What Is the Role of a Construction Manager?
What Is the Role of a Construction Manager?
Every building project will involve various professionals, all with their own responsibilities.
The roles of the engineer, architect, and builder are usually fairly easy to distinguish, but a few job titles in the construction industry are harder to pin down.
The construction manager is one of them.
What is a construction manager, what do they do, and how do they differ from a project manager and general contractor?
Read on for answers to these questions.
What Is A Construction Manager?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.”
A construction manager's job can be for all project types.
However, even though these professionals manage every aspect of a building project, they don’t actually participate in any construction activities. Construction managers can work for a construction company, but most are self-employed.
The education attained for the career path of a construction project manager could be an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree in civil engineering, construction science, or related fields.
Responsibilities of A Construction Manager
Construction managers need good communication skills, knowledge of basic construction methods, great organizational skills, and the ability to lead a large project team.
They have responsibilities in every construction phase, even before construction begins.
Here are some of their key responsibilities:
Project Management
One of the construction manager's primary responsibilities as an overseer is to plan each stage of the construction process and write a detailed post-construction punch list.
To thoroughly understand the project's objectives and goals, the construction manager attends all pre-design project conferences and consults with stakeholders or the project manager (if there is one).
The CM oversees contract agreements with the:
General contractor
Vendors
Subcontractors
They are also responsible for managing public relations to ensure the community is informed and supportive of the project. This will include communicating with the various on-site visitors and answering any questions they may have, especially inspectors.
With all the information and drawings in hand, the CM will create a construction plan that outlines:
The entire project, from start to finish
The methodologies to follow
Who is responsible for what
This construction plan will then be transferred to a management information system, usually through CM software, which can be shared with the team and accessible at all times.
Budgeting
In the pre-design phase, the construction manager will provide cost estimates to the stakeholders based on initial designs.
After the plans are finalized, the CM creates a detailed project budget for labor and materials and includes a contingency budget to cover unexpected expenses. (Learn more: Mastering Construction Budgeting: A Comprehensive Guide)
This budget will consider hard, soft, and site project costs.
The construction manager also oversees the project's daily spending, which requires controlling change orders.
When the project is complete, the CM will write up a final cost report.
Differences with CMAR
In the CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk) delivery method, the construction manager holds even more responsibility over the budget.
Here, they will provide the project owner with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP), which is a cap on the project's cost. If the project exceeds the GMP, the construction company is responsible for this cost overrun.
As expected, with this delivery method, not only will the CMAR provide a number higher than actual expected costs as the GMP to the owner, but they will also be very cost-conscious of daily tasks.
Scheduling
Keeping the project on schedule is an important task that falls on the construction manager's shoulders.
The CM will create and follow a master schedule. They will oversee the construction milestones and closely monitor the project phases to ensure they’re completed on time.
CMs should have a plan in place when unexpected delays occur, such as when construction workers don’t show up or materials haven’t yet reached the job site.
Additionally, construction managers monitor schedule compliance, ensuring team members — like the general contractor and other vendors — understand and follow timelines.
Quality Control
The construction manager’s main objective is to ensure the build meets the project owner’s desires while staying on schedule and on budget. This can only be done by clarifying all objectives with the owner and translating this to the construction team.
Their scope of work includes all project organization, including:
Resource allocation
Finding the right expertise
Performing document control
When materials run low, the CM will ensure they are ordered and delivered to the job site on time.
The construction manager should create a quality management plan to ensure the project meets quality standards. Their ethical responsibilities require them to avoid cutting corners or hiring cheap, unskilled labor.
This requires that they oversee rigorous construction testing and inspection requirements. All building codes must be met, or there is a risk of failing inspection and falling behind schedule because of re-work.
Vetting potential construction teams and awarding contracts requires the CM to check work experience, expertise, and credentials.
CMs fill out daily reports and perform most of the record-keeping. They’ll be expected to provide the stakeholders with progress reports on a regular basis.
