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Project superintendent skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Elisa Chan,

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical project superintendent skills. We ranked the top skills for project superintendents based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.8% of project superintendent resumes contained osha as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a project superintendent needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 project superintendent skills for your resume and career

1. OSHA

Here's how project superintendents use osha:

Led safety compliance by conducting regular safety meetings with subcontractors and strictly enforcing safety policies and procedures, including OSHA regulations.
Developed and established project safety guidelines adhering to OSHA standards and daily procedures.

2. Construction Management

Here's how project superintendents use construction management:

Conducted on-site coordination and consultation of module erection and installation to construction management teams at client owned sites.
Ensured project document controls are in compliance with contact requirements and construction management standards.

3. General Contractors

A general contractor is a person who has the job of overseeing a construction project after a contract has been signed between the property owner and the contractor. A general contractor is also called a direct contractor and provides all of the labor, material, equipment like tools, and transport. Most of the time, a general contractor also hires multiple subcontractors to do all or different parts of the construction work.

Here's how project superintendents use general contractors:

Collaborated with general contractors, engineers and inspectors to meet quality and completion goals by staffing jobs effectively.
Provide daily field reports required for general contractors, project managers and general superintendent.

4. Construction Projects

A construction project is an organized process of constructing, redeveloping, renovating, or otherwise improving a building, or structure. The project phase begins usually as a broad criterion that is then made with the help of a brief, feasibility analysis, funding, and planning. The majority of construction projects are one-time jobs.

Here's how project superintendents use construction projects:

Supervised all phases of work and directed subcontractors from ground-breaking to final turn-over of highly regulated construction projects.
Provided site supervision on a diverse range of commercial construction projects including mid-size corporate and retail businesses.

5. Quality Standards

Quality standards are a specific level of standards of products that are set by the companies for the customers that have to be met and maintained throughout the process until the time of delivery. Quality standards are information that includes the customer's requirements, guidelines, and characteristics for the needed final product or service.

Here's how project superintendents use quality standards:

Maintain exceptional crew morale and environmental safety, fostering strong performance and quality standards.
Conducted daily inspections to ensure quality standards were achieved per contract documents and specifications.

6. Safety Program

Safety programs are a series of measures to protect employees from any mishaps and make the work environment safer. Safety programs include checklists, guidelines, and direct procedures that a specific area or department must follow. Safety programs take care of office space safety, maintenance and repairs, and identification of frauds as well.

Here's how project superintendents use safety program:

Authored and implemented the company's first Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Safety Program and developed a comprehensive company safety program.
Managed entire safety program ensuring all staff member has proper level of safety and security training for job responsibilities.

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7. Project Management

Here's how project superintendents use project management:

Completed Project Management Fundamentals Certification.
Concrete and excavation project management including commercial and public sector projects in Fargo-Moorhead area.

8. Cleanliness

Here's how project superintendents use cleanliness:

Required maintaining excellent facilities, site conditions and overall appearance and cleanliness during construction operations.
Maintained production schedule, ensured jobsite safety and cleanliness.

9. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how project superintendents use oversight:

Provide oversight for trades/contractors to insure safety and quality is paramount within the allotted budget.
Monitored contract fulfillment and provided quality control oversight; ensured site safety compliance.

10. Punch List

A punch list is a document prepared near the end of a construction project or at the end of each key milestone to list the tasks that did not follow or meet the contract specifications. A punch list is prepared by the general contractor before receiving the final payment from the vendor.

Here's how project superintendents use punch list:

Supervised production teams for accuracy of installation/construction methods for total project delivery, punch list and closeout.
Directed quality assurance efforts to maximize customer satisfaction and minimize punch list.

11. Ladders

Here's how project superintendents use ladders:

Constructed safety provisions, including scaffolding, gang ladders, perimeter railings, fall protection and temporary covers.
Conducted weekly, monthly safety meetings and safety observations and field inspections of vehicles, hand tools, ladders etc.

12. Construction Sites

A piece of land where constructional activities are to be conducted is termed as a construction site.

