Careers in Construction Management With a Master’s Degree
Construction management is an exciting and influential field that drives tangible results and provides personal satisfaction. There is nothing like seeing a construction project take shape and knowing that your expertise and skillful coordination allowed impressive, real-world results.
Suppose you are interested in this field – and eager to build your unique interests into your everyday routines and regimens. You will want to take a closer look at the increasingly diverse array of careers in construction management. Keep reading to learn how you can plan an empowering career that is fulfilling and helps make a positive difference in your community.
What Does a Construction Manager Do?
Committed to high-level coordination and execution, construction managers oversee many critical aspects of the construction process. This multi-faceted role calls for a distinct blend of technical skills and knowledge, and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and project stakeholders. Each day delivers new challenges, but typical tasks include:
- Planning-Leading: Engaging in the process of planning the field execution activities and coordinating of project resources to create a complete and successful build.
- Scheduling: Using the construction schedule to ensure the right tasks are completed (and the right team members are available) at the right time.
- Budgeting and cost management: Controlling financial resources ensures that construction projects remain within strict budgetary limitations.
- Compliance: Ensuring construction activities and structures adhere to stringent local, state, and federal regulations.
- Risk management: Identifying potential risks or hazards and developing proactive strategies to address threats to the construction effort.
High-Demand Jobs in Construction Management
Construction management is a diverse field that calls for contributions from many types of hard working professionals. While the role of construction manager is important, there are many other worthwhile management positions in construction. Look closely at these job opportunities and consider how they might relate to your interests, skills and career plans. As you assess potential pathways, be mindful of job outlooks and the long-term potential for professional development or career advancement.
Project Manager
Not to be confused with the role of construction manager, working as a project manager means adopting a broader focus and taking a more active role in the earlier phases of the project process. These professionals provide the meticulous planning needed to achieve seamless project execution. Project Managers are ultimately accountable for the success of entire projects, so they make every effort to ensure that all project plans and activities align with the needs or preferences of the owner team.
General Contractor
Tasked with overseeing onsite field operations and addressing day-to-day challenges of construction work, the general contractor (GC) drives construction execution, determining how materials are procured, and how labor is managed. GCs either provide their own tradespersons or research and hire subcontractors to handle specific construction tasks, including civil, structural, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry. GCs may be paid on a lump sum basis or via cost-plus contracts, which involve reimbursement for expenses with an added fee for their services.
Construction Superintendent
Construction superintendents provide crucial direction and coordination for the field efforts, ensuring that all tasks are executed safely and efficiently on the actual construction site. This role is about effective execution and coordination, ensuring that all subcontractors and laborers have the tools, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their construction activities. They ensure accountability and may facilitate training to help construction-related team members reach their full potential.
Cost Estimator
While project managers and construction managers shape project finances, they rely on cost estimators to provide crucial insights into the complex financial components of construction projects. Cost estimators use software to analyze current market trends, producing detailed estimates that inform construction managers’ budgeting efforts. Additionally, cost estimators may offer insight into bids from potential subcontractors or suppliers, ensuring that construction managers can make informed financial decisions.
Sustainability Consultant in Construction
There is a growing trend within the construction industry to use sustainable processes and materials. Sustainable construction is beneficial both from an environmental standpoint and for boosting operational efficiency while reducing waste. Sustainability consultants help construction leaders understand how different strategies impact construction sites or processes,and the surrounding communities while helping address larger-scale environmental concerns.
Facilities Manager
Facilities managers determine how structures or spaces are effectively utilized after the completion of a construction project. There is more overlap between facilities management and construction management than many people realize, with both areas requiring precise scheduling, effective personnel management, and an eye for safety and regulatory compliance. Construction management graduates may also be drawn to facilities asset management, which aims to maximize facility performance while limiting the operating costs for the owner.
Construction Claims Consultant
Construction projects can give rise to many challenges and disputes, which project managers and construction managers struggle to navigate. These issues may spark legal claims, in which contractors,subcontractors, or vendors demand compensation or other forms of relief. Construction claims consultants promote mutually beneficial resolutions before the issues escalate to litigation. Claims consultants prepare claims, gather relevant evidence, and support strategic decision-making.
Real Estate Developer
Real estate developers help transform land or current properties into promising residential, commercial, or mixed-use developments. They have a deep understanding of market dynamics and the expertise needed to navigate a complex series of financial and zoning challenges.
