What a Construction Manager Does – Learn Now!

While you might be thinking about engineers and architects as the key people behind infrastructure construction, there’s also one important person you must not overlook. It’s the construction managers. 

Who are exactly these people? Continue below, and we’ll let you know. 

1. The head of the site when engineers aren’t around

To simply put and give you an immediate idea about the role of constructor managers, they are the boss next to engineers and architects. They are the ones who are in charge and work directly with other engineers and architects. So, their role cannot be underestimated. In their hands lie a very big responsibility. They are the glue that holds everything together, making sure that things will go well on site. 

Overall, they must possess all the basic knowledge of the construction and should be able to initiate talking to their people. They have a very important leadership role in ensuring that great relationships are maintained on the construction site. 

2. Manages all the activity on the site

Construction managers have a tremendous amount of responsibility and tasks to look after. It isn’t just about the technical aspect. In addition to being fully proficient at the technical stuff and blueprint details, they should be a person that construction workers can turn to in case there is a problem at the site. 

Among the activities that they must keep track of is making sure that safety and cleanliness are maintained. They need to make sure that all the hazards are carefully eliminated. They should also be instrumental in keeping the deadlines followed. They are a necessary component for any construction from start to end. 

3. Oversees that the job is done 

Just as already mentioned before, they must keep track of daily progress and make sure all the time that it’s met. Building construction is highly demanding and challenging. An expensive cost is associated with a given time.

Construction managers are the main gun for ensuring that day-to-day goals are achieved. They are responsible for monitoring other aspects of the site. 

When you are in a construction project, a lot of things are going on in the different areas of construction. A manager should be able to monitor all this by wisely managing his time effectively. 

4. Takes care of the people 

As already said above, one of the key roles of a construction manager is to become a leader. A leader takes care of his people. His subordinates are the construction workers who make the building happen. He takes care of these workers, ensuring that they are paid well and that their safety is maintained. He is also responsible for feeding them and making sure that they are in their best condition to get the job done. These professionals are the mediator between the main bosses and the construction workers. 

5. Provides an immediate solution to unexpected issues 

When an unexpected issue arises for any reason – such as either it’s because of the delayed delivery or accident – construction managers are the first people to go to. They are in charge of things such as these. They should have the necessary connections to find a remedy or to get a specific update on when the delivery will happen and ask for compensation from the suppliers. Hence, they must also have good negotiation and communication skills. They should be both a mediator and a negotiator, depending on what the situation calls for. 

6. Have technical knowledge of the construction 

In addition to all the aforementioned skills, one can’t neglect that construction managers should have the right technical knowledge. They can’t find themselves on site not knowing technical construction details as there is so much at stake here. Without being equipped with the right knowledge, they will fail to fulfill their role. So, they must have pre-existing knowledge about construction and know the science behind it. 

7. Should be adept at reading contracts 

They should be aware of all the deals about the purchase and that all of them are met at a given time. That’s why they must know how to read and look at contracts. They are required to be familiar with the terms. They are responsible for making all the parties informed, from the suppliers, construction workers, and owners.