A Closer Look at a Career as a Construction Project Manager
In Canada, there are strong initiatives to building more environment-friendly infrastructure and increase the nation’s readiness against the effects of climate change. Currently, the Government of Canada are eyeing more public building energy retrofits and multi-use path systems throughout the nation.
With these efforts on the horizon, the need for construction project managers are greater than ever. Construction project managers are the main professionals responsible for overseeing any type of building project. Without an efficient construction project manager, blueprints from architects and engineers—no matter how well-designed or well thought-out they are on paper—will not come to fruition.
Construction Project Managers – What You Need to Know
The construction project managers are the jugglers of any ongoing construction project as they deal with multiple tasks all at the same time, often with competing priorities. They are the ones who perform job and cost estimates, carry out quality control, plan workers’ schedules and project completion schedules, review designs, and create proposals. A construction project manager conducts all business professionally and should have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of constructions methods and requirements. They have to stay on top of every item in the project and possess top-calibre attention to detail capabilities, otherwise, everything will fall apart.
Salary
According to PayScale.com, a construction project manager can earn an average of $74,883 per year with potential for bonus, profit sharing, and commission. Typically, 10 years of experience as a construction project manager can lead to a role as a construction project director provided they have gained a reputation as a leader and a solid track record of directing teams appropriately through project development and project life-cycle and in the development and implementation of various project plans, including scope, schedule, risk resource and project costing.
Skills
To kick off a career as a construction project manager, it is a must to have a degree in either civil engineering or structural engineering. Afterwards, one will need to earn a PMP designation from the Project Management Institute or PMI. This non-profit professional membership association, founded in 1969, offers eight certifications that acknowledge competency in the project management industry. It’s also a boost to earn a Construction Project Management certificate, and Canadian educational institutions like Algonquin College and George Brown College offer those programs.
As a construction project manager is seen as the leader on a building project, it pays to have an effective leadership style and expert communication skills to ensure that everyone involved has a clear understanding of their tasks and accountabilities. In most cases, construction project managers also have to draw upon their negotiation and persuasion abilities to make sure the project is completed according to timelines and specifications.
Pros and Cons
A construction project manager can be a financially rewarding and prestigious career. However, it can be mentally exhausting as one would have to attend to several issues or tasks simultaneous under time pressure or challenging environments. It is definitely important to have a calm demeanor to be able to cope with the expectations of the job.
It can be physically draining since construction project managers have to often work on site to ensure everything runs smoothly. They also carry on their shoulders the big responsibility of overseeing the implementation of occupational health and safety practices, ensuring all personnel avoid job hazards or injuries.
SOURCES:
https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Project_Manager%2C_Construction/Salary
https://www.smartsheet.com/construction-project-management-101
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