Construction Project Manager: A Detailed Overview of the Role

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Imagine preparing a meal where every ingredient must be added at the right time with the right amount to create the perfect dish – that’s what construction project managers do. In the construction industry, effective project management is key to ensuring projects stay on track, stay on budget, and are completed on time. 

Understanding the role of construction project managers will help you better understand construction processes. Learning what it takes to become a construction project manager and the typical responsibilities of the role will allow you to make better decisions and prevent your company from potential budget overruns. 

In this article, we will go through construction project managers, aiming to explore the typical qualifications, skills, and responsibilities of the role.

Table of Contents

• Who Are Construction Project Managers and What Do They Do?
• Project Managers vs Construction Managers
• Construction Project Managers’ Responsibilities
• Required Qualifications for Construction Project Managers
• Required Skills
• What Challenges Do Construction Project Managers Face?
• What Software Do Construction Project Managers Use?
• Conclusion

Who Are Construction Project Managers and What Do They Do?

Generally, almost every company needs a manager to oversee one or the other aspect of the project. But perhaps not all industries rely so heavily on managers as in construction. Construction PMs take ownership in what they do: they ensure everything goes smoothly, without unexpected delays or failures.  

Construction project managers are in charge of almost every aspect of construction processes, including planning, execution, and successfully wrapping up projects. They are responsible for identifying project goals, creating a project plan, managing resources, and monitoring progress throughout the project. 

Construction project managers serve as the bridge between the owners and the general contractors. They also collaborate with various stakeholders, making sure everything goes according to the plan. Similarly, they need to communicate with the owners to keep all deliverables in line with their expectations. 

Project Managers vs Construction Managers

Project managers are often confused with construction managers. This is because when the projects are small and they have limited resources, employers tend to hire only one of those professionals. However, these two professions do not always go hand in hand. While they share some similarities, they require different expertise and are responsible for overseeing different aspects of the project. 

On one side, the project manager oversees the construction project in its entirety. They are responsible for various aspects of the project, from planning to execution, ensuring everything meets the requirements and expectations of the client. On the other hand, construction managers are in charge of overseeing a specific aspect of the project, namely, the construction phase. Since they have expertise in building trades, their main responsibilities lie in subcontractor management, ensuring that on-site activities are handled properly and everything stays within budget. 

💡Recommended Reading: Construction Manager vs. Project Manager

Construction Project Managers’ Responsibilities

Construction project managers handle various segments of the projects, including:

Creating and Managing Bid Requests

Construction PMs are involved in creating and managing bid requests, doing bid leveling, and communicating with subcontractors and vendors. In most cases, they participate in the construction project planning from the very beginning, although their involvement may vary from one project to the other. 

Construction project managers may be involved in the process of assessing and reviewing bids as well as helping to prepare documentation for the bidding process. This will help to maintain adherence to the project’s scope and timelines. Involving PMs from the beginning benefits the project since it allows them to understand and be informed about all the facets of the construction project. 

Managing Project Schedule 

After the bids are approved, they add the approved bids to the estimate and start planning. From that point on, construction project managers build a project schedule and guide the team to finish the work within designated time frames. In the scope of schedule creation, typical duties include ensuring that all the necessary materials and equipment arrive at the right time, as well as coordinating task dependencies. Construction PMs are also responsible for updating the schedule from time to time, conducting schedule risk analysis, and implementing plans in case of unexpected delays. 

Budgeting

One of the key responsibilities of a construction project managers is to estimate the budget precisely, which requires knowledge and strong problem-solving abilities. Construction project managers must manage the cash flow by scheduling all the necessary payments and ensuring projects stay within their budget. They are also responsible for approving change orders, negotiating with vendors, and ensuring the financial stability of the projects. 

Supervising the Jobsite

While construction project managers do not visit construction job sites daily, they do so regularly. They are constantly updated about everything through superintendents’ daily reports from the job site.  

Visiting job sites regularly is essential since it allows construction project managers to get the full picture of the process and progress. This also allows them to identify if there are any issues or discrepancies as well as if there is something the subcontractors or site staff need to work on to the best of their abilities. 

