Construction Management Job Responsibilities

Construction Management 

Large-scale construction jobs require the concerted efforts of many highly trained individuals in order to come together successfully. Most construction managers are self-employed, though some do work for larger contracting firms. These talented individuals are in charge of supervising the entirety of the construction team in order to ensure that the entire operation proceeds with as few complications as possible.
Many construction management positions require a degree or certification. Check out the program below which offers free information:

 

These men and women are primarily tasked with all forms of coordination for construction projects—including commercial enterprises, residential locations, roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools. They are daily tasked with supervising the construction project on a whole. They need to work with engineers, electricians, plumbers, and other private contractors in order to ensure that the building is able to function efficiently after the construction is complete. They also plan out the entire budget for the construction project, as well as determining the most cost effective way to carry out the job. Construction managers need to hire, regulate, and even fire all the personnel involved during the building process. They need to figure out the amount of labor needed for the project, then figure out how to assemble enough workers to complete it.
Furthermore, these men and women need to regulate all of the licensing and certification that goes with building a large-scale edifice. This involves clearing up any issues that may arise with the safety instructors, the city’s zoning officials, or the company’s insurers. However, it should be noted that some construction managers only oversee certain parts of the larger project, especially when it comes to larger endeavors like office buildings or industrial complexes. Such jobs are distributed among a variety of construction managers, who are then divided as dictated by task; road construction, site preparation, and sewage installation are all different areas in which construction managers are assigned to complete within their employer’s time table. It should also be noted that with all of these responsibilities, construction managers rarely do any of the actual constructing at the site.

Construction Management Training and Education Requirements

While some construction managers ascend to the position through many years of experience, many are gaining these opportunities after completing a four-year bachelor’s degree in fields such as construction science, construction management, civil engineering, or building science. Individuals who complete these programs are often hired as assistants to construction managers on various projects. These auxiliary positions include cost estimators, schedulers, project managers, and field engineers. Many degree holders use these experiences as a way to get experience within the field and to build contacts. This is especially pertinent because even after a candidate receives a formal education in the field, many company’s still prefer if the construction manager has some experience working at a construction site, as a mason, electrician, plumber, or other contract worker. It should be noted that as the job becomes more complex, employers place an increasing amount of emphasis on the experience that a potential construction manager has.

Furthermore, many universities offer graduate programs in building science, construction science, and construction engineering. These are required for individuals who want to work on larger-scale or more corporate-driven projects. Many construction managers have been known to pursue a master’s degree in an unrelated field, such as business management, in order to increase his or her employment potential.

Construction Management Salary and Wages

Construction managers have been known to earn between $47,000 and $146,000, with the median wage sitting around $80,000. Wages earned often fluctuate in relation to state, prominence of the contractor, and industry in which they are working. To this effect, the lowest wages earned are in the residential construction sector, resting at an average of $75,000 annually. Meanwhile, the highest average wage is earned through building equipment contractors, with an average wage of $82,000 annually.

Construction Management Certifications

While certification is not necessarily required to pursue a career in construction management, it’s becoming increasingly desirable amongst employers as it’s tangible evidence of the contractor’s skills and experience. Despite the fact that certification often involves a great monetary cost on the individual’s part, it can cause their resume’s value to increase exponentially, often demanding higher prices from employers and companies.

Construction Management Professional Associations

There are two major organizations that offer professional certification for construction managers.
The American Institute of Constructors awards two types of certification for interested parties. The Associate Contractor, or AC, is intended for those entering the field and want a way to prove their ability in a profession in which they are about to make their mark in. On the other hand, the Certified Professional Constructor, or CPC, is awarded to those who already have several years of experience and wish to advance to a more prestigious role with greater responsibilities. For either certification, candidates must fill out the application materials and sit for an exam; an annual fee is required in order to re-certify.
The Construction Management Association of America allows candidates to pursue the Certified Construction Manager, or CCM. Interested parties are tasked with completing 48 months as a Construction Manager, as well as finish a two or four-year program, or simply having eight years of construction experience. Furthermore, they must complete an exam and have their application materials reviewed by a selection committee. Re-certification involves completing a list of prerequisite tasks and paying a fee once every three years.