Construction Management

Construction managers are responsible for coordinating the construction of large building projects such as hotels, factories, office blocks, home unit developments, schools, hospitals and housing developments. Many construction project managers work in private organisations, while some are employed by government departments and others are self-employed.

The construction industry is composed of five sectors: residential, commercial, heavy civil, industrial, and environmental. A construction manager holds the same responsibilities and completes the same processes in each sector. All that separates a construction manager in one sector from one in another is the knowledge of the construction site – the tasks they perform in each sector are very similar and may include different types of equipment, materials, subcontractors, and possibly locations.

During the pre-construction stage, the construction manager makes a site investigation. The next stage is procurement, when labour, materials and equipment needed to complete the project are purchased. This can be done by the general contractor if the company does all their own construction work. If the contractor does not do their own work, they obtain it through subcontractors. Through the rest of the project, the construction manager keeps track of all the complicated schedules and processes that get a job built to spec and on time.

While there are specialist engineers and architects involved in the start of a large build, and at the other end are plumbers, electricians and painters, it’s the job of the construction manager to make sure all these strands are woven together into a fully functioning building.