Who is a Construction Project Manager? Detailed Guide

The construction industry is booming. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the valuation of the Indian construction industry exceeded three trillion Indian rupees. More professionals in construction management are looking to join the industry due to its significant growth. its challenging for every organization to maintain, order, and allocate budget construction projects. Fortunately, here the role of a construction project manager comes into the picture. 

Jobs in construction project management are diverse and might involve managing both small-scale and large-scale construction projects. Thus, to work more successfully and efficiently, you can develop clarity across teams with the aid of a certified construction manager. In this blog, I have mentioned the responsibilities, qualifications needed, skills, and more of a project manager for the perusal of prospective candidates who wish to pursue a career in the field.               

Who is a Construction Project Manager?

In the construction sector, project managers supervise projects from the initial planning stages through implementation, completion, and approval. By participating in customer meetings, they ensure that the project meets all specifications and requirements. A project manager's main duty is to ensure the project is finished on time and within the allocated budget.

They monitor how things are going, identify issues when they arise, and provide solutions to engineers, designers, and contractors. Moreover, project managers attend team and client meetings, set deadlines, monitor project budgets, and provide regular updates.

For a construction project manager to be successful, I believe he or she must possess the appropriate skills and knowledge. For further enhancement of your knowledge, you need to earn a online Project Management degree or certificate. 

Construction Project Manager's Job Description 

A professional who manages a building project while collaborating with engineers and architects is a construction project manager. I have listed some of the duties of a construction site manager below.

• You ought to be imaginative and passionate about design and construction management services.
• Your responsibility is to work with the construction team and effectively manage the project as a whole.
• It is your responsibility as the project manager for a construction project to make sure that each site complies with the required standards for working conditions and employee safety.
• Additionally, you oversee adhering to the rules and specifications pertaining to the standards of treating personnel and executing the project.
• The management of risk and time on the job site is under your control as well.

Education and Work Experience Needed for Construction Project Manager

Project management in the construction industry is a high-level job seeking exceptional abilities and credentials.

• Get a bachelor's degree

After pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, I started my career as a construction manager. So, bachelor's degrees in engineering, construction science, management, or architecture can be the best option to start your career as a construction manager.

In-depth subjects like contract administration, project management, building bylaws and standards, material requirements, cost estimation, and construction management plans should all be covered in the curriculum. Before working in the industry, you must also do an internship in construction project management to get essential on-the-job experience.

• Get relevant industry experience

Once you've finished your undergraduate studies, look for work in construction companies. After your graduation, you can join as an assistant construction manager. During your training phase, you will learn important skills. 

Businesses anticipate that project managers will have the necessary education, prior work experience, and training. Thus, if you wish to become a renowned construction manager, you must possess practical construction management and administrative abilities. 

• Gain Certifications

Employers prefer project managers with certifications. Certifications prove you possess all the theoretical & practical knowledge required to succeed as a construction manager. I did a certification course in project management after my bachelor’s degree. To enhance your career as a construction project manager or to become a certified construction manager, you may need to take more coursework or acquire a graduate degree to advance your career or obtain specialized certifications. You can also opt for a Project Management Professional PMP course to further enhance your skills & knowledge.

Responsibilities and Duties Construction Project Manager must hold

You will oversee keeping projects within appropriate schedules and financial limitations as a project manager for the construction industry. This involves choosing and managing a project team and ensuring you are informed of every minute detail to update the client further.

Planning

Construction planning & management involves setting a deadline, figuring out how to execute, determining what resources you'll need, and setting a reasonable budget. Your strategy should be highly specific, including all necessary information to demonstrate how the objectives are met. A cost, schedule, and timeline breakdown should be made. The planning phase includes - 

• Providing the construction team with deliverable schedules.
• Keeping track of the project if managing or overseeing some responsibilities becomes necessary.
• Examining the project carefully to see if everything went smoothly as planned.

Organizing

In building projects, organizing involves gathering the necessary resources to complete the work. The project manager's responsibility is to find the ideal candidates to do each task for a particular project. People must collaborate in an environment where they are highly motivated in order for an organization to succeed. As a construction project manager, you are solely responsible for organizing and leading the construction crew.

Carry out the Construction Plans

Project managers should meet with the appropriate stakeholders to evaluate the plan and ensure everyone follows the same. While it's likely that you'll have to deal with unforeseen obstacles and modifications as the project moves forward, neglecting to get support before construction almost ensures that you'll run into more difficulties in the process.

Provide Quality Projects on Time

There is a unique set of specifications and objectives for every job. One of the most difficult responsibilities in construction management is scheduling the project's timeframe. There is a considerable period in which everything must be prepared. Time is of the essence because the builder will be subject to several fines if the job is delayed.

