in the field for exactly this reason. I grew up in a family of carpenters and electricians, so I was lucky enough to be exposed to the building side of construction very early on. Even if you have never been on a construction site before, it is very important to get this experience and not be intimidated by the environment.
NOTE
If you are interested in pursuing a career in construction management but think that your lack of hands-on field experience might hold you back, then you might try volunteering with such organizations as Habitat for Humanity or AmeriCorps.
Business knowledge is another factor that can really influence your capabilities and chances for success in construction management. After all, building is first and foremost a business, and all the criteria needed to flourish in business are required to flourish in construction.
And last but not least is having a good grasp of technology. An understanding of computers and software is vital to a career in construction management. Today, every function associated with construction management involves a computer application.
A Typical Career Track
A typical career track for an entry-level construction manager might look something like this:
Although there are many excellent companies to select from, I chose to use the Hensel Phelps Construction Company career path model because of its reputation for consistent performance and reliability. Hensel Phelps is consistently ranked among the top general contractors and construction managers in the nation by the Engineering News Record (ENR).
Construction Management Job Descriptions
Job titles and job descriptions vary across company types and sizes, but most organizations will offer field engineer, project engineer, superintendent, project manager, and estimator positions. The following list will give you a clear understanding of what it takes to become a full-fledged construction management professional and give you some sense of the depth of knowledge and experience needed to achieve that goal. These descriptions convey a typical chain of command scenario for a large, national construction firm.
Field engineer This is an entry-level position. This individual works directly for the project superintendent. The field engineer (by title only; not actually an engineer) is responsible for project layout and dimensional accuracy of the project, interpretation of the project plans and specifications, communication with the craftspeople and subcontractors, jobwide safety, production of detailed concrete form work drawings for field use, and tracking and reporting of daily job production.
Office engineer This is an entry-level position. An office engineer (again, an engineer in title only) acts as the chief assistant to the project engineer and as support for the field. The office engineer's responsibilities include all procurement and timely delivery of materials to the project, review of shop drawings, processing of material submittals and requests for information, and assisting the project engineer.
Project engineer This position acts as the chief engineer on the project. The project engineer's position includes responsibilities ranging from developing bid packages to managing project schedules. A project engineer coordinates all shop drawings, reviews submittals, expedites deliveries, oversees project cost accounting, and processes owner and subcontractor billings. A project engineer is trained to successfully estimate and negotiate all change orders and direct the project administration. This person supports the project manager and area superintendent in material deliveries, staff development, and overall project coordination. The project engineer plays an essential role in a successful project.
Quantity surveyor This position is an entry-level position that works directly with the lead or senior estimator on a bid. The quantity surveyor is responsible for estimating quantities of building materials, doors, and windows, as well as miscellaneous finishes. A basic understanding of construction and good plan-reading skills are prerequisites to this position.
Estimator This position is acquired after valuable years of field experience. The estimator is part of a project's estimating team and may be responsible for advanced quantity surveys of self-performed work such as concrete and carpentry work along with quantification of select subcontractor trades. An estimator learns more advanced estimating procedures along with the basics of pricing self-performed work. Additionally, the basics of bid closing are learned through shouldering the responsibility for specific sections of the bid.
Lead estimator Lead estimators work as members of the bid team on large, complex projects or may be in charge of small to medium-sized projects in a support role. Lead estimators are responsible for the survey and pricing of complex self-performed work. In this position, the estimator learns to manage others to achieve goals and develops an understanding of the company's self-performed work production history, as well as the fundamentals of bid assembly, buyout, and subcontracting.
Senior estimator The senior estimator reports to the chief estimator. The senior estimator is in charge of procuring an entire project. A successful procurement effort includes managing the bid team, developing the bid strategy, maintaining subcontractor relationships, and training other employees in the estimating department. The senior estimator is completely familiar with company production history and has a thorough understanding of subcontracting and procurement strategies.
Chief estimator Reporting to the district manager, the chief estimator is responsible for all estimating personnel and budget issues. Additionally, the chief estimator is responsible for identifying and tracking leads for future projects and deciding which projects to pursue. The chief estimator is also responsible for reviewing all estimates.
Area superintendent This position serves primarily on larger projects, assisting the project superintendent. The area superintendent supports the development of the project schedule and prejob planning and accepts responsibility for a specific area of the project or phase of work. Responsibilities entail safety compliance, craft supervision and production, subcontractor coordination, scheduling, material handling, daily reports, quality control, and craft training.
Project superintendent The project superintendent is the company's representative with the responsibility and authority for daily coordination and direction of the project so that it is safe, within budget, on schedule, up to the company's quality standards, and satisfactory to the customer. To accomplish this, the project superintendent must conceptualize a plan to construct the project and ensure that the daily and weekly activities are consistent with this plan. The project superintendent and the project manager work together as a complementary team. The sum of their combined effort is greater than their individual efforts. The project superintendent concentrates most of their time on the daily and short-range direction of the project.
Project manager This is the company's “management representative” who is responsible for the safe completion of projects within budget, on schedule, to the company's quality standards, and to the customer's satisfaction. It is their responsibility to initiate required action to achieve these objectives and to ensure that all project activities are consistent with contract documents and company policy. The project manager's duties vary as required to support the project superintendent and other personnel assigned to the project. The project manager's first responsibility is to support the effectiveness of the superintendent and the project staff. Generally, the project manager concentrates on long-term planning, scheduling, and identifying
