What Is Construction Management?

Construction management involves planning, budgeting, coordinating, and supervising construction projects from start to finish. As a construction manager, you may work on various construction projects, including buildings, roads, bridges, and other structures.

Construction management can be a rewarding path if you enjoy design, seeing a project grow from beginning to end, and the prospect of partnering with builders, designers, and clients throughout the construction lifecycle process.

What does a construction manager do?

Construction managers review proposals for projects to estimate timelines and milestones, cash flow requirements, project protocols, resourcing needs, and requirements for human resources, equipment, and resources at different stages of the project. They work closely with clients, architects, subcontractors, and engineers to ensure that every aspect of a project runs smoothly. Construction managers may oversee a single construction project or several at once. 

Here are some core responsibilities found in construction manager roles.

• Cost management: Maintain awareness of all costs associated with a project; budget management; anticipate any changes to project scope that could impact cost. 

• Contract administration: Create contracts for subcontractors and suppliers; manage payments to contractors; source materials and suppliers.

• Health and safety management: Ensure everyone on-site follows health and safety regulations; prepare health and safety documentation; implement suitable protocols for ongoing practices and regular monitoring.

• Quality management: Deliver projects that meet clients' specifications; ensure all work complies with quality standards; facilitate regular checks throughout the project lifecycle; use a total quality management approach (TQM) to help reduce costs in remedial work; minimize delays; maintain relationships with clients, contractors, and staff.

Construction manager key skills

Carrying out a construction project involves a lot of planning, organization, and problem-solving. It requires a strong set of both workplace and technical skills. Here are some skills you need to succeed as a construction manager.

Analytical and critical thinking skills

Construction managers must interpret designs, plans, and technical drawings. They must also understand complex contracts and interpret building codes and regulations. They'll need to translate all this information into easy-to-follow instructions for their on-site workers.

Motivational skills

Construction managers must ensure their teams meet deadlines, stay within budget, and produce quality work. To do so, they must motivate team members with guidance, feedback, and recognition as well as resolve conflicts and keep the team focused on its goals. When engaging with subcontractors, construction managers may have less positional power than when working with employees because they may be self-employed or work for another company. It’s important to be fair and consistent to earn their respect and loyalty.

Attention to detail

It is the construction manager’s responsibility to ensure the quality of work on-site is up to standard with local building codes and regulations and meets client expectations. This requires attention to detail throughout the entire process, including managing mistakes and minimizing their impacts.

Communication skills

Communication is critical as construction managers interact with a range of people, including the public, clients, and tradespeople, so they must have good interpersonal skills, both orally and in writing. They may need to communicate changes to a team of tradespeople in the morning, run through plans with an architect over lunch, and meet with planning officers in the afternoon to sign off on building work. This requires a confident and well-rounded communication skill set.

Contract management skills

A construction manager may need to negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and ensure all parties involved in a building project are satisfied. This requires the ability to persuade, compromise, and make mutually beneficial, binding agreements.  

Health and safety knowledge

Construction managers must be aware of worksite health and safety issues and understand relevant legislation and regulations. This is vital because of the risks associated with construction work. They need to know best practices to minimize risks to all project stakeholders. 

Project management skills

Managing building projects requires an ability to coordinate a range of activities involving different people and get milestones completed on time and within budget. An understanding and experience with project management methodologies can be important in complex projects.

Reasons to become a construction manager

The construction management industry is broad, offering a wide range of career options. The following are just a few of the reasons why you might want to consider becoming a construction manager.

1. Job opportunities are growing.

The Canadian government estimates that prospects are good or very good for construction managers across the country depending on province or territory [1]. This means more opportunities. New building technologies are also facilitating new and exciting projects.

2. Global opportunities exist.

Thousands of construction projects are happening around the world at any given time. Construction management professionals are needed everywhere to complete these projects successfully, so there are plenty of options for those who like to work in different parts of the world.

3. It can be financially rewarding.

According to Talent.com, the average construction manager salary in Canada is $84,697 [2]. While salaries will vary depending on your experience level, location, and other factors, this job has good earning potential.

4. You're can manage complex projects.

Construction managers have a lot of responsibilities, including:

• Managing crews and subcontractors

• Maintaining schedules

• Ensuring projects meet quality standards

• Providing detailed estimates

• Overseeing compliance with building codes, zoning laws, and health regulations

The job is rewarding for those who enjoy challenge and complexity. No two days are the same; no two projects are the same.

5. You get to see things through to completion.

You get to see construction projects progress from the initial concept to built reality, which can be satisfying. You’ll be involved in all aspects of the project, and you’ll learn about all areas of construction and stages of construction.