Budget

As the project manager, you must plan the entire project and the work while considering the budget. It’s your duty to review and allocate the overall budget. To keep under a budget, consider costs, make estimates, evaluate them, and eliminate wasteful spending.

Communication

The project manager must be able to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all organizational levels. Maintain open lines of communication with the necessary parties to guarantee that the construction meets or exceeds company requirements and that the right techniques and procedures are applied. The project manager's job is to communicate any issues to all stakeholders, explain how they will affect the timing and additional expenses, and how the project manager plans to fix/adjust them.

Managing Risk

Every successful project manager needs to have this talent for managing risks. Construction risk management is challenging for managers. With the help of managing skills, the project manager can settle many conflicts.

Other Responsibilities

Let me take you through the responsibilities of a construction project manager. 

• Negotiate favorable terms with general contractors and subcontractors to land profitable construction jobs
• Control resources like labor, equipment, and building supplies.
• Obtain building permits, licenses, and comply with all applicable codes.
• Uphold safety and health standards.
• Work with the architect and the construction team to ensure each project is feasible.

Qualifications and Skills of Construction Project Manager

To avoid any construction risk, there are some abilities you need to succeed as a project manager if you're thinking about moving up in your career. Let me take you through these: 

• Communication

Daily communication with contractors, employees, higher management, and executives will be required of you as an assistant construction manager. Communicating effectively with all parties may ensure the project is completed with the least irritation and misunderstanding. This is made possible by having good verbal, written, and presentation abilities.

• Proficiency in building codes

Building zoning, regulations, design specifications, fire protection, and structural standards impact the design and construction risk. As the project manager, it will be your duty to guarantee the building's integrity and safety and to make any alterations.

●     Possess emotional intelligence

Construction teams need to be capable of managing their emotions in a way that advances the project's goals. They also need to have excellent leadership, motivational, and accountability skills. The term "emotional quotient" (EQ) is a set of human project management abilities that go beyond simple time management and organizational abilities. Developing their EQ can help construction project managers better lead and manage their teams to success.

• Building Cost Estimating 

As a project manager, you can effectively predict and budget expenses and materials by estimating and managing construction material amounts. It will ensure the project is profitable and the workers will have access to enough supplies and materials to complete it without a hitch.

• Controlling a project and scheduling 

One of the most crucial abilities for project managers is organizing construction planning and scheduling effectively. The work requires the ability to identify cost controls, plan the utilization of project resources, and comprehend organizational procedures. Maintaining construction change orders, accurately recording project data, and carrying out cost control tasks will guarantee project managers can effectively communicate the project's specifics to senior management.

• Teamwork and leadership

Upper management, middle management, hired workers, contractors, and teams inside each subcontractor's organization are just a few of the layers of teams that make up construction sites. The most effective project managers understand team dynamics, have good management abilities, and foster an environment where teams can collaborate effectively.

Management involves directing a group of people or things to achieve a goal, whereas leadership refers to one's capacity to persuade and inspire others to work towards a common objective. The best project managers can positively influence others around them, yet not all managers become good leaders. The most crucial attribute of any management position is undoubtedly strong leadership.

Qualifications and Skills of Construction Project Manager

There is a huge demand for qualified professionals in construction project management companies. Thus, construction project managers may seek the following qualifications:

• Start with a foundation degree in an area connected to construction, such as surveying, civil engineering, estimating, or architecture. 
• Acquire construction expertise.
• Obtain certificates for your profession.
• Being technically certified in various project management tools.

A Project Manager will frequently pursue additional education in the form of a master's degree or a certification course focusing on Construction Project Management after many years of on-the-job training. You can also opt for the Prince2 Foundation And Practitioner Training Course to increase your technical construction knowledge and skills. 

Salary Range of Construction Project Manager

If you want to work in construction management companies, you may have questions about the compensation packages available. A variety of variables undoubtedly influences your pay. These elements include your institution, where you received your degree, your educational background, your interpersonal abilities, your employment history, your location, and a variety of technical talents. 

However, in India, the average yearly wage for a construction project manager is Rs.10,30,156. The supplemental cash salary for a construction project manager in India ranges from Rs.32,201 to Rs.1,75,994, with an average of Rs.1,22,927. All you need is practical instruction and experience.

Conclusion

Coordinating so many moving elements and people and combining those pieces into an efficient whole that stays on schedule and within budget takes a lot of expertise and confidence. A construction project management career offers various positions and opportunities for career advancement. If you wish to pursue a career in building project management, you can enroll in a certification program. If you already have a job and want to advance in your field, these certification programs will help you save time and money. 

KnowledgeHut’s Project Management Course provides you with all the knowledge and cutting-edge tools you need to succeed in project management. Visit the KnowledgeHut website and contact us to learn more about your possibilities.