job site. For jobs overseas, serving as a construction manager will usually require temporary residence in the country where the project is being completed.
Some construction managers work regular daytime hours while many others are on-call day and night. The latter usually occurs with construction projects that have ongoing shifts.
Construction managers face some of the same dangers faced by any construction worker on a job site, and care must be taken to ensure one’s safety on the job.
Job Skills
Depending on the specifics of any given job, construction managers must have a variety of skills. Here are a few typical skill requirements:
- Ability to plan, organize and coordinate construction projects
- Ability to manage, monitor and implement budgets
- Ability to coordinate schedules between vendors, contractors, builders and other parties
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability to deal with multiple tasks at once
- Ability to read, understand and execute blueprints
- Decisive
- Detail-oriented
- Knowledgeable of the building codes of a particular city, county, state or country
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Bilingual, especially in Spanish
- Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Primavera or other construction software and technologies
Education, Certification and Training
With the right experience, skills and knowledge, construction managers can enter the field with anything from a high school diploma to a doctorate degree. Increasingly, however, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a construction-related field is the standard requirement for both entry-level and advanced construction manager positions.
Construction-related fields include construction management, building science, civil engineering, construction science, construction management, andarchitecture. Employers will look at a variety of degrees as long as they have some relation to the theory and practice of construction.
In this field, however, formal education is not enough; practical experience in construction is vital. This can be gained from jobs in construction trades, internships, vocational training or cooperative educational programs. Experience in construction crafts, such as masonry, carpentry, electrical work or plumbing can also be valuable preparation for becoming a construction manager.
Many colleges and universities offer associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in construction management, building or construction science, construction engineering and related fields. Courses in these programs might include building codes, site planning, construction methods, architecture, value analysis and cost estimating, contract administration, accounting, mathematics and statistics and computer science or information technology. There are also master’s degree programs in construction management and construction science. An MBA, when combined with a degree in construction management or related field, can also be a wise choice for a would-be construction manager.
Certification is not required of construction managers, but there is an increasing demand for certification in the field. Certification gives employers evidence of the construction manager’s knowledge, skills and experience. The American Institute of Constructors (AIC) and the Construction Management Association of America (CMMA) both offer certification programs for construction managers. The requirements for these certifications vary, but they typically combine written examinations with verified education and professional experience. The AIC offers designations of Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC), and the CMMA gives the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) designation.
Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of construction managers will likely increase by 17 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is an above-average increase when compared with other jobs. Though construction projects over the last few years have slowed, there is an increase in renovations and making buildings more energy efficient. There is also a push to improve and update the infrastructure of roads, highways, bridges and water and sewer lines in the United States and overseas, and this will result in a demand for construction managers who can oversee these projects. There will also be an increasing need for construction managers who are familiar with new technologies, materials, energy efficiency and safety regulations.
Contributor: Vivian Wagner
Sources:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos005.htm
http://www.cmaanet.org/career-hq