Construction project manager job description template: project type and size, contract, the field split and the screen
On this page
- Name the seat first
- Licensing, safety and classification lines, with sources
- The construction project manager job description template
- Pay and EEO
- From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
- Common mistakes in construction project manager job descriptions
- Before you publish
- Questions people ask
"Construction project manager: manage projects from preconstruction through closeout, on time and on budget" fits a general contractor PM running a $40 million hospital addition, an owner's representative watching three contractors for a school district, a homebuilder PM juggling twenty houses, and a mechanical subcontractor PM managing ductwork and piping crews. Each one reads the posting for the same signals: project type and size, contract and delivery method, who the superintendent is, how much time is on site and how far away the work is. A useful construction project manager job description gives those as ranges, says what the PM owns (contract, budget, schedule, buyout, change orders, owner relationship), and is plain about licensing and safety requirements. Below are the seat types, a copy-ready template, the licensing and classification lines with sources, screening and scorecard rows, and common mistakes. For the first call, use the construction project manager screening questions.
Name the seat first
| Seat | What the work looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor PM (commercial or institutional) | Buyout, subcontracts, schedule, pay applications, change orders, owner and architect meetings | Has run a project of similar size and delivery method from buyout to closeout |
| Owner's representative or construction management agency PM | Represents the owner, reviews contractor schedules and pay applications, manages design team and budget | Has protected an owner's budget and schedule without running the contractor's job for them |
| Residential or homebuilder PM | Many smaller jobs at once, trade scheduling, inspections, homeowner communication | Has run several houses or units at once and handled homeowner change requests |
| Specialty subcontractor PM (mechanical, electrical, concrete) | Submittals, material procurement, crew planning with the foreman, coordination with the GC | Knows the trade's materials and labor well enough to price and defend a change order |
| Heavy civil or infrastructure PM | Public contracts, quantities, equipment, traffic control, agency inspectors | Has managed public work with unit-price contracts and agency oversight |
Then settle the facts: project types and size ranges, delivery methods (hard bid, negotiated, design-build, construction manager at risk), how many projects at once, the superintendent pairing, the scheduling and project management software, site versus office time, travel radius and who the PM reports to. If the role is closer to general project management outside construction, the project manager job description template fits better.
Licensing, safety and classification lines, with sources
Not legal advice. The points below were checked against the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, OSHA, CMAA and Department of Labor fact sheets as of October 2026. Licensing is set by each state and sometimes by cities; confirm with the licensing board and counsel.
Education, certification and licensing. BLS says construction managers typically need a bachelor's degree in construction, business, engineering or a related field, that professional certification is not required, and that some states require construction managers to be licensed, with requirements that vary (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026). If you prefer a credential such as the Certified Construction Manager, which CMAA says requires references and a comprehensive exam across 10 practice areas (CMAA CCM), put it in the nice-to-haves. Keep the company's contractor license separate from any requirement placed on the person.
Safety training. OSHA describes its Outreach Training Program, with 10-hour and 30-hour classes, as voluntary and not meeting the training requirements of any OSHA standard, while noting that some states, municipalities or others may require it as a condition of employment (OSHA Outreach Training Program). Require OSHA 30 only when a law, client or your own policy does, and say which.
Exempt or nonexempt. The executive exemption requires a primary duty of managing the enterprise or a recognized department or subdivision, customarily directing two or more full-time employees and hiring authority or weighted recommendations (DOL Fact Sheet 17B). The administrative exemption requires office or non-manual work related to management or business operations with discretion on matters of significance (DOL Fact Sheet 17C). Both require a salary of at least the standard level, which the Department of Labor lists as $684 a week. A PM who runs the contract and a team commonly fits; an assistant PM who mainly tracks submittals needs its own review.
The construction project manager job description template
[Senior / Assistant] Project Manager, [Commercial / Healthcare /
Residential / Mechanical / Heavy Civil] Construction
[Company], [city, state] — projects within about [N] miles of
[city], about [N]% of time on site, [overnight travel if any]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per year, plus [bonus / vehicle or allowance].
[Benefits summary, if required.] [Exempt, after review.]
SUMMARY
You will run [N] [project types] at a time, typically $[range]
each, delivered as [hard bid / negotiated / design-build / CM at
risk]. You will own the contract, budget, schedule, buyout, change
orders and owner relationship, working with [superintendent] in
the field and reporting to [title].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Buy out the job and manage subcontracts and purchase orders.