Here's how project superintendents use construction sites:

Coordinated with private utility contractors on the availability of utilities at the construction sites.
Oversee daily operations of construction sites which included: McDonald's, Cafe Carolina Bakery and gas stations.

13. Cost Control

Cost control is a process in which actual costs are recorded and incorporated into a format that allows comparison with project budgets to regulate and control operating costs within an organization. The goal of cost control is to manage project delivery within the approved budget and reduce expenses to increase profits.

Here's how project superintendents use cost control:

Maintain schedules, cost control, quality control, site safety, field supervision, and closeout procedures.
Train trade foremen and supervisors in safety, cost control, job skills, quality control and scheduling.

14. Shop Drawings

Here's how project superintendents use shop drawings:

Read and interpret architect blue prints and shop drawings, requisition material and equipment, develop and communicate production schedule.
Obtained and evaluated all shop drawings from subcontractors before submission to Project Architect and Project Engineers.

15. Project Safety

Here's how project superintendents use project safety:

Supervised subcontractors and workmen in all phases of construction ensuring quality control and project safety.
Developed project safety compliance and ensured performance in alignment with to processes and procedures.

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What skills help Project Superintendents find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on project superintendent resumes?

Elisa Chan

Assistant Professor of Marketing, New York Institute of Technology

In my opinion, the fundamental skills required for marketing jobs haven't really changed. What changed is where or how these skills are applied. So my response to this question might sound cliche, but I strongly believe that it is true. Strong statistics and marketing analytics ability to show that you are able to make data-driven decisions. Interpersonal skills to show that you can respectfully and effectively interact with others, which are indicative of how you will manage work relationship as well as that with clients and customers.

What soft skills should all project superintendents possess?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.

What hard/technical skills are most important for project superintendents?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Construction Managers are project managers with specialized technical skills. Construction managers' most important technical skills are print reading, estimating, scheduling, project and technology management.

What project superintendent skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Alyson Theriot

Associate Professor, Nicholls State University

Any graduate with a gap year should brush up on their technology skills. While this could be done by taking college or technical courses, it could also be achieved by finding online professional development sessions, many times for free. I just feel that so much of our daily business has gone virtual due to the pandemic that having advanced technological skills will benefit an individual in any career pathway.

What type of skills will young project superintendents need?

Becky Serbin

Director of Education and Curriculum, National Tile Contractors Association

Tile contractors are hiring across the U.S. and using several different online job posting sites. We even have an online form that those interested in the trade can fill out. When we receive them, they are forwarded to members in their area. If the person is located in an area where there is a union presence, they can even contact that office for job opportunities.

What technical skills for a project superintendent stand out to employers?

Kristen Parrish Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Arizona State University

This is pretty dependent on the job that you're going for, but I think that one technical skill that employers in construction look for is the ability to communicate technical information clearly and concisely. This will be critical onsite and in the office -- you need to demonstrate an understanding of how a project comes together, and this requires the ability to communicate clearly. Beyond the communication, a technical understanding of material behavior (i.e., concrete curing, crane picks, etc.).

Do you want to know more?

List of project superintendent skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a project superintendent resume and required skills for a project superintendent to have include:

OSHA
Construction Management
General Contractors
Construction Projects
Quality Standards
Safety Program
Project Management
Cleanliness
Oversight
Punch List
Ladders
Construction Sites
Cost Control
Shop Drawings
Project Safety
Safety Standards
HVAC

RFI
Safety Procedures
Building Codes
MEP
Construction Process
Construction Schedule
Safety Regulations
Safety Inspections
Square Foot
Site Supervision
SWPPP
SQ FT
Hoists
Structural Steel
Strong Management
Project Budget
Site Management

Site Development
Field Supervision
Office Buildings
Material Deliveries
Site Work
Tenant Improvements
Building Permits
Office Space
Field Coordination
Excavations
Hoisting
Direct Liaison
Retrofit
Commercial Buildings
Formwork

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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