Key Roles and Responsibilities in Construction Project Management

The result of construction project management is highly dependent on the ability of the project manager. A construction project typically comprises a multitude of critical tasks and related issues at every stage that require a disciplined approach and correct decision-making to accomplish them.

This article aims to help construction project managers with the key responsibilities that they should pay attention to. Developing these essential skills and abilities will allow them to bring out the success of their construction project management and further their careers.

Role of project manager in construction

1. Planning

Planning is vital in construction project management. The project manager at a construction site must not only schedule his own work but also assign duties to his crew. The tasks in a  project must be anticipated by a meticulous project manager. The duties of a project manager include:

• Creating tasks for the entire team
• Calculating costs
• Creating deliverable timelines that serve as the construction team’s road map
• Keeping track of the project in case it becomes necessary to manage or oversee some responsibilities
• Examining the project carefully to see sure everything was completed as planned

Many practical and useful (smart) tools are now available to aid the project manager in doing their duties more effectively.

2. Recruiting, sacking, and supervising

On the job site, the project manager is seen as the boss. The responsibility of finding efficient people to do the tasks for the project lies with the project manager. The hardest things to do are hiring and firing people. Another crucial responsibility is to supervise, which can occasionally be challenging and complex, as the project manager has to pay attention to the subtleties that a team member may have overlooked. The coordination and direction of the construction crew must be handled entirely by the project manager.

3. Goal setting and monitoring

Setting goals is absolutely important in construction project management but is often ignored by the project manager.

The project manager must establish clear, client-approved goals and make every effort to achieve them. The PM is also responsible for monitoring the performance clauses in the contract, assessing the accuracy of the work, managing needs and deliveries, etc. The objectives specify the number of employees and the kinds of materials required. Project managers who have everything prepared and have clear goals typically have the best results.

4. Proper estimation and staying on budget 

Most of the construction projects are commercial projects. As the project manager, you must plan the entire project while keeping the budget in mind. Proper estimation is very important. You can take the help of software for estimation and complete the task without overshooting costs.

You are the one who needs to watch out for the crew’s spending when the project first begins. To stay within a budget, compare costs and estimates, and eliminate wasteful spending.

5. Addressing disputes  

Project management and dispute management are two different roles likely to be played by a good project manager. The secret is to get everything under control. It may be necessary for you to serve as the judge who establishes order in the courtroom (or construction site).

Many conflicts that can arise on the project manager’s building site are settled. Disputes may take a variety of forms:

•      Coworkers in the building industry
•      Subcontractors
•      The suppliers
•      The project management team

Failure could result from an unresolved disagreement. All of an engine’s attributes are necessary for smooth operation! “Nipping the disagreement in the bud” is the secret to reaching an amicable resolution to a problem. You need a system to quickly and steadily resolve disputes as well as some obvious preventative actions!

6. Finishing the project on time

Sincere project managers care about finishing the job on schedule. Each job has its own set of requirements and goals. There is a deadline by which everything must be prepared. Time is of the essence, since if the project is delayed, the builder may face consequences.

7. Report regularly with transparency

On the construction site, no one but the project manager and his group were present. The project manager is in charge, but he has a superior. The majority of project managers work independently without enough transparency. They neglected to update the client and their superior about the project’s status. Instead, when something is not going as planned, they conceal information from the client or supervisor. This often results in a significant loss for the project.

8. Ensure just treatments for 3rd party agencies

A contract should outline every task that must be completed for the project. The agreement between the owner and the builder is made through a contract. All construction project managers are familiar with such contracts. But the project manager has to handle other things as well, such as:

• The architects
• Subcontractors (electricians, carpenters, heating and cooling professionals)
• Materials suppliers
• Other third parties involved in the project

Therefore, it is important for the project manager to see that these parties can work freely and get their dues.

9. Risk management

This is a compulsory skill that every successful project manager must possess. Risk management is a very challenging aspect of a project manager’s job responsibility. Fortunately, he has the help of automation to accomplish this. Learning in advance about the possible risks and discussing them with the builder and the client helps avert major damage, debacle, and eventual delay in the project completion. 

Conclusion

Construction project management is about accomplishing the objective of the project by meeting compliance and quality standards and not overshooting the budget and time commitment. The project manager is the captain of the construction project management team. Therefore, his knowledge, abilities, risk management, and overall disciplined approach matter most in the success of a project.