When the project is complete, the CM will write up a final report that contains:
A detailed account of each construction phase
An update of any change orders
The final overview
Contract Administration
A large commercial project will include many policies and procedures, especially concerning contracts. Construction managers are responsible for implementing the terms and conditions of these contracts.
Before one is awarded, the CM will perform a bidder pre-qualification for potential contractors and subcontractors. If a contract adjustment is agreed to, the CM will write an addendum to include these changes.
After contracts are awarded, the CM will follow all documentation procedures and provide contractors with a notice to proceed.
CMs will process all claims and payment requests from contractors throughout the project, ensuring all work is complete and passes inspection.
When a change order is submitted, the CM will fill out all necessary paperwork for documentation of this change order and discuss it with the project manager or owner for final approval or denial.
Construction managers submit and finalize all permits and purchase insurance needed for the project.
When the contractors have completed the work needed, CMs close out the contracts or, if necessary, issue callbacks when the job isn’t sufficient.
Safety Management
Ensuring the safety of all workers and visitors on the job site is one of a construction manager's top priorities. To begin, the CM consults with a safety coordinator to develop a suitable safety program that may include:
Identifying any hazards on the construction site
Removing them
Drawing up a written safety plan to mitigate risks that can’t be removed
Safety training cannot be overlooked.
The construction manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the training of all workers before and during construction. It is their duty to enforce safety compliance by all contractors, subcontractors, and vendors participating in the project. This includes ensuring team members follow OSHA rules and regulations and all pertinent safety codes.
Routine equipment checks and maintenance are part of job site safety precautions. Construction managers perform safety audits regularly and address any issues as they arise. They also check in with team members for feedback on better managing these concerns.
If any safety problems arise, CMs log these issues and incidents in the safety record for final submittal and documentation.
Lastly, construction managers coordinate on-site emergency response. They need to contact local emergency departments and discuss the best route and entrance for their vehicles.
Construction Manager vs. Project Manager
A construction manager can wear many hats. So many, in fact, that it can closely resemble other roles, even replacing them at times.
One often misunderstood comparison is that of a project manager versus a construction manager. Yes, these two roles are very similar, and one person could fill both.
In fact, smaller projects usually don’t justify hiring two professionals to manage the project, but larger tasks can have both roles on board.
When they do, there are some key differences in their jobs:
Knowledge of Construction
Construction managers must be construction experts. To do their job correctly, they need to know the ins and outs of the construction process and related materials. Project managers may not be experts in construction per se. They only need a general knowledge of the process.
What They’re Managing
The construction manager oversees the construction side of the project, while the project manager looks after the real estate procurement, site selection, planning, and design.
The project manager oversees the entire project. The construction manager reports to the project manager and keeps him abreast of construction progress or problems.
Client Relationship
The project manager deals directly with the client. The construction manager would only deal directly with the client if no project manager is on the job.
Construction Manager vs. General Contractor
Another role that can be very similar to that of a construction manager is the general contractor.
To understand the difference between a general contractor and a construction manager, you need to be aware of the slight discrepancies in responsibilities they fill:
Both provide project oversight, participate in quality control, and can sign off on designs. At times, the GC may act as a CMAR if no construction manager is overseeing the project.
Construction managers can take some responsibility off the owner such as design decisions, contract agreements, and overseeing the budget.
General contractors usually only oversee the construction of the project and select and oversee all the subcontractors.
GCs are more involved in material procurement since they know exactly how much is needed and what works best. CMs can advise on selection but don’t deal with it directly.
General contractors can make a change request. When they do, construction managers decide whether the responsibility lies on the general contractor or the project owner.
Construction managers are hired directly by the owner and are paid billable hours. General contractors bid on the job and are paid a lump sum.
Every project will require a general contractor to build it, but only larger commercial endeavors, multi-state public projects, or tasks with multiple stakeholders would bring in a construction manager to help.
Recap
As you can see, a construction manager plays a vital role in the building process, especially in large commercial projects.
Their keen attention to detail and problem-solving abilities can ensure that your project runs smoothly, on budget, and on time.
Contact ZP Architects & Engineers for your engineering and architectural needs, and we can match you with the best construction managers in the industry.
