Construction manager
Bring construction projects to life and help put in place sustainable building practices. Manage teams to complete work safely, on time and within budget.
Also known as: site agent, site manager
About the job
A day in the life – Construction manager
What it's like
Ever wonder how buildings go from a drawing to something you can actually walk inside? As a construction manager, you're the person who makes that happen!
You're responsible for the overall planning, coordination and performance of construction projects. You'll oversee the day-to-day work on the construction site, making sure projects finish safely, on time and within the budget.
This role involves managing the project for a client, leading and motivating the construction team and resolving any issues that come up during the building process.
On small sites you might have full responsibility for the whole project. On larger sites you may be in charge of a particular section and report to a senior site manager.
Your tasks might include:
working closely with the workforce on site, hiring employees, planning work schedules
checking progress, costs and quality and reporting regularly to your client
making plans with architects, surveyors and buyersÂ
sourcing sustainable materials and arranging for delivery to the site, setting up temporary offices on site
overseeing progress, costs and qualityÂ
making sure work meets legal requirements and building regulations including energy efficiency standardsÂ
You'd also be the main point of contact for subcontractors and the public.
As a senior manager, you could oversee several projects at the same time.
Green jobÂ
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.Â
Hours
You'll likely work Monday to Friday, with the possibility of evening or weekend work to meet deadlines.
Environment
You'll often be based on site at construction projects such as housing developments, schools, windfarms.
You could also work in an office.
The construction site is a dynamic environment that changes with the seasons.
Some tasks such as inspecting roofing, requires working at heights.
You'll wear protective clothing on site, such as safety boots and a hard hat for a secure working environment.
Travel
You'd spend some of your time travelling between sites and meeting clients and contractors.
Explore more information about this job
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment Energy
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- construction
- subcontracting
- civil engineering
- construction management
- site inspection
- reliability availability maintainability and safety software
- asbestos awareness
- construction design and management (cdm) regulations
- safety culture
- safety audits
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- making decisions
- delegating
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- building relationships
- motivating others
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Design and Manufacture
Engineering Science
Practical Craft Skills
Foundation Apprenticeship: Civil Engineering
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
University
If you choose the university route, these subjects would be most useful:
Construction
Civil Engineering
Construction Management
Architecture
Building Surveying
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you get a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Construction Management
Civil Engineering
Engineering
Apprenticeship
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Discover MAs on Apprenticeships.scot.
Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni or college. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider a GA in areas such as:
Discover GAs on Apprenticeships.scot.
Trainee roles
You can become a construction manager by applying for a paid trainee role, where you learn on the job without needing previous experience. You can use the My World of Work job search to look for trainee roles.
To work on a construction site, you may need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card
To work on a construction site, you'll need to pass a health and safety test.
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