💡Recommended Reading: Logging Progress, Driving Success: Construction Daily Logs Explained

Reporting and Communication Across Construction Teams

By keeping close communication with superintendents, construction PMs identify work progress as well as issues that need to be addressed. Superintendents report about everything around the project from the construction site, and later, PMs may compile those reports and include them in their weekly meetings with owners, builders, and architects. 

Required Qualifications for Construction Project Managers

The construction industry continues to grow rapidly, and so does the demand for various professions within the industry, including the demand for project managers in construction. Required qualifications for the position may vary from one company to another. However, generally, companies require an educational background and experience in the construction industry. Let’s explore a typical path one needs to take to become a construction project manager.

Education

Given the importance of the position in the construction industry, most companies require a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Building Construction, Construction Technology Architecture, Civil Engineering, or any other construction-related program. While it is not mandatory, people pursue master’s degrees as well, which may increase their chances of success in the industry. 

Certifications

Many candidates take certificate courses to stand out among many and boost their chances of landing the job. Let’s explore some certificate programs that are suitable for construction project managers. 

1. Project Management Professional 

Issued by: Project Management Institute(PMI)

Best for: Experienced project managers in any industry, including construction

Focus: Covers project management principles, methodologies, and best practices

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher, 35 hours of project management education/training

2. Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

Issued by: Construction Management Association of America(CMAA)

Best for: Individuals who already have experience in construction management and want to advance their career further. 

Focus: Covers a wide range of topics, such as cost control, risk management, and quality and safety management. 

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or 48+ years of experience in the industry. 

3. Certified Associate Contractor (CAC)

Issued by: American Institute of Contractors

Best for: Recent graduates of a 4-Year Construction Management Program or those transitioning into construction management from other industries.

Focus: It covers a wide suite of concepts, including construction safety, cost control, planning and scheduling, and more. 

Requirements: 4 years of qualifying experience, education, or a combination of the two.

4. Certified Construction Project Manager (CCPM)

Issued By: Chartered Institute of Building(CIOB)

Best for: Individuals taking their first steps in the industry as well as for mid-career professionals seeking to elevate their career to the next level. 

Focus: Covers various topics in construction project management that include international project environment, project development and construction life cycle, delivery models, and contractual arrangements. 

Requirements: At least a first-degree level qualification or experience in the construction sector.

Training and Work Experience

One of the key things companies typically require is a strong background in construction management. Since hands-on experience is the key to managing large projects, many employers are looking to hire candidates who have at least 4-6 years of experience. While a bachelor’s degree in a construction-related field is required and can be beneficial, practical skills and knowledge are often more important. 

Required Skills 

Construction PMs oversee the entire project, and there are several hard and soft skills they should possess.

Hard Skills

• Proficiency in construction software: The ability to work with construction software is a necessary hard skill PMs should possess, which will make things easier for them. Construction software like Buildern offers features like Estimation and Scheduling, allowing construction PMs to manage files, share updates from the construction site, and improve efficiency. 
• Negotiations: PMs should have the ability to negotiate if required. One of the main responsibilities of construction project managers is to oversee the project while strongly adhering to the designated budgets. This requires strong negotiation skills since, in most cases, they need to negotiate with various stakeholders, including the client and team managers, to safeguard the project requirements. 
• Document Management: Construction PMs should have the ability to manage all the documentation and facilitate correctly filled and safely stored documents. This will ensure that the entire team is on track and all the necessary measures can be taken if required. Buildern offers a document management module, allowing users to store documents in one place.
• Risk Management: This is an essential hard skill allowing project managers in construction to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that may impact a project in its entirety. PMs should have the ability to anticipate challenges that may arise throughout the project. This includes but is not limited to safety issues, budget overruns, or legal issues. 

