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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Construction Manager

💰 $85,000 - $150,000

ConstructionManagementProject Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Construction Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising building projects from pre-construction through closeout to ensure on-time delivery, budget compliance, quality workmanship, and adherence to safety and regulatory standards. This role requires strong leadership, construction means-and-methods knowledge, schedule and cost control expertise, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders including owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and inspectors.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Assistant Construction Manager / Assistant Project Manager
  • Senior Superintendent or Lead Field Supervisor
  • Project Engineer with on-site coordination experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior Construction Manager / Program Manager
  • Director of Construction / Head of Construction Operations
  • VP of Construction or Construction Executive

Lateral Moves:

  • Preconstruction Manager / Estimating Manager
  • Facilities Manager / Construction Consultant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead all phases of construction project delivery—preconstruction planning, scheduling, procurement, on-site construction, commissioning, and closeout—ensuring projects meet scope, quality, safety, schedule, and budget objectives for commercial and/or infrastructure projects.
  • Develop, maintain, and actively manage the master project schedule using CPM techniques (Primavera P6, Microsoft Project), coordinate critical path activities, and proactively mitigate delays through recovery planning and resource reallocation.
  • Prepare, review, and manage project budgets, cost forecasts, and monthly cost reports; track change orders, RFI costs, and allowances; implement cost-saving measures and validate subcontractor invoices and payment applications to protect project margins.
  • Direct and coordinate subcontractor selection, negotiation, and management; issue scopes of work, monitor subcontractor performance, enforce contract compliance, and lead weekly coordination meetings to resolve field issues and maintain productivity.
  • Enforce a comprehensive safety program in accordance with OSHA standards and company policies; conduct jobsite safety inspections, toolbox talks, incident investigations, and ensure corrective actions are implemented to maintain a zero-harm culture.
  • Oversee quality assurance and quality control processes, including inspection schedules, punch-list management, testing and commissioning coordination, and final acceptance procedures to deliver projects that meet design specifications and owner expectations.
  • Manage procurement and logistics for long-lead items and critical equipment; coordinate vendor relationships, procurement schedules, and on-time delivery to avoid construction delays.
  • Coordinate with design team, architects, engineers, and specialty consultants to resolve design conflicts, clarify contract documents, and issue construction directives while maintaining budget and schedule integrity.
  • Prepare and present regular project progress reports and forecasts to executive leadership and clients, including schedule updates, budget status, risk registers, and proposed corrective actions to maintain transparency and stakeholder confidence.
  • Implement risk management strategies by identifying potential cost and schedule risks, maintaining a risk register, and developing contingency plans and escalation procedures to reduce exposure to claims and disputes.
  • Supervise field staff including superintendents, foremen, and labor crews; set performance expectations, prioritize workload, conduct performance reviews, coach for development, and ensure alignment with project goals.
  • Manage on-site document control: review and approve submittals, RFIs, ASIs, O&M manuals, warranties, and as-built documentation to ensure records are complete and auditable for turnover and facility operations.
  • Lead commissioning and turnover activities including systems start-up, owner training, documentation handover, and warranty period coordination to ensure a smooth transition to operations and satisfied clients.
  • Administer contract terms including bonds, insurance, payment schedules, retainage, and compliance with local statutes and permit requirements; collaborate with legal and commercial teams to resolve contract disputes or claims.
  • Drive continuous improvement in construction methods and productivity through value engineering, lean construction practices, and adoption of technology such as BIM, drones, and mobile field solutions to reduce cost and schedule risk.
  • Coordinate site utilities, traffic control, staging, and logistics plans including site access, laydown areas, and temporary facilities to optimize workflow and minimize disruption to surrounding properties and stakeholders.
  • Oversee environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives including erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, waste diversion, and adherence to LEED or other green building objectives where applicable.
  • Manage client expectations and maintain strong client relationships during construction by proactively communicating progress, addressing concerns, and providing clear and timely resolutions to issues that affect scope, cost, or schedule.
  • Lead claims avoidance and resolution processes by documenting delays and impacts, maintaining contemporaneous records of decisions and directives, and coordinating with claims specialists when necessary to protect the company’s interests.
  • Coordinate testing, inspection, and regulatory sign-offs with third-party inspectors, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), and commissioning agents to ensure final approvals and occupancy permits are obtained without delay.
  • Implement site-level productivity and cost controls including labor loading, equipment utilization tracking, and subcontractor performance metrics to ensure efficient resource deployment and improved profitability.
  • Facilitate preconstruction activities such as constructability reviews, risk assessments, schedule development, and budget validation to establish realistic baselines and align stakeholders on project deliverables.
  • Manage project closeout activities including final billing, release of retainage, final lien waivers, warranty logs, and lessons-learned reviews to drive organizational knowledge retention and continuous process improvements.
  • Supervise and coordinate scope changes, change order negotiations, and pricing justification; ensure timely submission and approval of change order requests to maintain cash flow and contract clarity.
  • Ensure accurate forecasting and financial controls by working with finance and project controls teams to update earned value metrics, cost-to-complete estimates, and final cost reconciliation at project close.

