Careers in Architecture & Construction Construction Manager Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Construction Manager Construction Managers are a professional management practice consisting of an array of services applied to construction project They are involved in the planning, design, construction and post construction phases of a project They have a purpose of achieving project objectives including the management of quality, cost, time and scope They basically oversee everything that is involved with the construction of a project Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Why a Construction Manager? Construction Management is a discipline and management system specifically created to promote the successful execution of capital projects for owners Projects can be highly complex or fairly routine There are not many owners who have the staff resources necessary to pay close, continuing attention to every detail on a project But, these details can "make or break" a project Can you see yourself in charge of building your school? Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

What do they do? CMs plan, direct, coordinate, and budget a wide variety of construction projects Some of those could be residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals CMs may supervise an entire project or just part They schedule and coordinate all design and construction processes, including the selection, hiring, and oversight of specialty trade contractors, such as carpentry, plumbing, or electrical They usually do not do any actual construction Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Who do they work for? CMs can be salaried employees of a bigger company or self-employed They are often called project managers, constructors, construction superintendents, project engineers, construction supervisors, or general contractors They may work under contract or as a salaried employee of the property owner, developer, or contracting firm managing the construction project Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Salary On the average, salaries for a construction manager can range from 50K to 100K+ Most of these salaries depend on experience, education and project sizes A CM working on the newest football stadium would make more money than a CM building a Taco Bell This can be a very lucrative profession, but also calls for a lot of knowledge and responsibility Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Education To become a CM, you need a bachelor's degree in construction science, construction management, or building science There are other routes, even with just an associate degree or possibly through work experience Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Experience Many CMs started out as a carpenter, intern or electrician, some with no formal schooling or training As they learned how buildings were put together and the roles of different professions, they were able to move up in their positions Experience plays a large role in the CMs job. It is one thing to read or study techniques and another to have performed them This is one path to becoming a CM, but a long and not guaranteed one Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Professional Organizations Like many other professions related to the construction field, CMs have their own organizations These organization help to unify, organize and give structure to this profession They give a way to “certify” professionals and provide a gateway to potential customers and employment One of these organization is the CMAA Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

The Future A traditional construction manger may have been thought of as a rough neck or someone who gets their hands dirty Now, with emerging and ever changing technologies, the CM has to be verse in many rising techniques and methods A CM now uses a cell phone and computer more than a hammer and nails This technology trend will continue to grow and evolve the role of the construction manager as well as the whole construction field 10 Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Research Time! Let’s apply your new-found knowledge and look for some examples of construction managers! Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA)