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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for General Contractor Consultant

💰 $80,000 - $160,000

ConstructionConsultingProject ManagementEstimating

🎯 Role Definition

A General Contractor Consultant provides expert construction management and advisory services to owners, developers, and design teams. The consultant delivers end-to-end contracting expertise — from pre-construction planning, bid acquisition, cost estimating and value engineering to contract negotiation, construction oversight, quality assurance and closeout. This role blends commercial acumen, technical construction knowledge, and stakeholder leadership to ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and compliant with applicable codes and client objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Construction Superintendent with large-scale commercial experience
  • Project Manager or Senior Estimator in a general contracting firm
  • Civil/Structural Engineer or Architect transitioning to construction management

Advancement To:

  • Senior Project Executive / Principal Consultant
  • Director of Construction / Head of Project Management
  • Vice President, Construction Services or Owner’s Representative

Lateral Moves:

  • Construction Management (Owner’s Rep)
  • Senior Cost Estimator or Pre-Construction Director
  • Facilities/Asset Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead comprehensive pre-construction services including conceptual budgeting, detailed cost estimating, constructability reviews, scheduling (CPM), and development of procurement and phasing strategies to align scope with client budgets and timelines.
  • Prepare accurate, line-item cost estimates and bid packages for commercial, industrial, or multi-family projects using historical data, unit pricing, subcontractor quotes, and vendor proposals to support owner decision-making.
  • Manage and coordinate the competitive bidding and negotiation process with subcontractors and suppliers, evaluate bids, identify risks and exclusions, and provide recommendation memos to the client.
  • Develop and negotiate general contracting agreements, subcontract terms, scopes of work, bonds, insurance requirements, and change order protocols to minimize owner exposure and ensure enforceable contract deliverables.
  • Create, maintain, and update detailed project schedules using CPM methodologies in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project; perform schedule risk analysis and propose recovery plans to meet milestone dates.
  • Lead onsite construction oversight and field supervision in partnership with subcontractors and site superintendents to verify work quality, schedule conformance, and compliance with plans and specifications.
  • Implement and enforce comprehensive safety programs and OSHA compliance on behalf of owners, including subcontractor prequalification, safety audits, incident investigations, and corrective action tracking.
  • Coordinate with architects, engineers, authorities having jurisdiction, and specialty consultants to resolve design issues, RFIs, submittal reviews, and constructability adjustments that impact cost or schedule.
  • Administer contract change management: identify potential change orders, prepare and negotiate CO proposals, track cost impacts, and maintain approved change order logs for client transparency.
  • Implement quality assurance and quality control programs including punch list management, progressive inspection reports, testing coordination (materials and systems), and final acceptance workflows.
  • Perform value engineering workshops to identify cost savings and performance improvements without compromising warranty, code compliance, or long-term durability.
  • Provide ongoing project financial management: monthly draw schedules, progress billing review, budget vs. actual cost tracking, forecast of final costs, and mitigation of cost overruns.
  • Develop procurement strategies for long-lead items and critical equipment, manage vendor selection, negotiate procurement contracts and delivery schedules, and track logistics and storage to prevent schedule disruption.
  • Conduct pre-construction and design-phase risk assessments, identify schedule or cost drivers, prepare contingency and mitigation plans, and advise clients on risk transfer strategies (insurance, bonds, contract clauses).
  • Serve as the owner’s representative for construction administration tasks including site visits, meeting minutes, progress reports, and certification of payment requests to expedite prudent financial disbursements.
  • Oversee commissioning and start-up activities for complex systems (MEP, HVAC, fire protection), coordinate third-party commissioning agents, and ensure systems operate per design intent and project requirements.
  • Manage warranty and closeout processes: compile closeout binders, record drawings, O&M manuals, warranty registrations, and finalize lien waivers to achieve owner acceptance and final release of retainage.
  • Provide forensic construction analysis and dispute avoidance: prepare claims documentation, cost-impact analyses, mediation-ready reports, and expert recommendations to resolve contractor-owner disputes.
  • Mentor and train client staff, junior consultants, and local contractors on best practices in contract administration, estimating, scheduling, and on-site supervision.
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations including building codes, accessibility standards (ADA), environmental permits, and labor rules; manage permitting timelines and inspections.
  • Integrate BIM coordination and clash detection into the preconstruction and construction workflows to reduce rework, improve coordination, and accelerate delivery.
  • Lead sustainability and LEED/green-building advisory services, advising on materials selection, energy modeling impacts on cost, and strategies to achieve desired certification levels.
  • Prepare executive-level status reports, dashboards and presentations that translate technical project metrics into business-impact insights for stakeholders and investors.
  • Support post-construction evaluations and lessons-learned workshops to capture improvement opportunities for future projects and refine corporate processes and templates.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with business development: prepare proposals, scopes of work, cost models, and technical narratives to win new consulting engagements or construction management contracts.
  • Support development of internal templates, estimating databases, and playbooks to scale consultant delivery and ensure consistency across projects.
  • Respond to ad-hoc owner requests for analysis (cashflow modeling, accelerated schedules, alternate delivery methods like CMAR or Design-Build).
  • Participate in client steering committees and governance forums to align construction execution with overall program objectives.
  • Conduct periodic market analysis and subcontractor capacity reviews to inform procurement strategies and competitive pricing assumptions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Detailed cost estimating and bid preparation for commercial, industrial and residential construction projects.
  • Contract negotiation and administration (AIA, ConsensusDocs, custom owner-contractor agreements).
  • Construction scheduling using CPM methodologies in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project; schedule acceleration and recovery planning.
  • Change order identification, pricing, negotiation and claim mitigation.
  • Project cost controls: budget tracking, forecasting, cashflow modeling, and progress payment validation.
  • Subcontractor and vendor prequalification, procurement strategy and supply chain coordination.
  • Building information modeling (BIM) coordination, clash detection, and integration with field operations.
  • Knowledge of local building codes, ADA, life safety, and environmental permitting processes.
  • Construction means & methods knowledge for structural, MEP, and architectural systems.
  • Quality assurance and commissioning procedures for complex systems.
  • Risk assessment, mitigation planning and insurance/bonding considerations.
  • Safety program implementation and OSHA regulatory compliance.
  • Proficiency with construction software: Procore, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit, MS Excel (advanced), and enterprise estimating tools.
  • Value engineering and lifecycle cost analysis.

