Construction Manager

Also called: Bridges and Buildings Supervisor, Commercial Construction Superintendent, Concrete Foreman, Construction Area Manager, Construction Coordinator

Construction Manager

Varies

estimated salary

A construction manager plans, directs, or coordinates, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

 

  • Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
  • Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
  • Interpret and explain plans and contract terms to representatives of the owner or developer, including administrative staff, workers, or clients.
  • Direct and supervise construction or related workers.
  • Prepare contracts or negotiate revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers, or subcontractors.
  • Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
  • Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
  • Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
  • Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
  • Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure that proper construction procedures are being followed.
  • Implement new or modified plans in response to delays, bad weather, or construction site emergencies.
  • Develop or implement quality control programs.
  • Requisition supplies or materials to complete construction projects.
  • Determine labor requirements for dispatching workers to construction sites.
  • Contract or oversee craft work, such as painting or plumbing.
  • Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with environmental regulations.
  • Perform, or contract others to perform, pre-building assessments, such as conceptual cost estimating, rough order of magnitude estimating, feasibility, or energy efficiency, environmental, and sustainability assessments.
  • Develop or implement environmental protection programs.
  • Apply for and obtain all necessary permits or licenses.
  • Evaluate construction methods and determine cost-effectiveness of plans, using computer models.
  • Apply green building strategies to reduce energy costs or minimize carbon output or other sources of harm to the environment.
  • Secure third-party verification from sources, such as Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED), to ensure responsible design and building activities or to achieve favorable LEED ratings for building projects.
  • Develop construction budgets to compare green and non-green construction alternatives, in terms of short-term costs, long-term costs, or environmental impacts.
  • Implement training programs on environmentally responsible building topics to update employee skills and knowledge.
  • Direct acquisition of land for construction projects.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 95% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 90% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 80% responded "Every day".
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 75% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 60% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 65% responded "Very high responsibility".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 60% responded "Extremely important".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Develop sustainable organizational policies or practices.
  • Prepare operational budgets for green energy or other green operations.
  • Implement organizational process or policy changes.
  • Develop environmental remediation or protection plans.
  • Train employees on environmental awareness, conservation, or safety topics.
  • Evaluate green operations or programs for compliance with standards or regulations.
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Knowledge

Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
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Skills

Management of Personnel Resources
  • Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Coordination
  • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time Management
  • Managing one's own time and the time of others.
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Abilities

Information Ordering
  • The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk Revit Hot Technology
  • Cadsoft Design/Build Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Hot Technology
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
  • Email software
Word processing software
  • Google Docs Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • 3M Post-it App
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