How To Become A Senior Site Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a senior site manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Jaunelle Celaire

A senior site manager directs and monitors the overall operations and the workers' activities at a job site. They allocate budgets, communicate with clients, and ensure the site's compliance with the project goals and safety regulations.

Their responsibilities include conducting site inspections, managing work schedules, and overseeing work progress. They motivate the team members to perform their duties efficiently and process the client feedback regarding the deliverables. Their insights count in making decisions about the budget, the materials, and other project elements.

Safety is a principal concern. In instances of violations, it is the senior site manager's job to form solutions and take corrective actions. They may also travel to various work sites depending on the scale of the project.

A senior site manager must be organized and keen on details. Communication and leadership skills are highly needed qualities in dealing with clients, workers, and senior management. Typically, a bachelor's degree in engineering, management, and other related fields is required. Some employers prefer candidates with years of work experience in a similar position.

What general advice would you give to a senior site manager?

Jaunelle Celaire

Chair, Professor of Voice, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.

ScoreSenior Site ManagerUS Average

Salary

8.2

Avg. Salary $122,901

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.56%

Asian 2.85%

Black or African American 3.73%

Hispanic or Latino 17.58%

Unknown 4.45%

White 70.85%

Gender

female 35.75%

male 64.25%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior site manager

Explore senior site manager education requirements

Most common senior site manager degrees

Bachelor's

60.0 %

Associate

16.1 %

Master's

15.2 %

Start to develop specific senior site manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Informed Consent	11.60%
Clinical Trial Management	9.72%
Clinical Trials	9.13%
FDA	7.50%
IRB	6.73%

Complete relevant senior site manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior site managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior site manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior site manager resumes.

Research senior site manager duties and responsibilities

Manage non-compliance material returns, QA reports and receiving reports resolving any issues quickly and efficiently.
Manage computerized time card system including reviewing time cards daily for accuracy to process payroll every week.
Provide site management support to ensure adherence to FDA regulations, ICH/GCP, and ISO standards.
Participate in the OSHA's VPP program and are instrumental in helping the client gain star status.

Get senior site manager experience

Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a senior site manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior site manager include clinical research associate, site manager team lead and senior clinical research associate.

Prepare your senior site manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior site manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior site manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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