Soft Skills

  • Strong client-facing communication and executive presentation skills.
  • Proven leadership and team coordination across multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Negotiation and conflict-resolution ability with contractors, designers and owners.
  • Strategic thinking and commercial acumen to align construction decisions with business objectives.
  • High attention to detail and strong analytical problem-solving.
  • Time management and ability to prioritize under competing deadlines.
  • Adaptability in fast-changing construction environments and regulatory contexts.
  • Collaborative mindset and ability to mentor junior staff.
  • Ethical judgment and professional integrity in contract and financial matters.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field
    OR equivalent combination of technical trade experience and demonstrated consulting track record.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, or Architecture.
  • MBA, Master’s in Construction Management, or related advanced degree is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Construction Management
  • Civil Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
  • Business Administration / Project Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–15 years of progressively responsible construction experience (pre-construction, field supervision, or GC operations).

Preferred:

  • 8+ years as a general contractor, project manager, senior estimator or construction consultant on commercial or institutional projects.
  • Demonstrated experience managing projects with construction values from $5M to $200M+, depending on portfolio.
  • Prior experience with design-bid-build, design-build and CMAR delivery methods.
  • Certifications: OSHA 30, PMP or Certified Construction Manager (CCM), LEED AP, or equivalent credentials preferred.
  • Demonstrable track record in cost savings, dispute avoidance/resolution, and delivering projects on schedule and within budget.
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