The Communicator

Construction team leaders work in supervisory roles and are generally in charge of a team working on a construction project. As a construction team leader, you may specialise in overseeing a particular area of construction, relating to your previous skills and experience, such as bricklaying, roofing or another trade.

Administrators support the smooth running of offices by carrying out clerical tasks and projects. 

As an administrator in the construction industry, you could be organising project meetings. You’d be typing up documents, responding to business enquiries, drawing up contracts and providing customer service.

You are likely to be processing lots of information using a computer, so you’ll need strong IT skills. Excellent communication skills are also important, to ensure the office operates efficiently. There is huge scope for career progression as an administrator, in a variety of settings.

An assessor supports and assesses students working towards a vocational qualification within a college, training centre, or workplace. It's an assessor’s job to ensure that trainees meet the occupational standards required to achieve their qualifications. Many assessor positions involve both teaching and assessing.

Building technicians assist with essential tasks around construction projects and building works. As a building technician, you could be overseeing a range of tasks, from monitoring build progress, to negotiating with suppliers, preparing site plans and estimating costs.

Buyers in the construction industry procure all the materials required for building projects and ensure they are provided on time and within allocated budgets. They play a vital role, as they ensure the profitability of business contracts, by purchasing the most cost-effective and appropriate materials for each job.

A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) coordinator acts as a company’s ‘conscience’, championing and developing the ethical, environmentally-friendly, and community-minded side of a business. The job involves creating links between a business and the community, raising positive awareness of the organisation's commitment to sustainable social responsibility.

Ecologists study the relationship between plants, animals and the environment. They look at how animals and plants inhabit a particular environment, and report on the likely impact of any proposed construction works. Depending on the job in hand, they could spend time working outdoors, at a university, in an office or in a laboratory.

Economists study complex data and statistics and use their findings to provide financial advice to businesses. As an economist, you’d research and monitor economic trends, and create statistical models to predict future developments. Employers depend on economists to advise them on the potential impact of policies and investments.

Electrical distribution workers are responsible for the maintenance of power lines that connect buildings to the national grid. 

Electrical engineers design, develop and maintain electrical systems for buildings, transport systems and power distribution networks. They work in and across many industries, such as construction, transport, energy (including renewables), building services, and manufacturing. Electrical engineers need a good understanding of engineering science, and strong maths and computer skills.

Energy managers ensure organisations meet their energy, carbon and water reduction responsibilities.

Environmental advisors ensure that construction projects comply with environmental regulations and targets. They strategically plan ways to keep air pollution or water and soil contamination to a minimum, reduce material waste and ensure that any necessary waste is disposed of in the correct manner.

Environmental engineering focuses on protecting the environment by reducing waste and pollution. Environmental engineers optimise the use of natural resources, help to develop renewable energy resources and maximise the use of existing materials. They design technologies and processes that control pollution and clean up contamination.

Discover the important role that facilities managers play in the smooth running of buildings. Explore a career as a facilities manager.

Further Education (FE) tutors teach students and apprentices over the age of 16. They develop students’ practical and theoretical understanding of a wide variety of courses and train them for careers in construction or engineering.

Higher Education (HE) lecturers carry out research and teach the next generation of construction professionals in universities and higher education colleges. As a lecturer in a construction-related field you will specialise in one area of study, such as architecture, engineering, business and management, planning, surveying or more.

Learning and development managers handle the training and professional development of company employees. They make the most out of people’s talents and help them develop to their full potential. They also keep a strong focus not just on what the learner wants and needs, but also on the needs of the organisation.

Legal advisors provide companies with guidance in matters relating to law. Within the construction industry, a legal advisor would assist with client contracts, draft legal documents and resolve disputes. 

Marketing and public relations (PR) officers are responsible for managing the image and reputation of a company. They influence opinions and behaviour, both internally and externally, through various communication channels, including websites, social media, press coverage and more.

