How to Hire a Construction Superintendent

Why hire a construction superintendent?

Selecting the right candidate for a construction superintendent position has many underlying benefits. Their daily tasks include supervising and coordinating all activities per project plans, creating construction schedules and collaborating effectively with stakeholders. They also have experience with:

• Preparing detailed estimates for construction projects, including building materials, labor, supplies and other costs
• Hiring subcontractors and construction workers with the right skills for each project
• Conflict resolution, crisis management, maintaining teams, managing logs and determining budgets and timelines

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance construction superintendent

Before writing a construction superintendent job description or beginning the interview process, decide whether you need a full-time or freelance construction superintendent.

A full-time construction superintendent works within the company and carries out day-to-day duties, such as budgeting, scheduling and monitoring the project’s progress. They may have some control over the types of projects the company chooses.

A freelance construction superintendent has similar responsibilities to a full-time employee. However, they work as independent contractors and have greater freedom to select projects with their desired contract length. Because they’re usually working with different construction companies, they need to have strong communication and teamwork skills. 

What is the role of construction superintendents?

When searching for a construction superintendent, you should first understand the hierarchy of a typical construction company. Organizational roles can be categorized into lower-, middle- and top-level management. The last category includes construction superintendents. Here are common higher-tier construction roles:

• Senior architect (aka senior engineer): Senior architects are responsible for managing design, development and manufacturing tasks. They finalize all designs and collaborate with management to meet construction milestones, ensuring quality work from junior architects and mid-level workers.
• Assistant superintendent: Supports the construction superintendent and project manager with various tasks, such as scheduling, site safety and team-wide communication. 
• Construction manager: A construction manager plans the company’s construction projects, allocating financial and labor resources to successfully meet objectives. Construction managers oversee the budgeting, scheduling and execution of a range of project types or sizes.
• Construction project manager: A construction project manager controls the planning, supervising and executing of special or big-ticket projects. Their responsibilities include managing resources, negotiating, securing permits and collaborating with other departments.

Where to find construction superintendents

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

• Hire from within. Are there junior architects or other mid-range employees capable of moving up? Consider whether current employees could be an appropriate fit. Tapping into existing talent can boost employee engagement by highlighting opportunities to advance.
• Network. Attend trade shows, conferences and other construction-related events to connect with potential candidates.
• Use a recruitment agency. Enlist the help of a recruitment agency to fill your construction superintendent position.
• Post a help wanted ad at the job site. Put up ads at the construction site(s) to let people know you’re hiring.
• Post your job online. Try posting your construction superintendent job on Indeed to find and attract quality construction superintendent candidates.

What is the role of construction superintendents?

When searching for a construction superintendent, you should first understand the hierarchy of a typical construction company. Organizational roles can be categorized into lower-, middle- and top-level management. The last category includes construction superintendents. Here are common higher-tier construction roles:

• Senior architect (aka senior engineer): Senior architects are responsible for managing design, development and manufacturing tasks. They finalize all designs and collaborate with management to meet construction milestones, ensuring quality work from junior architects and mid-level workers.
• Assistant superintendent: Supports the construction superintendent and project manager with various tasks, such as scheduling, site safety and team-wide communication. 
• Construction manager: A construction manager plans the company’s construction projects, allocating financial and labor resources to successfully meet objectives. Construction managers oversee the budgeting, scheduling and execution of a range of project types or sizes.
• Construction project manager: A construction project manager controls the planning, supervising and executing of special or big-ticket projects. Their responsibilities include managing resources, negotiating, securing permits and collaborating with other departments.

Writing a construction superintendent job description

A suitable construction superintendent candidate needs to have a certain level of expertise. A clearly outlined job description, including a summary of the job role, a list of job duties and an expected skill set, helps in screening the right candidates.

When writing your construction superintendent 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 superintendent jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Construction superintendent
• Construction
• Superintendent
• Construction manager
• Superintendent construction
• Project superintendent
• Assistant superintendent
• Commercial construction superintendent
• Site superintendent
• Project manager

Interviewing construction superintendent candidates

Detailed screening of the candidates’ educational qualifications and relevant experience is essential when considering a new hire. The interview process of a construction superintendent should consist of knowledge and situational questions, which may decide the success of a project. Here are some subject topics to consider:

• Implement different project management techniques and remain within budget
• Experience using different project scheduling software
• How have you effectively mediated between two parties for conflict resolution?

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