Just like any other vocation, expertise in construction project management is attained through education and experience. On the education front, a degree in civil engineering, building construction, construction management, construction science or any other discipline that relates to construction management would provide a good foundation for anyone inclined towards construction product careers. Additional certification in general project management methodologies such as the Office of Government Commerce' PRINCE2 or the Project Management Institute's PMBOK is good to have.
The role of construction project managers comes under varied titles. Some of these are constructor, construction engineer, project manager, construction coordinator, site manager or construction supervisor. Sometimes, the type of title assigned is determined by the nature of the project. The role of the construction project manager is to actualize the infrastructure design plans be it roads, rails, buildings, bridges or underground sewer systems. It is the project manager's job to ensure that required materials are available when required and used for the purpose intended.
Working with other specialists in the project team, the manager maintains oversight of the procurement and installation of each item all the while keeping a keen eye on budgetary expectations and nipping any excesses in the bud. In fact, time management and cost control are the two things that are required of construction product manager jobs. They can determine the success or otherwise of any construction project. Cost and time are related because often, a project that takes longer than planned is likely to cost more. In addition, the project manager should possess people skills and negotiating capabilities that would come in handy in obtaining the best price during the purchase of construction material.
Construction sites can be a complex environment. Sometimes, the sheer scale of a construction project makes it difficult to keep tabs on the activities taking place at different points simultaneously. The construction project manager must have project management skills that would prove crucial in this regard. For huge projects, delegation of certain project oversight tasks to other members of the team will be required if seamless execution is to be achieved. The manager's role would be to track the progress of each task and hold the person assigned task oversight, responsible.
Though not expected to be as knowledgeable as a lawyer on the same, a construction project manager must understand the laws and regulations that relate to the type of infrastructure being developed. This is important because a building can be developed according to a client's plan but could be in violation of a construction by-law.
There are many openings in the construction product careers arena and with determination and focus coupled with the requisite experience; one can become a leader in the field. By their very nature, construction projects are temporary activities and this means that construction product jobs are often not permanent and last for finite tenures. The experience obtained can however be fulfilling, and each project provides challenges that can add to the construction project manager's competencies for use in future product jobs.
