Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Construction Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Construction Coordinator is the operational hub for construction projects, responsible for coordinating field activities, subcontractors, vendors, documentation, and schedule/cost controls to ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget. This role requires a blend of construction knowledge, strong administrative and communication skills, and proficiency with industry tools such as Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project/Primavera, and construction drawing interpretation. The Construction Coordinator supports Project Managers and Superintendents with day-to-day execution, RFI and submittal management, procurement tracking, quality control, and regulatory compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Construction Administrative Assistant
Field Engineer or Junior Project Coordinator
Site Safety or Quality Control Technician

Advancement To:

Project Engineer
Senior Construction Coordinator / Project Manager
Construction Manager or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Construction Scheduler
Estimator
Vendor / Subcontractor Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate daily on-site construction activities and logistics, ensuring subcontractors, trades, material deliveries, and inspections are scheduled and executed to meet project milestones and critical path requirements.
Serve as the central point of contact for subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams: distribute drawings, scopes, schedules, RFIs, submittals, and revisions to responsible parties and track responses and actions.
Manage the submittal process end-to-end (logging, routing for review, tracking approvals, and distributing approved submittals) to maintain compliance with contract specifications and minimize schedule impacts.
Create, maintain, and update project schedules using MS Project, Primavera P6, or similar scheduling tools, identifying potential bottlenecks and coordinating corrective actions with project leadership.
Prepare, review, and process Requests for Information (RFIs), ensuring technical questions are clearly documented, routed to design teams, and resolved in a timely manner to prevent work stoppages.
Track and coordinate all project permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, and regulatory compliance items; prepare documentation for inspection sign-offs and follow-up on corrective actions.
Monitor and control project documentation through a document control system (Procore, SharePoint, or similar): maintain logs for RFIs, submittals, change orders, daily reports, and as-built documents.
Support cost control activities by tracking subcontractor invoices, purchase orders, change order requests, and progress billing; reconcile field reports with accounting and project budgets.
Administer contract change order workflows: collect justification, pricing, schedule impact data, route for approvals, and maintain accurate change order logs.
Conduct regular site inspections with superintendents and quality teams to verify work conforms to drawings, specifications, and quality standards; document deficiencies and coordinate remediation.
Prepare daily and weekly construction reports, progress photographs, and executive summaries for owners, project managers, and stakeholders.
Coordinate material procurement tracking and delivery schedules, resolving supplier issues, expediting late materials, and coordinating laydown areas and staging.
Facilitate coordination meetings (pre-construction, weekly subcontractor meetings, safety stand-downs, coordination huddles) and distribute accurate meeting minutes and action-item follow-up.
Maintain and manage project closeout deliverables: punch lists, warranties, as-built drawings, O&M manuals, lien waivers, and final project documentation.
Assist with onboarding and orientation for new subcontractors and trade partners, ensuring they understand site rules, safety requirements, and project-specific processes.
Implement and monitor site safety and health practices in collaboration with Safety Officers: ensure OSHA, local code compliance, PPE use, and maintain incident/near-miss logs.
Coordinate temporary facilities and utilities (power, water, fencing, trailers) and manage site logistics to optimize productivity and minimize safety or access conflicts.
Support value engineering and constructability reviews by gathering field feedback, preparing cost/schedule impact assessments, and presenting recommendations to design and project teams.
Maintain accurate inventory records for field equipment and materials, perform periodic counts, and coordinate transfers or disposals to reduce waste and control costs.
Oversee and track subcontractor performance metrics (schedule adherence, safety records, quality metrics) and escalate recurring issues to project leadership for corrective action.
Prepare and submit required owner/agency reports, certifications, and compliance documentation (safety reports, MWBE/SBE reporting, environmental documentation).
Use BIM/3D models or coordination models to identify clashes and coordinate with MEP trades and design teams to resolve coordination issues prior to installation when applicable.
Coordinate warranty follow-up and post-construction service requests, documenting responses and resolutions and ensuring client satisfaction during the warranty period.
Maintain strong files and audit-ready records to support claims, insurance requests, and internal/external audits.

Secondary Functions

Support the Project Manager with budget status updates, forecasting, and monthly change order packages for review and submission.
Assist in preparing bid packages, scopes of work, and subcontractor prequalification materials during procurement phases.
Help develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and templates to streamline coordination and reduce rework.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives; propose workflow changes to improve scheduling, submittal turnaround, and field-to-office communication.
Provide backup administrative support for payroll, timesheet collection, and workforce reporting when required.
Coordinate training sessions for new construction software tools and ensure team adoption of best practices for documentation and communication.
Support client liaison activities including site tours, owner walk-throughs, and reporting to the client’s representative.
Participate in dispute resolution by gathering facts, supporting documentation, and preparing timelines or logs to assist senior management or legal teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Procore (or similar construction management platforms) — submittal, RFI, change order, and daily log management.
Construction scheduling (MS Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent) — baseline schedule maintenance and tracking.
Document control and records management (SharePoint, Bluebeam, Procore).
Reading and interpreting construction drawings, specifications, and shop drawings.
Submittal and RFI administration best practices and turnaround workflows.
Cost tracking and basic construction accounting awareness — progress billing and change order reconciliation.
Permit and inspection coordination with local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction).
Quality assurance / quality control processes and punch-list management.
Safety compliance knowledge (OSHA standards, site safety plans, toolbox talks).
Familiarity with BIM/coordination models, Revit basics, or clash detection workflows.
Material procurement and expediting fundamentals.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (vlookups, pivot tables) and Office suite for reporting.
Basic estimating and takeoff exposure or the ability to coordinate with estimating teams.
Experience with AutoCAD or plan markups (Bluebeam) for field coordination.
Mobile field reporting and photo documentation tools.

Soft Skills

Exceptional communication — clear, concise reports and effective stakeholder updates for owners, subs, and internal teams.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines.
Problem solving and critical thinking: anticipates issues and proposes practical, timely solutions.
High attention to detail with an ability to maintain audit-quality documentation.
Team player and collaborator — facilitates cooperation between office and field teams.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills when managing subcontractor or scheduling disputes.
Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, changing construction environments.
Professionalism and reliability for client-facing interactions and site representation.
Initiative and proactivity — identifies process improvements and drives follow-through.
Leadership potential to coordinate teams and lead coordination meetings.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with demonstrated construction experience; or
Associate degree in Construction Management, Building Science, Civil Engineering Technology, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
Certifications preferred: OSHA 10/30, Construction Document Technologist (CDT), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), or Project Management (CAPM/PMP) for career growth.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Management
Civil Engineering / Construction Engineering
Architecture / Architectural Technology
Building Science
Project Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of direct construction coordination, field engineering, or project administrative experience on commercial, institutional, or industrial projects.

Preferred:

3–7 years experience coordinating multiple subcontractors, managing RFIs/submittals, and operating construction management platforms (Procore, Viewpoint).
Demonstrated experience on mid-to-large scale construction projects with exposure to schedule tracking, cost control, and permit processes.
Experience working with general contractors, design-build teams, or in a construction management environment.