Construction contracts manager

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject about construction.

Subjects that include units on contract law are useful, for example:

• civil or structural engineering
• construction management
• building studies
• quantity surveying

Entry requirements:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You could start by doing a degree apprenticeship in construction management or design and construction management. After you finish, you can specialise in contract work.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work

You may be able to move into contract management after working as an administrator or contracts assistant at a construction company.

Experience and qualifications in quantity surveying or estimating could also be useful.

DirectApplication

If you have project management or contract experience from another industry, like civil engineering, you could use this to apply for contract management jobs in construction.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• knowledge of building and construction
• maths knowledge
• design skills and knowledge
• leadership skills
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• business management skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• thinking and reasoning skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to read English
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• the ability to motivate and manage staff
• concentration skills

What you'll do:

Construction contracts managers look after building contracts and construction costs.

In this job, you would:

• draft plans and estimates for building work, including budgets and timescales
• prepare and present documents for tender
• plan what work needs doing
• tell teams, contractors and suppliers what to do
• gather information for invoicing at the end of the project
• supply information to resolve contract disagreements
• identify areas for improvement

Location : You could work at a client's business, on a construction site or in an office.

Salary:

Starter : £25,000
Experienced : £60,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

38 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is between 8am and 6pm

Career Path:

With experience, you could:

• move into general construction management
• become a consultant
• become a company director
• work in larger construction project management by completing a degree apprenticeship in project control
• work in support services, like health and safety inspection
• move into a related industry, such as civil engineering