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Senior construction manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Irish Horsey Ph.D.,

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior construction manager skills. We ranked the top skills for senior construction managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.1% of senior construction manager resumes contained osha as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior construction manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior construction manager skills for your resume and career

1. OSHA

Here's how senior construction managers use osha:

Conduct regularly scheduled safety meetings and closely monitor site operations to maintain compliance with OSHA mandates and company-defined operational protocols.
Supervised project architect/engineers, contract administrators and site personnel while developing/maintaining OSHA reporting and establishing minimum requirements for vendor liability/worker compensation.

2. Project Management

Here's how senior construction managers use project management:

Managed IRG personnel and contractors responsible for day-to-day activities regarding project management, construction activities, insurance tracking and claims management.
Motivated outsourced development and project management vendors to build pipeline to sufficient numbers to enable quarterly objectives to be met.

3. 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 senior construction managers use construction projects:

Monitor all project activities including schedules, spending and related items to ensure timely and quality completion of assigned construction projects.
Secured, planned, executed and coordinated large scale residential and commercial demolition, renovation, and post-disaster construction projects.

4. Design

Here's how senior construction managers use design:

Managed complete design and construction coordination of company's retail properties throughout the Washington/Baltimore area market.
Partnered with design, civil and architectural engineering consultants from conception to warranty completion.

5. 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 senior construction managers use oversight:

Provided daily on-site management of active developments, managed quality control and provided safety oversight.
Provide oversight for construction activities conducted by construction contractors and subcontractors.

6. Infrastructure

Infrastructure includes the organizational and physical structures needed to run an area or a society smoothly. It is a group of basic facilities required for any society or firm to run sustainably and efficiently. The infrastructural system is a high investing area and helps majorly in flourishing the economy and prosperity of a country. It is an underlying system needed for ensuring the safety and comfort of the public and to run a country smoothly. All the tasks needed to be performed for a flourishing economy and a happy and healthy public are included in infrastructure.

Here's how senior construction managers use infrastructure:

Performed inspection of electrical infrastructure work and structural welding.
Major accomplishments included the profitable and timely completion of a $25 million, 700 lot residential infrastructure project.

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7. SR

Here's how senior construction managers use sr:

Contracted to Waukesha-Pearce Industries as Sr. CWI/QC Manager for various skid packaged projects.1.
Developed a multitude of terminal projects for US Airways Sr. Director Of Development.

8. Project Scope

Here's how senior construction managers use project scope:

Collaborated with principals presenting project scope and budgets for capital approvals and quarterly updates.
Developed project scope of work, material specifications and bid documents.

9. Construction Contracts

Here's how senior construction managers use construction contracts:

Interviewed and selected construction contractors, assigned and managed field construction staff management and quality assurance personnel.
Provided causation and concurrency for liquidated damages to issue extensions of construction contract.

10. Real Estate

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Here's how senior construction managers use real estate:

Participated in real estate portfolio management facilities, workplace moves and space utilization efficiency analyses designed to achieve occupancy optimization.
Assumed management responsibility to 210,000 square foot warehouse facility leased by IBM Corporation at request of real estate vice president.

11. Project Budget

A project budget is a tool used by project heads and project managers to estimate the total cost of a project. It can be defined as the financial and personnel disposal limits that are needed to be imposed before the execution of the project.

Here's how senior construction managers use project budget:

Prepare and provide job cost to date reports weekly to CFO to maintain and ensure project budget control.
Project budgets ranged from $2MM to $21MM with projects up to two years in duration.

12. Project Controls

Project control is a vital part of the operations of a business or organization. It covers all plans, strategies, resources, and tools required for the control and management of a project's operation.

Here's how senior construction managers use project controls:

Supervised the implementation activities and the appropriate project controls.
Provided RFI response and management, implementation of project controls; construction scheduling and review.

13. Value Engineering

Value engineering is used to identify, solve problems, and eliminate unnecessary costs to improve quality and function. This set of methodical steps in the value engineering process optimise primary and long-term investment while pursuing the best value at the lowest cost.

Here's how senior construction managers use value engineering:

Reviewed construction documents for compliance to standards and specifications, and managed value engineering process.
Negotiated cost reductions from developers through new prototype development and value engineering.

14. 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 senior construction managers use general contractors:

Maintained professional relationships with general contractors, prime sub-contractors and government officials.
Monitored and reported progress of multiple general contractors engaged in overlay construction.

15. Construction Process

Here's how senior construction managers use construction process:

Re-engineered construction processes to improve performance outcomes.
Managed the construction process of over 40 single family homes annually in the $350,000 to $800,000 price range.

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What skills help Senior Construction Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on senior construction manager resumes?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

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

Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.

What soft skills should all senior construction managers 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 senior construction managers?

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 senior construction manager 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 senior construction managers 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 senior construction manager 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 senior construction manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a senior construction manager resume and required skills for a senior construction manager to have include:

OSHA
Project Management
Construction Projects
Design
Oversight
Infrastructure
SR
Project Scope
Construction Contracts
Real Estate
Project Budget
Project Controls
Value Engineering
General Contractors
Construction Process
Construction Schedule

Cpm
Quality Standards
Cost Estimates
Project Cost
RFI
Cost Control
Business Development
Contract Administration
Construction Sites
Shop Drawings
Constructability Reviews
Construction Drawings
Customer Satisfaction
HVAC
Construction Phase
EPC

Cash Flow
RFP
Project Completion
Field Supervision
AIA
Contract Compliance
RF
Construction Management
Geotechnical
Square Feet
Site Work
MEP
Construction Cost
Condominiums

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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