Construction project managers in the on-site building, engineering or civil construction industry manage building projects and supervise construction workers. They may have formal qualifications such as an engineering degree.

A construction project manager’s duties may include:

• Collaborating with engineers and architects to determine the specifications of the project
• Negotiating contracts with external vendors to reach profitable agreements
• Planning all construction operations and scheduling intermediate phases to ensure deadlines are met
• Hiring contractors and other staff and allocating responsibilities
• Supervising the work of labourers and other staff
• Evaluating progress and preparing detailed reports

Professional Award

The Professional Award may cover a construction project manager if their duties fall within the classification levels of the Award, and their role requires:

• a degree in engineering, or
• qualifications at least equal to those of a graduate member of Engineers Australia.

These employees will be supervising and managing professional or technical matters for a construction project, and will remain under a higher level of managerial control.

A construction project manager won’t be covered by the Professional Award if their role is principally a managerial position.

Clerks Award

The Clerks Award may cover a construction project manager if their role is mainly clerical or administrative.

The employee’s classification depends on their skills and responsibilities.

Miscellaneous Award

The Miscellaneous Award can cover construction project managers if they're not a managerial or a professional employee. They’ll be classified based on their duties and qualifications.

Whether a project manager is a managerial or professional employee will depend on the facts of each case. Employees may wish to seek independent advice on their own situation.

Award free

Construction project managers who aren’t covered by an industry or occupational award, or the Miscellaneous Award, are award free.

Award free employees entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.

Building and Construction Award

Generally, the Building and Construction Award won’t cover construction project managers.

However, the award may cover these employees if:

• the employer is in the industry of onsite general building and construction
• the manager’s work is done on a construction site
• there’s a classification which matches their duties and qualifications.

If the work is done offsite, the Building and Construction Award doesn’t apply.

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