Compared to other construction management professionals, developers place a greater emphasis on site selection, market analysis, project feasibility, and return on investment.. They are also instrumental in securing financing. Developers may work closely with construction project managers to bring ambitious development projects to life.
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers design major infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, and many others. These professionals share much in common with project managers, developing complex design, analysis, and planning processes and applying their expertise to major, often publicly funded infrastructure projects. From site layout to grading and even some post-construction activities, this is a highly technical role that can have a huge impact on projects.
Industries That Hire Construction Management Graduates
Construction management skills are highly transferable, lending enhanced career flexibility to today’s highly trained construction management professionals. Once you have developed the right blend of management skills and competencies, technological know-how, and soft skills, you should be fully prepared to apply your abilities and knowledge to help solve problems in diverse fields. Opportunities worth exploring include:
Commercial and Residential Construction
Many construction management graduates naturally gravitate towards commercial and residential projects, which require expertise from construction managers, project managers, cost estimators, and many other professionals. These projects take several forms, including single-family homes, multi-unit condominiums or apartment buildings, retail locations, and office buildings.
Infrastructure and Civil Engineering Projects
Many of the skills vital to success in construction management can also prove valuable in civil engineering. There is a similar emphasis on planning and coordinating of major projects so that they are completed according to strict schedules and budgetary constraints while adhering to the requirements of complicated regulatory requirements. Civil engineering projects may also require input from professionals such as cost estimators or sustainability consultants.
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Building
Strong demand for renewable energy has sparked state of the art developments in construction management, where recycled or sustainably sourced materials are increasingly prioritized. Sustainable building practices also strongly advocate for reduced waste and energy consumption, with strategic waste management or even rainwater harvesting mitigating the environmental impact of construction projects. Experienced construction managers with a passion for sustainability may gravitate toward exciting opportunities in consulting or green building project management.
Real Estate Development Firms
Due to the considerable crossover between construction project management and real estate development, those with high-level construction management training and experience can transition into high-impact roles within real estate development firms.
In real estate development, current or former construction management professionals can draw on their expertise in site analysis, project planning, and cost estimating to evaluate development opportunities. Furthermore, construction management training promotes team building and collaborative skills that can prove useful in the multidisciplinary environment of real estate development.
Government and Public Works
Public works projects provide the unique opportunity to enhance and support entire communities,but these projects often face significant budgetary and timing challenges. Construction management professionals can help overcome these issues by applying their in-depth understanding of resource allocation and risk management. They can act as powerful liaisons, coordinating efforts between the diverse stakeholders to ensure that all parties involved remain fully informed every step of the way.
How a Master’s Degree Can Prepare You for Management Positions in Construction Management
Are you eager to expand your influence by pursuing the most inspiring jobs in construction management? The right degree can provide a strong start, helping you develop the unique blend of skills needed to thrive in this diverse and demanding industry. Core competencies developed while earning a master’s in construction management include:
Advanced Project Management Skills
Project management brings a structured and highly strategic approach to handling the many moving parts that naturally emerge during complex construction projects. Crucial for defining project scope, establishing timelines, and allocating resources, project management capabilities set the stage for positive project outcomes.
Strong Leadership and Communication Abilities
Because project managers are expected to oversee diverse teams and act as liaisons between numerous stakeholders, they must develop and refine their communication skills to ensure that they can successfully convey important details to many types of people. Leadership abilities will determine how effectively these diverse teams are inspired and motivated.
Master’s programs promote communication skills through a variety of projects and applied learning opportunities. They also reveal the many tools, technologies, and best practices that aspiring leaders can use to foster positive work environments and help teams make progress toward shared goals.
Understanding of Business and Finance in Construction
From cost estimating to cash flow analysis, master’s programs delve into the many financial challenges and strategies that influence modern construction projects. This program introduces students to fundamental construction economic and accounting theories while also revealing key applications and even tech-driven tools for optimizing project finances.
Explore Exciting Construction Management Opportunities With TAMU
No matter how you intend to make your mark in the dynamic world of construction management, you can benefit from pursuing a targeted, graduate-level education. Texas A&M prepares you to tackle the field’s most significant challenges and opportunities, all while gaining a comprehensive skill set that you can use across the spectrum of the construction management industry. Get in touch today to learn more about our online Master of Science in Construction Management.
