What does a project supervisor do?
A project supervisor is someone employed in industries like engineering, construction, manufacturing, as well as design and marketing industries to coordinate all aspects of a project. Common duties include participating in project planning, acting as a communication liaison, coordinating labor needs, and training employees. They meet with the account manager to assess and understand the client's needs and budget for the project. Together with the supply chain manager, they facilitate the purchasing and delivery of supplies needed to complete the project. Additionally, they make sure the project is completed on time and within budget.
Project supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project supervisor resumes:
- Manage paving of asphalt for road reconstruction and estimate cost base on gather quantities of daily progress.
- Manage and supervise residential remodel and new construction projects.
- Maintain all accounting and payroll for small business and manage all small business operations including marketing.
- Install cabling, copper, fiber, test, in accordance with NEC TIA/EIA NIST standards.
- weed eating blowing mowing hedge trimming mulching property maintenance garden work etc ...
- Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
- Conduct various asbestos surveys/inspections throughout NYS and NYC for commercial, industrial and residential sites.
- Report to: archite ct, structural engineer, district, and DSA by semi-monthly report.
- Inspect compressor stations and correct code violations to bring stations up to NEC standards and code compliance.
- Work involves milling, asphalt overlie, installation of new safety barrier, guardrail and pavement marking.
- Write and receive work orders; plan, supervise and monitor assign work to HVAC technicians for time completion.
- Coordinate with maintenance, extrusion technicians and engineers to troubleshoot and maintain production quality in a safe efficient manner.
- Direct and train personnel to do their jobs safely and efficiently in order to complete projects within OSHA guidelines.
- Detail knowledge of electrical power distribution systems (switchgear, motor control centers, circuit breakers, etc . )
- Create wiring diagrams for power distribution design (MCC's, EEC's, switchgear, & distribution panels).
Project supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Project Supervisors are proficient in Project Management, Customer Service, and Safety Standards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Project Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 13%
Provided project start-up and ongoing project management for two digital photography projects and two digital video projects at Discovery Communications.
- Customer Service, 12%
Coordinated training activities to ensure staff remained current on agency programs and customer service objectives.
- Safety Standards, 8%
Instituted safety standards and operating procedures crucial for performing work safely and reducing injuries and near misses.
- Safety Procedures, 7%
Evaluate operations and facilities for compliance with directives, technical manuals, work standards, safety procedures, and operational policies.
- Fire Protection, 6%
Performed safety inspections on environmental systems such as fire protection, chemical containment and movement, and gas monitoring.
- Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Recommended, facilitated and implemented improvements for employment retention, customer satisfaction, various administrative processes and policy revisions.
Most project supervisors use their skills in "project management," "customer service," and "safety standards" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential project supervisor responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a project supervisor to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "construction managers must be able to plan strategies, investigate project cost variances, and solve problems over the course of a project." Project supervisors often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "identified and implemented process improvement, provided issue resolution, project reporting and analysis. "
Business skills. Another essential skill to perform project supervisor duties is business skills. Project supervisors responsibilities require that "construction managers need to prepare and follow project budgets, hire and manage staff, and coordinate with other workers and managers." Project supervisors also use business skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked with store management to make business decisions that would drive sales and enhance the customers shopping experience during projects. "
Leadership skills. Another crucial skill for a project supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is "leadership skills." A big part of what project supervisors relies on this skill, since "construction managers must effectively delegate tasks to construction workers, subcontractors, and other lower level managers to ensure that projects are completed accurately and on time." How this skill relates to project supervisor duties can be seen in an example from a project supervisor resume snippet: "key responsibilities highlighted leadership, strategic planning, call center and customer service management experience. "
The three companies that hire the most project supervisors are:
- Stratosphere Quality105 project supervisors jobs
- Deloitte63 project supervisors jobs
- CCI Systems16 project supervisors jobs
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Compare different project supervisors
Project supervisor vs. Construction assistant
A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a project supervisor are more likely to require skills like "project management," "customer service," "safety standards," and "fire protection." On the other hand, a job as a construction assistant requires skills like "drywall installation," "equipment operators," "manual labor," and "construction management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Construction assistants earn the highest salaries when working in the construction industry, with an average yearly salary of $59,937. On the other hand, project supervisors are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $57,698.The education levels that construction assistants earn slightly differ from project supervisors. In particular, construction assistants are 6.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a project supervisor. Additionally, they're 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project supervisor vs. General foreman
Using their knowledge and expertise of all construction disciplines, a general foreman plans and oversees operations within a construction site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections, coordinating with engineers and architects, managing the budget and expenditures, supervising workers, and ensuring that the project moves according to the desired time frame. Furthermore, a general foreman implements all safety regulations and policies to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, project supervisor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "customer service," "fire protection," and "customer satisfaction." Meanwhile, a general foreman has duties that require skills in areas such as "osha," "safety rules," "oversight," and "safety policies." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
General foremen earn a lower average salary than project supervisors. But general foremen earn the highest pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $54,753. Additionally, project supervisors earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $57,698 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. General foremen tend to reach lower levels of education than project supervisors. In fact, they're 5.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project supervisor vs. Construction foreman
A construction foreman is responsible for overseeing construction operations and determining the construction progress by monitoring plans and schedules. A construction foreman allocates tasks to the workers and ensures that everyone adheres to the safety guidelines and regulations, preventing potential hazards in the work area and avoiding construction delays. They also identify cost-reduction opportunities by handling negotiation with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. A construction foreman inspects the quality of materials, including the equipment and machinery, allocates adequate resources for production, and resolves issues immediately.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from project supervisor resumes include skills like "project management," "customer service," "fire protection," and "iso," whereas a construction foreman is more likely to list skills in "work ethic," "cdl," "osha," and "strong work ethic. "
Construction foremen earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $62,811. Project supervisors earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $57,698.construction foremen typically earn lower educational levels compared to project supervisors. Specifically, they're 6.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project supervisor vs. Carpenter foreman
A Carpenter Foreman supervises the work of a group of people engaged in carpentry, locksmith, or bricklaying work. They inspect buildings or other structures reported to be in need of repair and estimate the necessary time and materials for restoring them.
Types of project supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025