- Build and update the schedule with the superintendent in [tool].
- Track cost monthly, forecast final cost and explain variances.
- Price, negotiate and document change orders.
- Run owner, architect and subcontractor meetings, and keep
[RFIs / submittals / pay applications] moving.
- Support the safety and quality programs and close out the job.
YOU MUST HAVE
- [N] years managing [project type] construction, including [N]
as the lead PM on projects of about $[range].
- Experience with [delivery method] contracts and change orders.
- Working skill in [scheduling tool] and [PM platform] or similar.
- Valid driver's license [if driving between sites is required].
- [OSHA 30, only if a law, client or company policy requires it.]
NICE TO HAVE
- Degree in construction management, engineering or a related
field, or equivalent experience.
- [CCM or other credential], experience with [building type].
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
HOW WE HIRE
[Recruiter screen; conversation with (operations leader); review
of a change order or schedule problem we provide; site visit and
meeting a superintendent.]
[EEO STATEMENT]
Need an adjustment to apply or interview? Contact [address].Pay and EEO
Post the approved range and check pay transparency laws by state. BLS publishes pay data for construction managers in the Handbook profile linked above; this page does not quote figures. Close with a short EEO statement and an accommodation contact, and describe physical site conditions plainly rather than listing generic lifting limits the job does not need.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project of similar size and type | "Walk me through your largest project: contract value, delivery method, your role and how it finished against budget and schedule." | Project delivery | Specific numbers, honest variances, what they owned versus the team |
| Cost control | "Tell me about a month when your cost forecast moved sharply. What caused it and what did you do?" | Financial control | Early detection, a recovery plan, clear communication up and to the owner |
| Change orders | "Describe a change order the owner disputed. How did it end?" | Contract management | Documented entitlement, a negotiated result, the relationship kept |
| Schedule | "When a critical path activity slipped, how did you recover the time?" | Schedule management | Resequencing, crew or material changes, a recovered or honestly reported date |
| Field partnership and safety | "How do you and the superintendent split decisions, and what do you do when you disagree on safety?" | Collaboration and safety mindset | Clear split, respect for the field, no compromise on safety |
The later rounds are in the interview guide for construction roles, the first months in the 30-60-90 day plan for construction project managers, and sourcing in the Boolean search strings for construction managers.
Common mistakes in construction project manager job descriptions
No project size or delivery method
A PM from $2 million tenant improvements and one from $200 million hospitals are different hires. Give ranges.
Hiding the superintendent gap
If the PM will also run the field until a superintendent is hired, say so; it changes who applies.
Credentials as filters
Requiring a degree, a certification and OSHA 30 by habit removes experienced PMs who came up through the trades. Require only what the work or a rule needs.
Silence on travel
State the radius, whether there are overnight projects and what vehicle or allowance comes with it.
Every task from estimating to warranty
If estimating is separate, leave it out. A focused list attracts PMs who match the way your company works.
Before you publish
- Project type, size range, delivery method and number of projects at once are in the summary.
- The superintendent pairing and the PM's ownership are stated.
- License and safety training lines appear only when a law, client or policy requires them.
- Site time, travel radius and classification have been reviewed.
- The pay range, EEO statement and accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a construction project manager and a superintendent?
The project manager usually owns the contract, budget, schedule, subcontracts, change orders and owner communication, often from the office and the site trailer. The superintendent runs the work in the field day to day: crews, sequencing, safety and quality. Many firms pair them on each project, and the posting should say who owns what.
Do construction project managers need a license?
BLS says some states require construction managers to be licensed, and requirements vary, so check with the state licensing board. Separately, the company may need a contractor's license for the work it performs. Do not list a license the role does not legally need.
Should the posting require OSHA 30?
Only if your company, client or jurisdiction requires it. OSHA describes its Outreach Training Program, which includes 10-hour and 30-hour classes, as voluntary and says it does not meet the training requirements for any OSHA standard, though some states, municipalities or others may require it as a condition of employment.
Is a construction project manager exempt from overtime?
Often, but not automatically. A project manager who manages a project team and directs two or more full-time employees may fit the executive exemption, and one who exercises discretion on matters of significance may fit the administrative exemption. Both require a salary of at least the standard level, $684 a week as listed by the Department of Labor. Assistant project managers and project engineers need their own review.