Estimator This position is acquired after valuable years of field experience. The estimator is part of a project's estimating team and may be responsible for advanced quantity surveys of self-performed work such as concrete and carpentry work along with quantification of select subcontractor trades. An estimator learns more advanced estimating procedures along with the basics of pricing self-performed work. Additionally, the basics of bid closing are learned through shouldering the responsibility for specific sections of the bid.
Lead estimator Lead estimators work as members of the bid team on large, complex projects or may be in charge of small to medium-sized projects in a support role. Lead estimators are responsible for the survey and pricing of complex self-performed work. In this position, the estimator learns to manage others to achieve goals and develops an understanding of the company's self-performed work production history, as well as the fundamentals of bid assembly, buyout, and subcontracting.
Senior estimator The senior estimator reports to the chief estimator. The senior estimator is in charge of procuring an entire project. A successful procurement effort includes managing the bid team, developing the bid strategy, maintaining subcontractor relationships, and training other employees in the estimating department. The senior estimator is completely familiar with company production history and has a thorough understanding of subcontracting and procurement strategies.
Chief estimator Reporting to the district manager, the chief estimator is responsible for all estimating personnel and budget issues. Additionally, the chief estimator is responsible for identifying and tracking leads for future projects and deciding which projects to pursue. The chief estimator is also responsible for reviewing all estimates.
Area superintendent This position serves primarily on larger projects, assisting the project superintendent. The area superintendent supports the development of the project schedule and prejob planning and accepts responsibility for a specific area of the project or phase of work. Responsibilities entail safety compliance, craft supervision and production, subcontractor coordination, scheduling, material handling, daily reports, quality control, and craft training.
Project superintendent The project superintendent is the company's representative with the responsibility and authority for daily coordination and direction of the project so that it is safe, within budget, on schedule, up to the company's quality standards, and satisfactory to the customer. To accomplish this, the project superintendent must conceptualize a plan to construct the project and ensure that the daily and weekly activities are consistent with this plan. The project superintendent and the project manager work together as a complementary team. The sum of their combined effort is greater than their individual efforts. The project superintendent concentrates most of their time on the daily and short-range direction of the project.
Project manager This is the company's “management representative” who is responsible for the safe completion of projects within budget, on schedule, to the company's quality standards, and to the customer's satisfaction. It is their responsibility to initiate required action to achieve these objectives and to ensure that all project activities are consistent with contract documents and company policy. The project manager's duties vary as required to support the project superintendent and other personnel assigned to the project. The project manager's first responsibility is to support the effectiveness of the superintendent and the project staff. Generally, the project manager concentrates on long-term planning, scheduling, and identifying and resolving possible roadblocks and pitfalls prior to their having an impact on the project. The project manager is also responsible for ensuring that all logistical support is completed in a timely manner so that the project superintendent can concentrate on the daily and weekly direction of the company's resources and coordination of subcontractors.
As you can see, many levels of position and training are involved in construction management. There is definitely a lot of room for advancement regardless of your starting level. Construction managers come from all walks of life and with every kind of background. There are many examples of high-ranking construction executives with major firms across the country who started out as laborers in the field when they were fresh out of high school. Today the training may be more sophisticated, but the opportunities are still available to those who are willing to work for them. It is not an easy accomplishment to achieve the project manager level in construction, but it is a very rewarding one. In addition to all of the project level positions, there are also opportunities to advance to a number of leadership roles in business development, risk management, business finance, and executive leadership.
Want to See If You Have the Right Stuff?
FMI Corporation is one of the nation's leading consulting firms to the construction industry (see its website at www.fminet.com). It has been conducting research and tracking construction management and manager success for more than 65 years. Based on its research, I have put together a little fitness quiz. Just for fun, get out a pencil and respond to the following questions, using the instructions given. When you are all done, add up your responses, divide by the total number of questions, and note your average score. As you work through the quiz, keep in mind that there are no right answers.
Construction Management Aptitude Quiz
Use the following scale of 1–7, where 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Somewhat Disagree, 4 = Neutral, 5 = Somewhat Agree, 6 = Agree, and 7 = Strongly Agree, to rate your reaction to each statement.
1 I consider myself detail oriented and take pride in making sure that everything is done correctly.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
2 I have strong written communication skills.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
3 I have strong verbal communication skills.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
4 I am good at meeting with people and finding new opportunities.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
5 I usually do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it means working long hours.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
6 I have a good sense of humor.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
7 I like to look at problems in a systematic way, making sure that all aspects have been taken into account.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
8 I am very creative and am likely to find unique approaches to problems.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
9 I listen to what other people say and am willing to incorporate other people's suggestions into my plans.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
10 I like to work on projects that are visible and out there for the whole world to see and touch.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
11 I would rather work outdoors than in an office.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
12 I enjoy taking on risky projects, and I don't mind if there's some downtime between project activities.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
13 I don't mind getting dirty at work.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
14 I am more concerned about my own happiness in my choice of career than I am in what other people think of my choice.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
15 I like to compete.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
16 I do not take rejection personally, and I look at failure as an opportunity to learn.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
17 I do not give up easily.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
18 I like working in teams and with people of diverse backgrounds.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
19 I am able to prioritize and balance working on several tasks concurrently.Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree1234567
20 I believe that there