Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Assistant Construction Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Assistant Construction Manager (ACM) supports the Construction Manager and project leadership in planning, coordinating, and executing commercial and/or residential construction projects from preconstruction through close-out. The ACM is responsible for supervising site activities, managing subcontractors, controlling costs and schedules, ensuring quality and safety compliance, and maintaining effective client and stakeholder communication. This role demands a hands-on leader with strong technical aptitude in construction methods, contract administration, scheduling and quality assurance, plus the ability to drive decisions on-site and in the field.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Construction Superintendent
Project Engineer or Field Engineer
Estimator or Assistant Project Manager

Advancement To:

Construction Manager / Senior Construction Manager
Project Manager / Senior Project Manager
Operations Manager or Director of Construction

Lateral Moves:

Preconstruction Manager / Estimating Lead
Quality or Safety Manager
Facilities or Real Estate Project Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Oversee day-to-day site operations, coordinate on-site manpower and equipment, and ensure work is performed to contract specifications, approved drawings, and quality standards.
Manage subcontractor performance by reviewing scopes of work, enforcing schedules, conducting daily coordination, and facilitating dispute resolution to keep the project on time and within budget.
Monitor and maintain the project schedule using CPM techniques; develop look-ahead schedules, identify schedule risks, prepare recovery plans, and communicate impacts to stakeholders.
Assist in the development, tracking and reconciliation of project budgets; prepare monthly cost-to-complete forecasts, highlight variances, and recommend corrective actions.
Prepare, review and process RFIs (Requests for Information), submittals, shop drawings, and change order documentation; ensure timely responses and accurate documentation in the project management system.
Enforce site safety programs and OSHA-compliant procedures, perform daily safety walks, coordinate toolbox talks, and ensure subcontractors comply with the company safety plan and permits.
Conduct quality control inspections, create and manage punch lists, coordinate remedial work with trade partners, and verify acceptance criteria prior to client walk-throughs.
Participate in preconstruction and pre-installation meetings with owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and vendors to define logistics, sequencing, and quality expectations.
Supervise material procurement and logistics: verify quantities, manage vendor deliveries, track inventories, and resolve material nonconformance or delivery delays.
Support contract administration: review subcontracts for scope clarity, manage contract amendments, maintain contract records, and assist with claims avoidance and resolution.
Document daily construction activities with accurate daily reports, progress photos, labor and equipment logs, and maintain organized project documentation for audits and close-out.
Coordinate inspections and approvals with local authorities, third-party inspectors and testing agencies; ensure permits, certificates of occupancy, and compliance documentation are secured.
Implement and document field-based change management processes: quantify changes, obtain approvals, update budgets and schedules, and communicate impacts to project stakeholders.
Support client relationship management with proactive status updates, professional site meetings, escalation management, and responsiveness to owner requests and concerns.
Lead value engineering initiatives in collaboration with design and estimating teams to optimize cost, schedule, and constructability during preconstruction and early construction phases.
Assist in workforce planning and subcontractor selection, review trade contractors’ safety and quality programs, and recommend hiring decisions based on performance and capacity.
Maintain and update BIM/CAD coordination models or 2D drawings on-site as required; resolve coordination conflicts between trades and inform design team of field conditions.
Prepare and present detailed weekly and monthly progress reports, earned value metrics, and KPI dashboards for project stakeholders and executive leadership.
Administer project close-out activities: compile as-built drawings, O&M manuals, warranties, final lien waivers, and coordinate client turnover and final inspections.
Lead and mentor junior field staff and subcontractor foremen, providing technical guidance on means and methods, sequencing, and trade coordination.
Assist in claims preparation and response: collect substantiating documentation, develop time-impact analyses, and work with legal/insurance teams as needed.
Ensure site environmental compliance and sustainability requirements are met, including waste management, erosion control, stormwater permitting, and LEED or green building documentation where applicable.
Implement continuous improvement practices and lessons learned; document best practices and contribute to organizational process improvements.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and update company project management tools (e.g., Procore, CMiC, Viewpoint) and ensure all stakeholders have accurate, accessible project documentation.
Coordinate and lead subcontractor prequalifications, safety orientation, and onboarding for site activities.
Support procurement of long-lead items by maintaining delivery schedules, issuing purchase requisitions, and escalating procurement risks to leadership.
Assist in the development and delivery of client presentations, milestone review meetings, and executive summaries that highlight risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between estimating, design, field operations, and commissioning teams to minimize rework and accelerate project delivery.
Track and manage project closeout punch lists and warranty follow-up after turnover, ensuring timely resolution of open items and client satisfaction.
Support training programs for field staff on company standards, quality control checklists, and safety protocols to raise site performance.
Participate in marketing and business development activities by providing constructability feedback, project profiles, and subject matter expertise for proposals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Project scheduling and CPM software (Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or Smartsheet) — ability to create, update and analyze schedule impacts.
Construction project management platforms (Procore, PlanGrid, Viewpoint, or CMiC) for daily logs, RFIs, submittals, and document control.
Contract administration and change order management across AIA, EJCDC, or bespoke contracts; strong understanding of contract terms and scope control.
Estimating fundamentals and cost control: budgets, forecasts, earned value reporting, and cost-to-complete analysis.
Construction drawing and specification interpretation; ability to review architectural, structural, MEP and civil drawings.
BIM coordination or clash detection experience (Revit, Navisworks) or the ability to work with BIM models and as-built documentation.
Quality assurance / quality control processes and punch list management; familiarity with commissioning and testing documentation.
Safety regulation compliance (OSHA standards) and site safety program implementation; OSHA 30 certification preferred.
Procurement and supply chain management for construction, including vendor management, purchase orders, and logistics coordination.
Site layout, surveying basics, and understanding of temporary works, shoring, formwork and concrete sequencing.
Familiarity with construction accounting principles and systems for invoicing, pay applications, lien waivers, and subcontractor billing.
Proficient with Microsoft Office suite (Excel for cost tracking, Word for reports, Outlook for communication) and digital photo/documentation best practices.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills for client-facing interactions, daily coordination, and technical reporting.
Leadership and team development: ability to motivate field crews, develop junior staff, and build high-performing teams.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multi-faceted schedules, documentation, and compliance requirements.
Problem solving and critical thinking: make timely decisions on scope, sequencing and resource allocation under pressure.
Negotiation skills for subcontractor scopes, change orders, and vendor contracts while protecting project margins.
Time management and prioritization across concurrent tasks, deadlines and stakeholder demands.
Conflict resolution and interpersonal diplomacy when mediating subcontractor disputes, client concerns, or design coordination issues.
Adaptability and resilience in dynamic jobsite environments with shifting priorities and unforeseen constraints.
Client service orientation with a focus on building trust, transparency and repeat-business relationships.
Analytical mindset: ability to read reports, identify trends, and translate data into actionable construction decisions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related technical field; or equivalent experience (associates + relevant experience).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management or Civil/Construction Engineering.
Certifications such as OSHA 30, Certified Construction Manager (CCM), PMP, or LEED AP are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Management
Civil Engineering
Architecture
Construction Technology
Building Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of hands-on construction experience in commercial, industrial, or multifamily projects; including at least 1–3 years in a supervisory or project coordination role.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive construction experience with demonstrated success in managing schedules, budgets and subcontractor performance on projects between $2M–$100M.
Prior field experience as a Superintendent, Project Engineer, or Assistant Project Manager with verified references and project portfolio.