Construction Project Manager
What the work is
Plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates construction of engineering and building projects, and all resources involved in the construction process.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Plans, organises and manages large-scale commercial and civil construction project objectives, budgets and schedules
- Assesses and interprets architectural drawings and technical specifications, and determines appropriate construction methods to use
- Develops tenders and contract bids, and negotiates with stakeholders throughout the construction process and project lifecycle
- Leads the coordination and prioritisation of resources, including human resources, materials, plant and equipment, across large-scale commercial and civil construction projects
- Consults with clients, Architects, Civil Engineering Professionals, Contract Administrators, Quantity Surveyors, site managers and other personnel to plan and manage the construction process
- Manages and monitors adherence to legislation and standards of performance and safety
- Leads and manages human resources, including subcontractors, to progress and deliver construction projects
- Establishes and manages project plans to ensure alignment with strategic goals and project outcomes
- Manages change and implementation of construction projects
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a large commercial building site run by a fictional construction company in a growing city. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A building you have tracked for two years gets its final sign-off and the crew cheers
- Three trades that were stuck behind each other finally move in the right order
- You walk past the finished building months later and remember what it was like as a hole in the ground
Hard days
- Rain for a week, a late delivery and a client who wants to know why you are behind
- A safety incident that was nearly serious, and a long night of writing it up
- Managing a subcontractor who is excellent at the work and difficult to work with
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 131131, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.