A typical construction operations manager’s duties and responsibilities revolve around ensuring their employer’s projects move forward on schedule and on budget. Often, this entails creating schedules, managing personnel, communicating with clients, and working with project managers to overcome challenges.
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Keep reading as we share further insights into the construction operations manager role, including employment projections and essential skills.
What does an operations manager do in construction?
At a high level, construction operations managers solve problems that might impede their employer’s ability to produce deliverables on time and within budget. This often means addressing urgent problems that arise day-to-day.
For example, a construction operations manager might be responsible for securing additional resources should changes in a project’s scope necessitate them. They would need to communicate with the project manager and other stakeholders to understand the issue, build a case, and present it to financial decision-makers.
Successful operations managers aren’t just reactionary, though. They’re also proactive, staying involved at every stage of the project cycle to ensure planning accounts for potential issues down the line. For example, a construction operations manager might reduce the aforementioned scenario’s likelihood of occurrence by ensuring accuracy during the estimating process.
What are construction operations?
Construction operations encompass the critical processes that turn plans into finished projects. They involve coordinating every stage of construction, from preparing the site to the final handoff. These operations ensure everything runs smoothly by aligning schedules, managing resources, and addressing challenges as they arise.
Engaging in construction operations means orchestrating a variety of tasks, including sourcing materials, adhering to safety protocols, and employing modern technologies to enhance efficiency. Tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) help with precise planning, while on-site monitoring technologies ensure progress stays on track. Success here is about preparation and flexibility, balancing the needs of the project with unforeseen changes.
Ultimately, construction operations are about managing both tasks and teams. Bringing together project leaders, subcontractors, and stakeholders requires clear communication and a commitment to quality. The goal is always to deliver a project that meets expectations, stays within budget, and achieves deadlines while maintaining safety and efficiency at every step.
What is the job description of a construction operations manager?
A construction operations manager oversees material deliveries, manages project teams, facilitates planning and resource tracking, and handles client and vendor relations to ensure efficient project operations.
Sample construction operations manager job description
| Category | Details |
| Job Title | Construction Operations Manager |
| Company | Construction Company A |
| Core Responsibilities | Coordinating the order and delivery of materials to job sites Managing a team of 10 project managers Facilitating site planning meetings Tracking company resource usage Identifying project risks and proposing solutions Dispatching subcontractors and equipment Measuring and managing client satisfaction Facilitating weekly operations meetings Coordinating equipment maintenance Keeping track of vendor pricing |
| Educational Requirements | Post-secondary degree or diploma in engineering or construction technology; master’s degrees in project management or related disciplines preferred by larger companies. |
| Professional Requirements | Over 8 years of professional experience in the construction industry, demonstrating capabilities to manage operations effectively. |
| Work Environment | Mainly indoors, environmentally controlled Sound and noise typical for construction sites Use of standard safety equipment |
| Work Week | Usually more than 40 hours per week |
| Key Skills | Ability to plan, organize, direct, control, and evaluate construction projects Proficient in preparing and managing budgets and schedules Skilled in contract negotiation and quality control program implementation Effective at hiring and supervising subcontractors and staff |
| Typical Employers | Construction departments of companies outside the construction industry Residential, commercial, and industrial construction companies |
| Related Job Titles | Commercial Construction Manager Construction Project Manager Construction Superintendent General Contractor Housing Construction Manager Industrial Construction Manager Pipeline Construction Manager Residential Construction Manager |
What is the difference between a general manager and an operations manager?
The roles of a General Manager (GM) and an Operations Manager (OM) differ significantly in terms of scope, focus, and responsibilities. Here’s a simple comparison table to highlight these differences:
| Attribute | General Manager | Operations Manager |
| Scope of Responsibility | Oversees all business operations and strategy | Focuses on production and operational processes |
| Focus | Broad, organization-wide strategic planning | Detailed, process-oriented operational efficiency |
| Key Duties | Sets goals and strategic direction for the entire organization | Designs and implements daily operational procedures |
| Level of Authority | Higher authority, reports to C-level executives | Reports to GM or similar higher authority |
| Decision-Making | Affects entire organization with strategic decisions | Impacts specific operational areas with process-focused decisions |
| Typical Background | Often rises through general business or management roles | Typically has expertise in logistics, production, or operations |
Construction operations manager qualifications
Next, let’s discuss what educational and professional qualifications candidates typically need to qualify for the role of construction operations manager.
