How to Hire a Construction Project Manager

Construction projects are complex, even seemingly small ones, and in order to ensure that everything is completed on time, on budget, and to a satisfactory level, a construction project manager is essential. These professionals are responsible for overseeing the planning and delivery of a construction project by organizing logistics, delegating work, and keeping track of spending. Without someone to handle all those aspects of the build, it’s very likely that something will be missed or the budget will spiral out of control.

Responsibilities of a Construction Project Manager

There are a lot of moving parts in a construction build (literally and figuratively), and it’s the project manager’s task to keep track of everything. While the responsibilities of a construction project manager vary depending on the size and complexity of the project, the most common duties are:

Planning and scheduling: They develop a plan for the project, including the timeline, budget, and resources.
Organizing logistics: They coordinate the transportation, storage, and delivery of materials and equipment.
Delegating work: They assign tasks to workers and monitor their progress.
Keeping track of spending: They track the costs of materials, labor, and equipment.
Communicating with stakeholders: They communicate with clients, architects, engineers, and other contractors.
Managing problems: They resolve problems that arise during the construction process.
Ensuring Safety: They must make sure the worksite is safe and proper regulations are being followed.

Project managers may not be on the construction site every day, but it’s still their job to supervise the progress of the build and make decisions to move the project along.

Construction project manager directing workers

Highest Education Level

Construction managers offer the following education background

Bachelor's Degree (39.2%)

Master's Degree (17.8%)

High School or GED (15.0%)

Vocational Degree or Certification (13.1%)

Associate's Degree (10.7%)

Some College (2.1%)

Doctorate Degree (1.4%)

Some High School (0.5%)

Licensing and Certification

Construction project managers offer the following licenses and certifications
Qualifications / Skills

The following top skills are often required or desired to land a construction project manager position

Commercial Construction, Punch Out Lists, Submittals, Change Orders, Civil Construction, Bluebeam, Pre-Construction, Scope Development, Preconstruction, Project Closeout, Request For Information, Design-Build, Construction Management, Bidding, Civil Engineering

Average Work Experience

Here's a breakdown of the years of experience offered by construction project managers

6-8 years (35.0%)

4-6 years (20.0%)

1-2 years (15.0%)

2-4 years (15.0%)

8-10 years (10.0%)

Less than 1 year (5.0%)

Requirements for a Construction Project Manager

As you can see, these managers take on a lot of roles. That means that when hiring a project manager for construction, you need to look for a candidate who possesses a wide variety of skills. Those skills include:

Communication skills: They must be able to communicate effectively with clients, architects, engineers, and other contractors.
Leadership skills: They must be able to motivate and lead a team of workers.
Problem-solving skills: They must be able to identify and resolve problems that arise during the construction process.
Technical skills: They must have an understanding of construction techniques and materials.
Financial skills: They must be able to track costs and manage budgets.

In terms of certifications, some good ones to look for are a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and OSHA certification. Additionally, most construction project managers on iHireConstruction have at least a bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of experience. You can see other common skills and certifications in the supplementary widgets on the page.

To see the average construction project manager salary in your area, register or log in to your iHire account and head to our Salary Research Tool.

Sample Construction Project Manager Job Ad

A well-written job ad is key for attracting the best construction talent. Be sure to have the basics of what makes a good job ad, like a brief job title, an elevator pitch at the beginning, the responsibilities and qualifications, and any benefits you offer. To go the extra mile for a construction project manager job ad, you should include the type of work your company mostly performs (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). Take a look at the sample ad below to help you get started.

Construction Project Manager

XYZ Construction is a client-focused business with a history of delivering excellent large-scale commercial builds. We are looking for an experienced Construction Project Manager to join our team. In this position, you will be responsible for the planning, execution, and completion of construction projects. You will oversee the entire process from start to finish, including developing project plans, coordinating with contractors, and managing budgets.

Responsibilities:

Develop and implement project plans
Coordinate with contractors and subcontractors
Manage budgets and ensure cost-effectiveness
Track progress and ensure timely completion of projects
Communicate with clients and stakeholders

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in construction management, construction science, engineering, architecture, or related field
4+ years of experience in construction project management
Strong organizational and time management skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Construction project manager reading design plans

Interview Questions to Ask a Construction Project Manager

When interviewing a construction project manager, you want to determine if the candidate has the right experience, problem-solving skills, and required personality traits. Knowledge-based and situational questions that cover the candidate’s work process and aptitude to handle setbacks are key. Use the following questions as a starting point for your construction project manager interview:

What is your experience in construction project management?
What is your approach to planning and scheduling construction projects?
How do you organize and manage logistics?
How do you delegate work and monitor progress?
How do you track costs and manage budgets?
How do you communicate with stakeholders?
Tell me about a time when you brought a project in under budget and how you did it.
What steps would you take if a construction project started running behind schedule?