About
Ask yourself...
- Do you have extensive construction experience in management or supervisory roles?
- Have you completed post secondary training in construction management, building science, civil engineering or architectural technology, or, do you hold a trade ticket relevant to the construction industry?
- Do you enjoy dealing with a diverse group of individuals?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then a career as a Project Manager/Project Coordinator could be right for you.
Project managers and project coordinators plan, schedule, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of construction projects, normally under the direction of a construction manager, general manager or other senior manager.
They play a key role on construction projects and may have on-site staff, junior project managers and contract administrators reporting to them. Depending on the company and the sector, senior project managers may hold overall responsibility for billion dollar projects.
Duties
Project managers and project coordinators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Plan, schedule, organize, direct, control and evaluate construction projects from start to finish according to schedule, specifications and budget
- Handle project administration, including cost control, schedule control and change order administration
- Prepare and submit construction project budget estimates
- Plan and prepare construction schedules and milestones, and monitor progress against established schedules
- Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions, changes and additions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers and subcontractors
- Develop and implement quality control programs
- Prepare progress reports and issue progress schedules to clients
- Hire and supervise the activities of subcontractors and subordinate staff
Work Conditions
Project managers and project coordinators normally work in offices, but spend a lot of time on construction sites working with site managers and subcontractors.
As with all careers in the construction industry, safety is the top priority. While on construction or other job sites, project managers and project coordinators must be aware of and comply with all relevant safety policy and procedures.
Training and Certification
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a good source of information on courses and training providers for this occupation. The PMI also awards the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) designations to project managers and project coordinators who meet their certification requirements. For more information visit www.pmi.org.
A good source of information on technician and or technologist training and certification is the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT). For more information, visit www.cctt.ca.
The Canadian Construction Association awards qualified people with Gold Seal Certificates for several construction occupations, including the Gold Seal Certificate – Project Manager designation. For more information visit www.goldsealcertification.com.
A university degree in civil engineering or a college diploma in construction technology is usually required. In addition, several years of experience in the construction industry, including experience as a Construction Supervisor or Field Superintendent may be required.
Depending on the size of the project and project manager experience levels, a master’s degree in project management may be required.
Extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post secondary education requirements.
Professional engineering status or construction trade certification may be required by some employers.
Courses
Anticipated In-Demand Regions
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario - Eastern Region
- Ontario - Northern Region
- Ontario - Southwest Region
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
Wage
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| Mid range $85,010 |  | High range $132,000 |
The “mid range” wage is based on the national “median” wage reported in the Job Bank career profile for this National Occupational Category (NOC): 0711
Note: Some career profiles may have more than one NOC code associated with them.