If you’re wanting to develop a career in the construction industry, you may have already looked into construction management as a viable option. Construction management is ideal for those looking for a good amount of variability and challenge in their work, and the interesting nature of the job and reward of a successfully finished project are in part what makes this job so popular. There’s a lot to being a construction manager, so in this article we take a look at a few things that a construction manager might do as part of their role.
The responsibilities of a project manager
If you’re contemplating starting a diploma in construction management or are almost finished with your studies, you might already be wondering what you might be able to tackle on a job site. The answer, perhaps frustratingly for some, is that there is no straight answer! Construction managers generally oversee and lead an interesting variety of building projects from beginning to end, meaning that consistency is not always on the cards. This might mean that a standard day on the job could include things like site visits, in-depth progress reviews, an examination of the state of the financials, tackling various admin tasks that need addressing, meeting up with clients and teams and getting in touch with contractors. All this makes the role ideal for someone who certainly doesn’t mind getting out and about as part of their job! There is also a need for construction managers to apply a steady hand to the projects they’re overseeing, which might mean reviewing designs, getting in touch with sub-contractors to discuss the various costs of the project, accurately measuring what’s required to complete the project and creating and adjusting any and all project timelines.
The different roles a construction manager might take on
In addition to all of the differing responsibilities a construction manager will be required to take on, there are also different levels of construction manager, which are often determined by experience. For example, someone new to the world of construction management might take on roles that include site engineer, contract administrator and project coordinator, while a more experienced construction manager might instead be take the role of a project engineer, project manager or estimator. As construction managers develop more experience, they might then look into becoming a project director, construction manager or commercial manager. It’s also not uncommon for construction managers to apply their experience to their own work by starting their very own business. This approach will obviously see a construction manager wear a lot of different hats, as in this role they will usually be responsible for managing their own projects from inception to completion, and it is for this reason that this is usually pursued by more senior construction managers.
Looking to get into the construction industry?
If you like the challenge that the construction industry often offers and are interested in managing a highly diverse portfolio, being a construction manager is likely a very good fit for you. Plus, with construction management experiencing strong growth over the past decade in Australia, now’s the time to really consider a future in it. If you haven’t begun your studies today, maybe now is the time to send through that application!
