Jobs .. Science .. Construction contracts manager
Education programmes of job
Architecture
Civil Engineering

Nature of work

A construction contracts manager has vital responsibilities in carrying a project on-time and within budget .The owners of project attend all phases of construction; therefore, their skills, knowledge and experience are important to the project team. She/he monitors the designing team that includes engineers, architects, and environmental professionals. His/her goal is to make sure that the plans are completed on time. She/he estimates costs, as the plans develop. She/he assists in obtaining the required permits by coordinating with the appropriate authorities. During this process, a construction contracts manager becomes an expert in the details of the project. As the project progresses, its contract changes as well. Decisions are made regarding the content of contract specifications and general conditions. These documents describe in detail the roles of the future contractors and the owners, the standards of the construction, and how the payment will be made. The construction contracts manager's responsibilities include writing or reviewing the contract carefully toward creating a fair, clear document that will reduce conflict during the stage of construction.

Environment of work

Many construction contracts managers work in office, but most work in the sites of constructions where they monitor the project and make daily decisions about construction activities. He/she typically moves between an office and a construction site. If the office is far away from the construction site, extensive travel may be necessary. In some cases, the mobile office is set up right on the construction site.For those who manage multiple projects, frequent travel may be common. Most construction contracts managers work full time. However, the need to meet deadlines and to respond to delays and emergencies often requires longer hours. He/she also can be on call 24 hours a day. Construction project management can somehow be a stressful since a project manager has many responsibilities to do for the success of a project. During certain phases of construction, he / she may work more than forty hours a week, and he / she is normally on call twenty-four hours a day throughout the duration of a project in case he/she is needed for any problem.

Professional life

Because the construction projects vary, the role of construction contracts manager becomes more important. Population and business growth will result in new construction of residential dwellings, office buildings, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other structures. The need to mend parts of the infrastructure will also spur employment growth, as roads, bridges, and sewer pipe systems are upgraded or replaced. As construction companies budgets remain limited, firms increasingly will focus on hiring a specialized construction manager to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. In addition, construction processes and building technology are becoming more complex, requiring greater oversight and spurring demand for specialized management personnel. Sophisticated technology, worker safety, environmental protection, and the new laws for building and construction material also will lead to employment growth.

Range of typical starting salaries: 60000 SYP.

Getting the job

It is increasingly important for a construction contracts manager to have a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, architecture or engineering. As construction processes become increasingly complex, employers are giving more importance to specialized education.

In addition, those with a high school diploma and years of relevant work experience will be able to work as a construction manager, though he/she will work primarily as self-employed contractor. Practical construction experience is important when entering the occupation because it reduces the need for initial on-the-job training. Internships, education programs, and long-term jobs in the industry provide that experience. Some construction managers become qualified through extensive construction experience, spending many years in masonry, or general subcontracting. A new construction manager is generally hired as assistants to an experienced manager before beginning his/ her independent work. Work as an assistant can last from several weeks to several months, depending on the firm. PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers.

Skills

There are many skills he/she needs to have and needs to improve, such as:

Analytical skills, he/she plans a project strategy and must identify and solve unexpected issues and delays.
Decision-making skills, he/she chooses personnel and subcontractors for specific tasks. Often, these decisions must be made quickly to meet deadlines.
Initiative, Self-employed, he/she generates his/her own business opportunities and must be proactive to find new clients.
Managerial skills, he/she addresses budget matters and coordinate and supervise workers.
Communication skills, he/she must give clear orders, explain complex information to workers and clients, and discuss technical details with other building specialists.
Technical skills, he/she must know construction methods and technologies, and be able to interpret contracts and technical drawings.
Time-management skills, he/she ensures that construction phases are completed on time so that the next phase can begin.
Writing skills, he/she must write proposals, plans, and budgets clearly for clients and others involved in the building process.

Sources and references

If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:

·         The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256

·         www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.

·         Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.

Summary

A contracts engineer works under the leadership of a project manager or corporate contract administrator and supervises the technical activities in a project. The engineer also engages in repairing and solving problems if required.
A contracts engineer maintains a list of contractors and identifies the technical specifications of a corporate contract and ensures that contract terms suitable to business requirements. He also drafts, lays out and specifies technical devices and makes decisions.

ملاحظة: الملخص يتحدث عن مهندس بناء بينما باقي الملف يتحدث عن مدير عقود البناء أو مدير بناء وتشييد يرجى التأكد