Why hire a construction manager?

Selecting the right candidate as a construction manager ensures the planning and execution of construction projects of various sizes. Daily tasks include project planning, scheduling, budgeting, negotiation, coordinating with other project stakeholders and timely implementation. An efficient construction manager will readily handle all these areas.

• Oversee construction projects from planning to completion
• Negotiate pricing, terms and conditions of agreements, draft multiple contracts and obtain required licenses and permits
• Review projects to ensure timely delivery, develop project reports and resolve any existing or emerging project issues

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance construction manager

Construction managers are available for hire for projects that may not take long. For shorter projects, it may end up costing the company more to hire a full-time construction manager. Freelance managers are typically trained on what they need to do for a project, while a new full-time hire may not be.

For longer projects, however, it may save the company money in the end to hire a full-time employee. Salaried employees have a lower hourly cost than freelancers and give the company more control over their hours and quality of work. 

What are the ranks of construction workers?

In any construction project, there are a lot of people working together to finish the building. Each of these people may have a different role in the project. Some of these roles include:

• Construction manager: The construction manager’s job is to oversee the entire project and all the employees working on it. They’re responsible for planning, scheduling and budgeting.
• Estimator: The estimator’s role is to estimate the cost of materials and labor needed to construct the building.
• Architect: An architect works to create plans for a building that matches the client’s needs and wants. They’re also responsible for considering various aspects of the building, such as the weight of materials.
• Construction supervisor: A construction supervisor serves as a bridge between construction workers and the manager. While the supervisor focuses on the employees and the day-to-day duties, the manager focuses on the big picture.
• Construction worker: The construction workers handle the labor of the project, including demolition, moving and constructing. 

Where to find construction managers

To find the right construction manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Post help wanted signs around the area. Hanging help wanted flyers is the most traditional way of searching for potential candidates. It can increase awareness of the position and attract applicants.
• Hire from within. There may be candidates within the construction team that already possess the knowledge and skills required to manage a project. Conduct interviews with quality candidates to see if any are a good fit. 
• Search online for freelancers. Freelance workers typically advertise their skills on the web. For shorter projects, locating and hiring a freelancer online may be an ideal option. 
• Post your job online. Try posting your construction manager job on Indeed to find and attract quality construction manager candidates.

Skills to look for in a great Construction Manager

Construction Managers manage internal company information. To find an efficient and organized Construction Managers are the principal stakeholders of any big-ticket projects. To hire an experienced and knowledgeable Construction Manager, specific qualifications and character traits are essential as listed below.

• BS/ BE degree in civil engineering, architecture, construction management
• Over 3 Years of experience in handling new construction projects in a supervisory capacity
• Remodeling experience with knowledge in MS Projects and other related software
• Excellent coordination, project and time management skills
• Proven leadership skills to handle project workers for optimum output
• Competently manage crisis situations

Writing a construction manager job description

A well-written job description is vital in finding an excellent construction manager. A construction manager’s Job description should be backed by defined job roles and responsibilities with properly established job duties and skill set.

When writing your construction manager job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on construction manager jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Construction manager
• Construction
• Construction management
• Manager
• Project manager
• Office manager
• Construction supervisor
• Management
• Supervisor
• Wireless construction supervisor

Interviewing construction manager candidates

To make an informed hiring decision about a competent construction manager, the hiring team should ask detailed interview questions to understand the depth of knowledge, skill set and qualities required to perform the job, including:

• Previous cases in which they managed crisis and conflict on the project
• Past situations showcasing negotiation and effective coordination skills
• Knowledge-based project execution using different tools and software

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of construction manager interview questions for examples (with sample answers).