In the past five years, expenditure in the US construction sector has exceeded the trillion-dollar mark while showcasing steady growth. Nonetheless, its growth has been slowed down due to a shortage of skilled labor. For a construction project to run smoothly, many different professionals are required. Key among them is a project manager and a construction manager, among the professionals in high demand.
However, there’s a lot of confusion regarding these two professions as the titles are often used synonymously. Despite some slight similarities in the roles performed, a project manager is not the same as a construction manager. The differences in their roles mainly come in three categories:
- Authority level
- Scope of responsibilities
- Focus
Construction Manager
During construction, it is the role of the construction manager to supervise the entire construction project to ensure buildings are architecturally sound and within budget. As such, CMs are required to ensure that regulations and building codes are observed. Some of the other key responsibilities of a construction manager include managing personnel and subcontractors.
In the past, people with extensive experience in various construction roles such as carpentry, plumbing, and electricals, could rise to become construction managers. This, however, is much less likely today as most employers want construction experts who have attained a bachelor’s degree. CMs can focus on a particular branch of construction; commercial or residential. Though some of your functions can be performed in an office, you will have to spend most of the time at the construction site.
Some of the activities you will have to perform daily include hiring staff, buying materials, preparing work schedules, managing punch lists, and ensuring health and safety standards are met. Usually, you will only be involved in the construction portion of the project. However, depending on the delivery mode, a professional CM can be brought in during the planning process.
The responsibilities of a construction manager are:
- Creating project budgets
- Hiring construction crews and tradesmen
- Onsite monitoring of the construction process
- Ensuring building and safety regulations are observed
- Adjusting work plans to accommodate disruptions such as bad weather or delayed supplies
- Coordinate and direct subcontractors and construction crews
- Choose the equipment, materials, and tools to be used for construction
- Track inventory
- Prepare internal and external project reports
Project Manager
The lifecycle of a construction project starts long before construction begins. There is a lot of planning involving the construction company and the client to define the scope of the project and delivery method. From the onset to completion of the project, project managers play a vital role. They are tasked with overseeing the entire construction project from the planning phase until construction completion. This involves ensuring it is completed within budget and on time.
Beyond construction matters, they are also involved in administrative tasks, marketing, and meeting clients. Ideally, the PM serves as the representative and protector of the client’s needs. For successful completion of the project, you must work closely with designers, engineers, contractors, and most of all, the construction manager.
The key responsibilities of a project manager include:
- Planning the entire construction project to ensure deadlines are met
- Create checkpoints that help monitor the progress of the project in relation to the timeline
- Identifying and responding to potential threats to the project
- Allocate resources to ensure there are no delays
Daily, PMs attend meetings, establish deadlines, manage the project budget, and update clients on the progress. Though you will have to go to the construction site from time to time to monitor progress and get updates from the construction manager, most of your work will be in the office.
It is not necessary to have a background in construction to become a project manager. However, most job listings will require some experience in the sector and a bachelor’s degree. To advance to higher levels of management, a master’s degree is needed.
How do Project Managers Compare with Construction Managers?
In some ways, the roles of construction and project managers are similar. However, there are some key differences:
- Project managers are responsible for the entire project, whereas construction managers are only involved in the construction side.
- Construction managers are directly involved in the management of staff and subcontractors.
- PMs handle administrative tasks and deal with clients directly, while CMs handle onsite matters.
The key difference between a project manager and a construction manager is the level of authority. Being in charge of the entire project, including construction, the project manager has more power, meaning that the construction manager reports to them.
Have a Data-Centered Approach to Construction
If there’s one thing that brings project and construction managers together is that they share one key objective; completing the project on time and within budget. With the complex nature of the construction process, it’s not always easy to achieve, and many critical decisions have to be made.
Build Analysis is a company that helps construction teams make better decisions by offering pre-construction analytics specific to each project. Contact us today to get analytics that will make construction management easier and increase your chances of success.
