Construction contracts manager
Construction contracts managers manage building contracts and construction costs.
Salary Range: £25,000 to £50,000
How to become a construction contracts manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
University
You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject that includes contract law, for example:
- civil or structural engineering
- construction management
- building studies
- quantity surveying
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Apprenticeship
You may be able to do a higher or degree apprenticeship in construction management and specialise in contract work after you finish.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More information
Work
You may be able to move into contract management after working as an administrator or contracts assistant with a construction company.
Experience or qualifications in quantity surveying or estimating could also be useful.
Direct application
If you have project management or contract experience from another industry, like civil engineering, you could use this to apply for contract management jobs in construction.
More information
Further information
You’ll find more advice about working and training in contract management through Go Construct and The Chartered Institute of Building.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- maths knowledge
- leadership skills
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- business management skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- have a full driving licence
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties might include:
- putting together plans and estimates, including budgets and timescales
- preparing and presenting documents for tender
- contributing to work planning, and briefing project teams, contractors and suppliers
- gathering information together for invoicing at the end of the project
- supplying information to resolve any disputes
- identifying areas for improvement
Working environment
You could work at a client’s business, on a construction site or in an office.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could progress to general construction management, consultancy or become a company director.
You could also move into support services, like health and safety inspection, or you could use your contracting knowledge to move into other sectors.