Soft Skills

• Leadership: Skilled construction PMs must possess excellent leadership skills. Since they collaborate with diverse teams, they must be capable of leading and motivating those teams to work to the best of their abilities.  They must also be a good team player to be able to inspire them to work promptly while complying with legal standards as well as clients’ expectations and requirements. 
• Communication: PMs must acquire strong communication skills. They are the ones who generally pass on important information to various stakeholders. Having good communication skills will allow you to transmit important information in a way that is easy to comprehend, ensuring everything will be under control, and in case of issues, everything will be handled accordingly. 
• Team Management: There are a wide variety of teams working on construction projects. These include the upper management team, middle management team, hired staff, and contractors. Project managers in construction stand out among many other professions since they are the ones who collaborate with almost every team and its members. Thus, a team management skill is a necessity for construction project managers. Understanding team dynamics and creating a positive environment where teams work in synergy will ensure the project’s success. 
• Problem-Solving: In construction projects, various sorts of issues may arise unexpectedly. Thus, managing and handling those issues or changes on time makes all the difference. PMs should have strong problem-solving abilities to be able to keep everything under control. This will prevent any unwanted situations from happening, such as expected project delays or budget overruns. 

What Challenges Do Construction Project Managers Face?

With big responsibilities come bigger challenges, and this, unfortunately, does not bypass construction PMs. Working with a wide variety of teams and managing multiple things is not an easy task, and very often, construction project managers face both expected and unexpected challenges while trying to deliver a project successfully. Let’s dive deep and explore the typical challenges construction PMs face throughout various stages of the project life cycle. 

Prioritize Tasks

When there are multiple tasks ongoing, it becomes very difficult to handle them simultaneously. In such a situation, construction PMs need to prioritize certain tasks, which is important not only in terms of budget management but also for project scheduling. Working with construction scheduling software can make all the difference. Software like Buildern offers a scheduler tool with a complete view of your projects. With its list view and calendar view, you will have the chance to view your tasks in a clearly defined order as well as the task’s start dates, finish dates, and task overlaps. With these features in hand, you will be able to improve task management and collaborations and have hassle-free construction processes. 

Unrealistic Expectations

Managing clients’ expectations is a top priority for construction project managers. Since the construction industry is highly competitive and constantly changing, clients expect quicker turnarounds, which may affect the outcome. In such cases, when clients don’t get updates about the processes, their expectations are not met. This is where Buildern comes into play, bridging this gap with Daily Logs. This will allow you to keep your client in the loop by offering real-time updates from the construction site. You can attach files, create timesheets, or even update weather conditions, ensuring that they are informed about everything and that their expectations are fully met.

Unexpected Changes or Issues

In construction projects, very often, changes are unavoidable. However, addressing those changes on time can make all the difference. While this may pose a challenge for construction PMs, addressing those issues and allocating additional resources or making minor changes in the schedule can help them resolve those issues easily. To mitigate the risks of unexpected changes, many companies utilize construction software and its change orders. Buildern ensures that change orders are securely stored and tracked without unnecessary disruption of the timeline of the project. 

Keeping Up with the Industry

The construction industry is constantly evolving. New regulations or technologies are being implemented regularly. This poses a huge challenge for construction project managers as they constantly need to be informed about new changes to keep up with the trends and changes. With the construction industry evolving so rapidly, construction project managers opt for software and automated tools like Buildern. By integrating technology into their work, construction PMs can stay ahead of the industry trends, ultimately leading to successful project outcomes. 

Poorly Defined Objectives

Very often, construction PMs struggle with their duties. This is because there are poorly defined objectives, which may result in additional rework or project delays. While the requirements may be different from one project to the other, each one may have its specificities that serve as the basis for the work to be completed. This can be easily avoided by using professional construction management software.

What Kinds of Software Do Construction Project Managers Use?

Due to the number of challenges construction PMs face, it is essential to be equipped with technology to succeed. They utilize various construction software solutions to streamline their operations, improve collaboration, and enhance decision-making. Typical solutions used by PMs include estimating and budget management, reporting and analytics, and document management. 

Buildern, a construction estimating and project management software, offers all you need to succeed as a construction project manager in construction. We offer solutions for efficient project tracking, scheduling, cost estimation, and management. Our software allows construction professionals to manage budgets, resources, and timelines, ensuring reduced errors and improved communication. 

Conclusion

Construction project managers are the backbones of every project. They are responsible for almost every aspect of the project, ensuring a smooth delivery and its successful completion. 

Staying focused and being enthusiastic about the job can help PMs in construction to bring successful outcomes and have final projects meet all the needs and requirements of clients. By working hard and utilizing construction software to manage everything, you will enhance your opportunities and deliver projects that truly stand out.

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