Site Manager

Description

Site managers (also known as construction managers) oversee day-to-day operations at construction sites to ensure that work is completed on schedule, within budget and to the right standard. The site manager’s job typically begins before the construction phase of the project commences and lasts until work is finished.

While duties vary depending on the type of project, the responsibilities of site managers usually include:

• Recruiting staff
• Preparing the site and site office
• Producing the construction program for the project
• Planning work and monitoring progress
• Liaising with professionals, such as architects and quantity surveyors
• Supervising staff and subcontractors
• Ensuring health and safety procedures are followed
• Implementing environmental and waste management policies 
• Overseeing and scheduling the delivery of materials 
• Hiring plant and equipment 
• Dealing with any problems or delays 
• Ensuring all work complies with building regulations and the standards set out in the original plans
• Keeping the client up to date with the project’s progress

Some site managers choose to specialise in a specific sector, such as highways, house building or energy, while others look to progress to jobs as project managers or contracts managers.

Typical Rate

Pay for site managers varies greatly, depending on the experience required and the location of the job. For small projects or roles that involve managing a specific part of a large programme, salaries are typically in the £28,000 to £35,000 bracket, but site managers with experience of multimillion-pound projects can expect to command between £38,000 and £65,000 along with a good benefits package.

There are also plenty of opportunities to work on a contract basis, with many employers opting to hire site managers on a project by project basis. Day rates range from £130 for small refurbishment jobs to £350 for large specialist projects, such as those in the energy sector.

Required Qualifications

The most common entry route for a career in site management is to study for an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, such as construction, civil engineering or building management. Ideally the course will have been approved by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), although the CIOB offers Diploma courses that give people with other degrees the skills they need.

Qualifications alone are unlikely to be enough to secure a job as a site manager or assistant site manager and you will also need some work experience on construction sites to impress employers.

It is possible for experienced construction workers to become a site manager without degree level qualifications. A background as a supervisor or building technician is particularly useful for non-graduates looking to move into a site management role.

FAQs

• Do I need a CSCS card?

  Yes, to work on site you will need a valid CSCS card, such as the ‘Experienced Technical Supervisor or Manager’ card or the ‘Manager’ card.

• Do I require any health and safety qualifications?

  All employers will expect site managers to have an in-depth knowledge of health and safety regulations and best practice, and many will require you to have a qualification to demonstrate it. The Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), IOSH Managing Safely in Construction and NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety are among the relevant qualifications.

• Do I need work experience?

  Large construction companies recruit graduates with relevant degrees as trainee or assistant site managers, but almost all contract and permanent site manager jobs available via recruitment agencies are for experienced workers.

• What sort of organisations employ site managers?

  Principal contractors and house builders are the main employers of site managers, with staff who have expertise in a specific sector particularly in demand. However, many specialist subcontractors also employ site managers to look after their parts of projects.

  In addition to permanent staff, construction companies also regularly use recruitment agencies to hire site managers for the duration of projects.