Educational requirements
Construction operations managers typically need a post-secondary degree or diploma in engineering or construction technology. Larger companies often prefer candidates with master’s degrees in project management or related disciplines.
Professional requirements
Construction operations manager is by no means an entry-level position. Rather, candidates typically need more than 8 years of professional experience in the construction industry. This experience should demonstrate they possess the skills required to manage operations effectively (more on those skills shortly).
Certifications
Professional certifications can significantly enhance a candidate’s profile for the role of construction operations manager. Some examples include the Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Project Management Professional (PMP), and OSHA Safety Certification. These credentials demonstrate expertise and commitment to industry standards.
Technical Proficiency
Construction operations managers are often expected to have a high level of proficiency with specialized construction software. Familiarity with tools like Procore, Autodesk, or Primavera P6 is highly valuable, as these tools streamline project management and improve operational efficiency.
Leadership Experience
Demonstrated experience leading diverse teams is another critical qualification. The ability to inspire, coordinate, and manage personnel effectively can make a significant difference in ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget. Candidates should also possess conflict resolution and decision-making skills under pressure.
Operations manager in construction: Employment projections
Now that you know a bit about the role of operations managers in construction, let’s discuss employment-related statistics for these professionals, including pay and projected shifts in demand.
Average pay for operations managers in construction
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places operations managers in construction under the category of “construction managers.” These professionals earn a median salary of $97,180 per year in the United States.
Projected employment demand for operations managers in construction
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment demand for operations managers in construction will grow by 8% from 2019 to 2029. This is much faster than the agency’s growth projections for all occupations in the United States, which is just 4%.
Construction managers are also projected to fare much better than managers in other industries, who should see employment growth of just 3% over the same time period.
Skills required to succeed as a construction operations manager
Next, let’s discuss the skills that typically make operations managers successful in the construction industry.
Communication
Operations managers in construction must be very strong communicators. This should come as no surprise since, as you may recall from earlier, the role involves communicating with stakeholders on a daily basis.
Operations managers need to be confident communicators not just in spoken form but also via email and standardized communication methods (i.e. RFIs).
Problem-solving
As mentioned earlier, an operations manager’s goal in construction can be boiled down to two words: solving problems. Professionals who succeed in this role definitely aren’t the type to assume problems will sort themselves out. Rather, they take charge, evaluate their available resources, then propose and implement appropriate solutions.
Negotiating
From securing additional budget allocations to resolving interpersonal conflicts, negotiation is part of an operations manager’s daily duties. Consequently, candidates need to possess both a thorough understanding of construction and enough confidence in that knowledge to assert themselves.
Reporting
Throughout a construction project’s completion, stakeholders may approach the operations manager for progress updates. Good operations managers can figure out what data should be presented, assemble that data in a concise format, and report confidently to the stakeholders in question.
This isn’t necessarily a matter of working harder, mind you. Software can help operations managers complete this particular task in less time and with greater efficiency. When it comes to construction resource management-related reporting, Bridgit Bench is the software of choice for hundreds of general contractors and subcontractors. Learn more.
Delegation
Construction operations managers are held accountable for a wide swath of outcomes and deliverables. Consequently, they need to be adept delegators if they want to keep things moving on time.
Adaptability
Construction operations managers are often directly involved in numerous projects at the same time. On any one of these projects, things can change rapidly, requiring a different approach than was originally planned. Operations managers, therefore, need to be flexible and adaptable.
The ability to work under pressure
In many ways, operations managers are responsible for steering the ship. That comes with a lot of pressure, especially when projects encounter issues. Good operations managers are a stabilizing force during these times, helping to keep projects (and, often, even entire companies) afloat.
Bridgit Bench is the resource management software of choice for construction management professionals
With Bridgit Bench, construction management professionals (including operations managers) can:
- manage workers (including labor allocations) with ease
- visualize workforce data (including productivity and skill gaps) at the click of a button
- access resource management data from anywhere in the world via the cloud
- much more
Learn more about how construction companies use Bridgit Bench.
We hope this article has helped you understand what operations managers in construction do and what skills they need to thrive, whether you’re looking to hire or become one yourself. For more construction management-related guides and information, visit our blog.