Planners create programmes of all the work needed on large construction projects and direct activities. As a planner, you’ll oversee logistics, deploy workers, manage budgets and ensure that work is on schedule. You’ll work closely with estimators, engineers, surveyors and architects to keep projects on track and manage conflicting priorities.

Plant hire desk controllers are responsible for arranging plant, tool and machinery hire to customers and construction companies. As a plant hire desk controller, you’ll be expected to have excellent customer services skills and develop professional relationships with clients.

A plant support services coordinator is responsible for the organisation of teams of engineers to ensure that a project is correctly allocated the necessary resources to ensure it runs smoothly and to schedule. This usually involves scheduling visits to undertake service work on plants. 

Project managers oversee the planning and delivery of construction projects. They ensure that work is completed on time and within budget. They organise logistics, delegate work and keep track of spending. As a project manager, you’d liaise with clients and construction professionals to arrange schedules and direct activities. 

A property sales advisor is responsible for looking after the on-site property sales process for a company such as a property developer. This includes tasks such as setting up and maintaining show homes, handling enquiries from potential buyers and producing reports based on sales data.

Quantity surveyors estimate and control costs for large construction projects. They make sure that structures meet legal and quality standards. Quantity surveyors are involved at every stage of a project. Whether they’re working on residential, commercial or industrial projects, clients rely on them to ensure that the final outcome is value for money.

In the construction industry, receptionists act as the first point of contact for clients, subcontractors and suppliers. As a receptionist, you’ll be at the forefront of the organisation, greeting guests and contractors, and responding to phone and email enquiries. You’ll need excellent people skills to provide high-quality customer service.

A regeneration officer delivers programmes designed to improve and renovate local areas and buildings in order to bring them up to date in design, health and safety compliance, and current usage. This may include improving areas of deprivation, and accessing the grants and funding necessary for projects to take place.

Remediation specialists deal with the assessment, treatment and removal of contamination from soil and groundwater. They design and implement remedial action plans to clean up sites affected by fuel, pesticides and heavy metals amongst other substances, so that they are safe for the future.

Safety net riggers assemble, install, maintain and secure safety nets for a variety of construction projects. The safety net systems they provide offer fall protection for construction workers working at height. They ensure overall on-site safety and efficient build programmes by erecting safety netting to the correct standard.

Scaffolders erect and dismantle temporary metal scaffolding on structures and building sites, so that other people can work at height and carry out their jobs safely. Scaffolders may set up scaffolding around a structure, or inside a building undergoing construction, renovation or demolition.

A self-employed contractor works for themselves, either sourcing and undertaking their own projects or finding work through an agency. As a self-employed contractor, you may work on your own or as part of a team with construction workers, you may even employ other people within your own company. It’s possible to become self-employed in many lines of work, whether you have a skilled trade, such as carpentry or painting and decorating, or can offer your services as a consultant engineer or architect.

Setting out engineers use sites plans, technology and precision instruments to pinpoint and mark structural features above and below ground before construction work begins. They use clear markers to indicate where structures are going to be installed, including access roads, foundations, gas, electricity and water facilities, and drainage systems. They ensure that workers on the site adhere to these markers.

A safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) advisor is responsible for ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, environmental regulations, and quality control, on-site and in construction firms.

Site inspectors monitor all work carried out on a construction site to ensure safety and quality standards are upheld. They make sure that building plans and specifications are being followed correctly and manage staff and subcontractors on building sites. They also attend site management meetings and help project managers to plan work.

A tunnelling section engineer is involved in the planning and design of tunnelling projects. This can involve designing tunnel structures and procuring the materials needed to construct them.

In the construction industry, sustainability specialists assess the carbon footprint of a project and suggest ways to reduce its environmental impact on the wider world. They help businesses save money and progress with developments, whilst keeping an awareness of the people and ecosystems, and complying with environmental legislation.

Conveyancing advisors are property lawyers who transfer ownership of property from one owner to another (for either businesses or individuals). They are responsible for ensuring titles to the property are transferred from seller to purchaser and advise on any legal issues with the property.