The Shard in London, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Shanghai Tower in China, and One World Trade Center in New York – none of these buildings would have made it beyond the design stage without a construction project manager leading the way.
Whether the building in question is a huge skyscraper or a small office block, the construction project manager job role is imperative to its success. Seeing it through from start to finish, they're responsible for ensuring all goals are met on time and to budget.
construction project manager job role
As a project manager, you’ll usually move from one project to the next working on a particular building or structure until it's finished. Part of the construction project manager job description means you'll be spending lots of time on-site, as well as liaising with architects and engineers. It's not just internal contractors you'll be working with, you'll also spend a great deal of time negotiating with and ensuring a good deal from outside contractors too.
A key component in civil engineering project manager jobs is the ability to plan a project from start to finish. As part of this, you'll need to oversee the day-to-day running of the site, report on progress, develop contacts with senior staff for each project and ensure health and safety standards are met. The job is varied but can involve long hours, particularly as a deadline looms or a project nears completion.
the qualifications and experience needed
You'll notice that construction project manager job descriptions are multi-faceted. As such, you'll need a degree in a related area such as civil engineering, building science, construction management or construction science. Equally important, though, is your construction industry experience – this is not an entry-level role.
To be considered for construction project manager job roles, you’ll need to have several years’ experience working in the industry, a strong understanding of project management, construction procedures and principles, and relevant knowledge of health and safety laws.
It's sometimes possible to enter via an apprenticeship and work your way up as you gain experience, but most people follow the degree route.
salary
As a qualified construction project manager, you can expect to earn upwards of £50,000 a year. With construction project managers in New York, London and the Middle East in great demand, salaries can increase greatly.
skills
Civil engineering project manager jobs require excellent time management and planning skills to succeed, but you’ll also need financial and budgeting capabilities too. Because you'll be working with several different individuals, from site workers to architects, stakeholders, council planners and engineers, communication and diplomacy are very important.
personality
Because construction project manager job descriptions are so varied, you'll need to have a myriad of skills. Having an analytical mind and being highly organised are great traits to possess. But equally important are good problem-solving skills and the ability to mediate.
Construction project managers deal with a huge number of people on an almost daily basis, so being personable, approachable and friendly will also make the job easier to carry out successfully.
opportunities within construction project manager jobs
There's no shortage of opportunities within the construction industry if you have the experience and you're willing to work hard. With further training, you can specialise in areas such as health and safety or building regulations, not to mention the fact you could work on some of the most notable developments in the country.
working with randstad
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