Construction and building trades supervisor - career development

Construction and building trades supervisors, sometimes called site managers, manage staff and oversee construction or maintenance activity on a building site. Read on to find out what working in this role is like, how your career might develop and what you’ll need to do to get a job.

Find out how you'll build skills and experience below.

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How will your construction or building trades supervisor career progress?

You’ll benefit from a variety of career pathways in this sector depending on your interests, along with high demand for skilled supervisors.

You might start your career as a tradesperson or a project manager, gaining more responsibilities as you build experience and leadership skills. As you gain seniority you might take on bigger projects, or different types of projects in different locations. Further in your career you might choose to specialise in areas like health and safety, contract management or complex project management.

Experienced supervisors will be able to work on a freelance basis, offering consultant and management services to different clients. You may even decide to start your own construction firm.

What opportunities are there for career development?

Much of your learning will be done on the job. You’ll typically build expertise around the different processes, systems and reporting requirements used by your employers or clients.

Depending on your employer and previous qualifications, you might decide to work towards chartered status to demonstrate your professionalism and experience, boosting your career prospects.

Relevant professional organisations you can join include the Chartered Institute of Building (CIoB), who offer training courses and other opportunities for continued professional development.

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