Secondary Functions

  • Mentor junior construction staff and support cross-functional training programs that improve field leadership capabilities and succession planning.
  • Support business development teams with constructability input, high-level cost opinions, scheduling constraints, and value engineering options during proposal and bid phases.
  • Contribute to the company’s safety, quality, and sustainability committees to share best practices, standardize procedures, and implement site-level improvements across projects.
  • Coordinate with human resources for staffing plans, union agreements, labor compliance, and workforce onboarding to ensure the project is adequately resourced.
  • Participate in post-project evaluations and prepare detailed lessons-learned documentation to inform future estimating, scheduling, and procurement strategies.
  • Support stakeholder and community engagement activities including public meetings, neighbor outreach, and mitigation of site impacts where projects affect local communities.
  • Assist in developing and optimizing jobsite digital workflows (document management, daily reports, photo logs) to improve transparency and performance measurement.
  • Work with procurement to maintain preferred vendor lists, monitor supplier performance, and identify opportunities for strategic sourcing and cost reduction.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Construction project management and delivery for commercial, industrial, or institutional projects (scheduling, cost control, contract administration).
  • Advanced scheduling skills with CPM scheduling tools (Primavera P6, Microsoft Project); ability to create, analyze, and recover complex schedules.
  • Strong estimating and budgeting skills including quantity take-offs, cost forecasting, change order valuation, and earned value reporting.
  • Proficient in construction management software and digital tools (Procore, PlanGrid, Bluebeam, BIM 360, Viewpoint) and familiarity with mobile field reporting.
  • Knowledge of contract types (CMAR, Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, GMP) and contract law fundamentals relevant to construction projects.
  • Competence in interpreting construction drawings, specifications, detailed scopes, and technical submittals.
  • Experience managing safety programs and regulatory compliance (OSHA, local building codes, environmental permits).
  • Familiarity with building systems, MEP coordination, commissioning processes, and quality control testing protocols.
  • Experience with procurement strategies, vendor management, and long-lead item tracking.
  • Ability to prepare and interpret project financials, progress reports, and performance dashboards; proficient with Excel and financial reporting tools.
  • Working knowledge of BIM coordination and clash detection workflows; ability to collaborate with design teams using Revit models.
  • Experience with claims avoidance, risk registers, and dispute resolution processes.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people-management skills with experience motivating cross-functional field and office teams.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for client presentations, stakeholder updates, and detailed reporting.
  • High emotional intelligence and conflict-resolution skills to mediate subcontractor disputes and team disagreements constructively.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking with the ability to make timely, well-informed decisions under pressure.
  • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail for document control, compliance, and quality assurance.
  • Negotiation skills for contract terms, change orders, and subcontractor settlements.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance multiple projects and shifting deadlines.
  • Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering quality results and building long-term client relationships.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, changing construction environments.
  • Coaching and mentoring aptitude to develop emerging leaders and improve team performance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Building Science, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering Management, or MBA preferred.
  • Professional certifications such as Certified Construction Manager (CCM), PMP, OSHA 30, or LEED AP are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Construction Management
  • Civil Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Building Science
  • Project Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–15 years of progressive construction experience with at least 3–7 years in a construction management or project manager role on medium to large commercial projects.

Preferred: 8+ years managing multi-million-dollar commercial, hospitality, healthcare, or industrial projects with direct responsibility for schedule, budget, subcontractor management, and client relationships.

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