Nature of work
A site manager plans, coordinates budgets, and supervises construction projects from early stage to completion. A site manager prepares and negotiates cost estimates, budgets, and work timetables, selects appropriate construction methods and strategies, interprets and explains contracts and technical information to workers and other professionals. Also, he/she reports on work progress and budget matters to clients, collaborates with architects, engineers, and other construction and building specialists, instructs and supervises construction personnel and activities on site. He/she deals with work delays and other problems and emergencies, selects, hires, and instructs laborers and subcontractors, and sticks to legal requirements, building and safety codes, and other regulations. He/she often called a general contractor because he/she coordinates and supervises a wide variety of projects, including all types of buildings such as residential, commercial, industrial structures, roads, bridges, power plants and hospitals. He/she oversees specialized contractors and other personnel. In addition to that, he/she schedules and coordinates all designs and construction processes to ensure a productive and safe work environment. Environment of work
Many site manager s work in office, but most work in the sites of constructions where he/she monitors the project and makes daily decisions about construction activities. He/she typically moves between an office and a construction site.For those who manage multiple projects, frequent travel may be common. Most s work full time. However, the need to meet deadlines and to respond to delays and emergencies often requires longer hours. He/she also can be on call 24 hours a day. If the office is far away from the construction site, extensive travel may be necessary. In some cases, the mobile office is set up right on the construction site. Construction project management can somehow be a stressful since a project manager has many responsibilities to do for the success of a project. During certain phases of construction, he / she may work more than forty hours a week, and he / she is normally on call twenty-four hours a day throughout the duration of a project in case he/she is needed for any problem. Professional life
A site manager will be needed as the level and variety of construction projects expands. Population and business growth results in new construction of residential dwellings, office buildings, retail outlets, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other structures. The need to address portions of the national infrastructure as roads, bridges, and sewer pipe systems will also spur employment growth. As building construction companies’ budgets remain limited, firms increasingly will focus on hiring a specialized site manager to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. In addition, construction processes and building technology are becoming more complex, requiring greater oversight and spurring demand for specialized management personnel. Sophisticated technology, worker safety, environmental protection, and new laws setting standards for building and construction material also will lead to employment growth.Range of typical starting salaries: 60000 SYP.
Getting the job
It is increasingly important for a site manager to have a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, architecture or engineering. As construction processes become increasingly complex, employers are placing more importance on specialized education. In addition, those with a high school diploma and years of relevant work experience will be able to work as a site manager , though he/she will do so primarily as self-employed general contractor.Practical construction experience is important when entering the occupation because it reduces the need for initial on-the-job training. Internships, cooperative education programs, and long-term jobs in the industry provide that experience. Some site manager s become qualified solely through extensive construction experience. New site manager s are generally hired as assistants to experienced managers before beginning independent work. Work as an assistant can last from several weeks to several months, depending on the firm.
PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers.
Skills
There are many skills he/she needs to have and tries to improve, such as:- Analytical skills, he/she plans a project strategy and must identify and solve unexpected issues and delays.
- Decision-making skills, he/she chooses personnel and subcontractors for specific tasks. Often, these decisions must be made quickly to meet deadlines.
- Initiative, Self-employed a site manager generates his/her own business opportunities and must be proactive to find new clients.
- Managerial skills, he/she addresses budget matters and coordinates and supervises workers.
- Communication skills, he/she must give clear orders, explain complex information to workers and clients, and discuss technical details with other building specialists.
- Technical skills, he/she must know construction methods and technologies, and be able to interpret contracts and technical drawings.
- Time-management skills, he/she ensure that construction phases are completed on time so that the next phase can begin.
- Writing skills, he/she must write proposals, plans, and budgets clearly for clients and others involved in the building process.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:- www.pmi.org , The Project Management Institute
- www.acpm.co.za, Association of Construction Project Managers
- www.icpma.net, International Construction Project Management Association
- The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256
- www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.
- Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.
Summary
A site manager oversees a construction project all the way through. He will be responsible for certain roles during the planning phase of the project, particularly for both budget and time needed for the project. He is often responsible for sorting through bids from contractors on framing, electrical, plumbing, and other construction project specifics, and he/she is also responsible for communicating frequently to ensure these contractors are working according to the schedule and budget.