The Many Roles of a Construction Project Manager

To provide you with an idea of the various roles your Project Manager will assume responsibility of during the course of your build, here are the key areas where your PM adds value to your construction project.

Strategy & communication roles

Your Project Manager:

• Works closely with you to understand your priorities and goals
• Determines your budget and formulates ways to meet your needs
• Creates a thorough and all-encompassing budget for approval to avoid surprises or overruns
• Creates a custom set of blueprints for the project
• Develops a strategic plan that prioritizes your needs while accounting for your wants (and your budget)
• Works with all of the other trades/teams involved to ensure everyone is on the same page
• Acts as the team leader and your primary point of contact
• Filters down any required communication to the other roles
  

Permits & legal roles

Your Project Manager:

• Obtains an "Appointment of Agent" to allow us to work with governing authorities on your behalf
• Obtains a current survey of the property (must be < 5 years old)
  
• Applies for and obtains required building permits, answering questions and supplying any further requested information to the various authorities
• Engages a geotechnical engineer, if required
• Engages a structural engineer, if required
• Engages an energy consultant, if required
• Provides a tree mapping plan, if required (performed by an ISA-certified arborist)
• Engages a registered onsite wastewater practitioner (ROWP) for any septic needs
• Registers the dwelling with a home warranty plan
• Register the dwelling with the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) of BC

Planning & scheduling roles

Your Project Manager:

• Manages all the work required to submit to the governing authorities for building permits and trade professionals
• Recruits the best team to complete your specific project, and manages their various roles throughout the construction phases
• Determines a timeline for milestones and completion expectations to maintain a realistic schedule
• Schedules trades in logical coordination with each other to maximize up-time and efficiency
• Maintains a log of progress and all documentation to ensure the various teams understand their own deadlines and goals
• Orders and secures materials to ensure timely delivery (which often requires ordering well in advance)
• Keeps ahead of supply issues that may arise so materials arrive at your site when needed
• Provides accurate and timely invoicing within the contractual obligations of all parties involved

Active construction roles

Your Project Manager:

• Manages the General Contractor, who in turn directly oversees their subcontractors to execute the construction phases of your project
• Regularly visits the job site to ensure quality levels and standards are being met
• Looks to identify issues and provide solutions to problems that may arise on site
• Assumes responsibility of keeping the job site clean and safe
• Oversees the needs and expectations of the trades on site, including sanitary needs
• Manages any security issues on the job site
• Coordinates any logistical and storage needs
• Manages any onsite conditions uncovered by the initial excavation
• Assists in finish selection for both exterior and interior finishes
• Stays with the project right through to the final landscaping