Types of projects that construction managers work on

Construction managers oversee and direct various construction projects, including building roads and highways, bridges, hospitals, schools, factories, power plants, and residential housing. As a construction manager, you might work for the federal government, large corporations, private landowners, or property owners. Your career can take you into different types of construction projects.

Civil construction projects

Civil construction is one of the oldest branches of the industry. This type of work involves building infrastructures such as roads and bridges.

Industrial construction projects

Industrial construction is another traditional branch of the industry. It involves building factories, warehouses, industrial facilities, and power plants. In this field, construction managers may need to understand complex engineering principles related to electricity generation and manufacturing processes.

Residential construction projects

Residential construction involves building homes and other buildings where people live. Familiarity with a variety of architectural styles and techniques for building different types of foundations and structures is beneficial in this field.

Agricultural construction projects

Agricultural construction includes barns, silos, and other structures related to farming operations. Familiarity with agricultural techniques helps in building facilities compatible with current farming practices and the needs for future growth.

Institutional construction projects

Construction managers often work on institutional construction projects, such as schools, universities, hospitals, and community centers. Institutional projects often involve multiple contractors working together to complete the project. These projects usually are highly complex.

Learn more about the types of construction projects you might work on in construction management from Columbia University:

Typical construction manager job titles

Construction management jobs and titles vary depending on the company hiring for the position. Here are some of the job titles related to construction management you may see during job searches, along with their average total pay, including base salary and additional pay like commission and bonuses. 

*All annual Canadian salary data sourced from Talent.com as of February 2023.

• Construction manager: $84,697

• Construction project manager: $80,317

• Construction consultant: $75,513

• Project Manager, design and construction: $92,608

• Senior construction manager: $115,000

• Construction foreman: $61,425

How to become a construction manager

To become a construction manager, consider your education, certification, experience, and business sense.

Relevant degree choices

A university degree in civil engineering is usually required, or potential applicants can have a college diploma in construction technology. Some positions may also require a master’s degree in project management.

While the following construction manager degrees are based in different fields, they overlap in their core curriculum and are valuable in the construction industry. 

Construction management

Construction management is an obvious degree choice for an aspiring construction manager. In this degree program, you'll learn about the legal, financial, and business side of construction. This may include surveys, cost estimation, construction law, software programs, materials, the supply chain, and much more. Additionally, some programs offer internships or hands-on experiences that allow you to apply what you've learned in real-world situations.

Construction science

Construction science focuses on analyzing, planning, and managing building projects. A construction science degree supports project management skills and knowledge of construction methods, design, and contracts.

Architecture

An architecture degree also provides a solid foundation for a future career as a construction manager. In addition to providing knowledge of building codes, zoning regulations, and architectural design principles, architecture programs offer hands-on experience through studio classes that teach drafting techniques.

Engineering

Engineering degrees can open the door to becoming a construction manager. You can choose from several engineering degrees, including mechanical, civil, industrial, and electrical engineering. Each type of degree provides its own level of specialization that could make an engineer more attractive to specific types of employers.

Professional certifications and training

Education and training come first, but the following certifications may be required to advance within a construction manager career.

Project Management Competence Certification

The Project Management Association of Canada offers a Project Management Competence Certification, which measures the knowledge and experience of project managers in real-life situations.

The Project Management Competence Certification can be used to:

• Improve project management competence

• Gather more experience in project management situations

• Enhance project management practices

• Create a better portfolio of project managers

Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

If you work within the province of Alberta, you may be required to have an Alberta Occupational Certificate. The certificate may be needed for residential construction site managers and can be obtained depending on how many hours you have worked and the completion of a residential construction site manager training program through the Professional Homebuilders Institute.

Gaining construction industry experience

When it comes to getting a job in construction, experience matters, but how do you get experience if no one will hire you without it? When you become a student in a construction management program, you’ll get a combination of experience through hands-on training and classroom instruction.

Here are some ways to build your resume while you attend school.

Become an apprentice.

Many contractors are willing to teach someone with no experience in construction as long as they’re ready to work hard and learn. Apprenticeships can be a great opportunity to learn a lot about the industry.

Volunteer your time.

If you don’t have any paid experience yet in the construction industry, volunteering to work on charitable projects is another way to gain experience. Depending on your interests and skill level, you can volunteer in various capacities, including working on-site or in a construction project management office.

Next steps

Becoming a construction manager can be a rewarding journey. You'll learn about different aspects of the construction industry and get the opportunity to select the areas of your job that are the most interesting for you. 

You can find construction management courses from top universities and industry leaders on Coursera. Learn construction management online with courses like the Construction Engineering and Management MasterTrack™  Certificate offered by the University of Michigan, or the Construction Management Specialization offered by Columbia University.