Explore careers

Useful experience for building and construction managers includes:

• building and construction work, especially in a managerial role
• general managerial experience.

Building and construction managers may do some or all of the following:

• consult with clients, building professionals, local councils and architects
• estimate the number of workers, types of machinery and materials required
• estimate prices and put in tenders for jobs
• plan building programmes and co-ordinate supplies of materials and machinery
• hire workers and apprentices and liaise with subcontractors
• plan, establish and monitor health and safety systems
• establish and implement traffic management and environmental plans
• work with quantity surveyors to ensure costs are kept within budget.

Building boom drives demand for building and construction managers

There is a high demand for building and construction managers due to:

• a construction boom meaning more building work
• the extra 22,000 houses that are needed over the next 10 years in Auckland
• building work needed to upgrade leaky homes and earthquake-prone buildings.

However, like many building jobs, this role can be affected by economic conditions. A downturn in the economy can lower demand for building and construction managers.

Building and construction managers on skill shortage lists

Building and construction managers with experience in building, roading and infrastructure are in high demand. As a result, construction project manager, project builder and site foreman appear on Immigration New Zealand's regional and long-term skill shortage lists. They also appear on the construction and infrastructure skill shortage list.

This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled building and construction managers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 9,777 building and construction managers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Most building and construction managers work for commercial building companies

Building and construction managers mostly work for medium to large building and construction companies engaged in commercial (non-residential) construction. They are also employed by construction companies working on infrastructure projects and large residential projects such as apartment complexes.

Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO)

0800 422 486 - info@bcito.org.nz - www.bcito.org.nz

Connexis

0800 486 626 - askus@connexis.org.nz - www.connexis.org.nz

With experience, building and construction managers may progress to more senior positions and may also start up their own company.

They may progress into specialised roles, including: 

Construction Site Manager

Construction site managers have a hands-on role and deal with the day-to-day running of the construction site. They report to a project manager. On large construction sites, there may be a number of site managers, each with a specific area of responsibility.

Construction Project Manager

Construction project managers deal with the big picture and are responsible for the overall planning, co-ordination and control of a project from beginning to end.

Building and construction managers need to be:

• safety-conscious
• accurate and practical
• able to work with a range of people
• able to work well under pressure
• good communicators
• good at managing and motivating workers
• good planners and organisers.