Construction site supervisor

Construction site supervisors inspect the work of contractors on building sites and make sure it meets quality and safety standards.

Also known as: Building site manager, site inspector, clerk of works

• Starter salary£30,000 a year
• Experienced£60,000 a year
• Typical hours40 to 45 a week

What you'll do

As a construction site supervisor, you could:

• plan site inspections with subcontractors
• examine building plans to make sure they meet set standards
• manage orders and deliveries of construction materials
• organise staff work schedules
• visit sites to inspect ongoing work and check safety procedures
• monitor progress and check the quality of materials and building work
• audit inspection processes to make sure they are effective
• complete site reports for construction managers

Working environment

You could work on a construction site, at a client's business or in an office.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• leadership skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• maths knowledge
• the ability to motivate and manage staff
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a construction site supervisor

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

University

You could study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• building studies
• construction management
• surveying
• civil engineering
• construction engineering

Courses that offer the chance to gain work experience through a year in industry placement or paid internship may give you an advantage when looking for work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course, which may help you to find a trainee position, a place on an apprenticeship or entry onto a higher education course. Subjects include:

• construction and the built environment
• civil engineering
• T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a construction firm, such as:

• Construction Site Supervisor Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Civil Engineering Senior Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Construction Site Management Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These take around 3 years to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

You could work as a site tradesperson, building technician or surveying assistant and become a site inspector through on-the-job training, like that offered by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) .

Direct application

You could apply directly to work as a construction site supervisor. To do this, you'll need several years' experience and qualifications in construction. Awards in building health and safety would also be useful.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• be able to cope with working at height
• have a full driving licence

Career path and progression

With experience, you could work in:

• health and safety
• contract management
• estimating
• building surveying and control
• construction management

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate for professional development, industry news and useful resources.

Registration

• you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site

Guides for this industry

• Construction & Trades: pay, interviews and getting started →

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