On a construction site, every job is important—and every move is crucial. However, someone has to ensure that the sum of these moves delivers the desired result. This is where the construction manager comes in.
Construction managers are the managers of the construction site, but they are much closer to the action than traditional managers: They are not only responsible for the big picture, but also have to keep an eye on even the smallest standard activities.
From company specifications to customer requirements and employee expectations, not to mention building code standards, all of these aspects converge with the construction manager. This is why good construction managers are so sought after today —but unfortunately, they are also a rare commodity.
Qualified construction managers are in short supply
The shortage of personnel on Germany’s construction sites is no secret. The number of vacancies in the construction industry has nearly quadrupled since 2010. Whether it’s construction site assistants or foremen, whether building construction or civil engineering: There’s a need for all positions, from large corporations to family businesses. A shortage of construction managers is particularly damaging for construction companies because the shortage not only delays ongoing construction projects but also prevents new ones from being accepted at all.
Not only the individual construction site, but also the future of your construction company depends on the construction manager. Therefore, you must fill open construction manager positions as quickly as possible. This can only be achieved through effective and innovative recruitment.
Riverstate Success Stories: Many successful construction manager placements
More than 400 satisfied customers speak for themselves: You search, Riverstate finds. Our work is embedded in countless construction projects, as we have already found the ideal construction manager for many companies. The best way to hear it is from our customers themselves:
For the Mark A. Krüger construction company, we were able to fill several key positions in the shell construction sector, including construction managers and foremen:
” Riverstate clearly stands out from other recruitment agencies, especially in terms of preparation. During the setup day, the consultant thoroughly reviewed our company profile and gained insight into what makes us tick. (…) Riverstate’s process is more structured and conscientious than other service providers. I must expressly praise our consultant Yasmin Hoffmann. She is very reliable and has a few tricks up her sleeve for recruiting. She stays on the ball and pursues promising candidates for a long time. “
Our search request for Via Structure GmbH didn’t actually include a site manager position. Because good site managers are rare, and our proximity to our clients means we know immediately when someone is a perfect fit for a company, we simply had to introduce a suitable candidate:
” We didn’t actually commission Riverstate to find a senior construction manager. However, when a suitable profile surfaced during the search, they didn’t want to withhold it from us—we couldn’t pass up this opportunity. In the end, we actually found a new senior construction manager, as a welcome bycatch, so to speak. It was another plus for Riverstate that they also thought outside the box when it came to profiles. “
You can find many more success stories in our references .
Modern recruiting for construction
The construction industry isn’t known for its modern recruiting methods. But your competitors’ shortcomings are your big opportunity: By keeping up with the times in your candidate search, you can stay one step ahead of other construction companies and gain a decisive advantage in the battle for the best construction managers on the market.
Reach candidates willing to change
Are you currently limiting your search for a new construction manager to advertisements in job portals or newspapers? Then you’ll only reach candidates who are actively looking for a new construction manager position. German employees are more willing to change jobs than ever before because they’re dissatisfied with their current jobs.
With Riverstate’s direct recruitment service, you will find the best candidates on the market, whether they are currently looking or not.
Construction managers use social media – you should too
When traditional recruitment methods fail, opportunities arise elsewhere. And “elsewhere” increasingly refers to Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. Numerous skilled workers, including those from the construction industry, are found there.
The secret to social media’s success is how much it knows about its members. You can leverage this information for your construction manager search: By defining target audiences and personalizing your approach, you can reach the right talent at the right time with the right opportunity, thus finding your next construction manager.
With Riverstate’s social media recruiting, you can find the best employees for your construction site in a targeted and transparent manner.
Find your next construction manager with Riverstate
The position of construction manager is one of the most sought-after positions at Riverstate. Thanks to our specialization in the construction sector and our extensive, nationwide network, we find the right candidates faster than the competition.
Our advantages for the construction manager search at a glance:
- Enormous reach for construction manager searches
In 2022, we were the recruiting company with the largest reach for the search for construction managers in some metropolitan regions, such as Berlin and Düsseldorf. - Specialized in the construction industry.
We focus on what we do best: placing skilled and management personnel in the construction sector. This specialization gives us excellent connections to the industry’s best talent and allows us to deliver top-quality candidates more quickly. - Proximity to the construction site and your team
. Whether in the office or on the construction site: We’ll visit you and assess the situation on-site – experience has shown that this is the best way to determine your requirements. During the setup day, we’ll work together to determine what a construction manager needs to manage your company’s construction sites long-term. - Process-oriented, transparent & efficient.
Our processes are as tightly structured as the work on your construction site. We accompany you every step of the way and mediate between you and your candidates – including during interviews and contract negotiations. Because we stay on top of things for you, you’ll reach your goals faster.
Finding a construction manager – Frequently asked questions
You can either search for a construction manager yourself, for example, by advertising jobs online or in the local newspaper, or you can commission a recruiting agency to do the job. Due to the shortage of construction managers in the construction industry, more and more companies are competing for available construction managers – traditional search methods are therefore increasingly rare. You can improve your chances of finding a good construction manager by using modern recruiting methods such as active sourcing and social media outreach.
When choosing a construction manager, you should of course first consider professional criteria and qualifications to determine a person’s basic suitability for your construction manager position. But human criteria are also important: How motivated are they, their communication skills, and their people skills? Do they have a good rapport with their future colleagues? How well do they generally fit into your company? A good construction manager should be a true all-rounder and have strong social skills – so don’t just focus on qualifications.
There is no specific construction management training program, but the path to this profession often leads through specific degree programs – particularly civil engineering or architecture. Depending on the university, students can choose different areas of study. However, skilled workers such as bricklayers, carpenters, or roofers with some professional experience can also become construction managers with appropriate further training (e.g., technician or master craftsman).
Professional experience is particularly important for starting out as a construction manager. Skilled workers with further training already have this experience; however, graduates who want to take on a construction management position directly should have already gained construction site experience during their studies, for example, through internships.
First, you should, of course, check whether the applicant has sufficient qualifications and professional experience for the advertised role. You can then further test their specialist knowledge during the application process, for example, with competency-based interview questions. References from previous employers can also provide insight into the construction manager’s expertise. You may also be able to arrange a trial day to assess a candidate’s skills and knowledge directly on the construction site.
Of course, you can try simple job advertisements, for example, in online portals or newspapers. However, due to the shortage of skilled workers in the construction sector, modern recruiting methods are becoming increasingly important. The options are wide: For example, you can find construction managers via social networks and contact them directly there. The advantage is that this allows you to reach talented individuals who are not actively looking for a job. Alternatively, you can outsource the entire search to professional recruiting companies or headhunters who can help you achieve success with innovative search methods.
Construction manager jobs can be found on all common job portals. These include general online portals such as indeed.com and stepstone.de, as well as recruiting portals such as Riverstate. There are also industry-specific portals such as baunetz.de or bau-stellen.de. Job offers are also frequently shared on social media. Of course, you can also find construction manager job openings in newspapers and trade magazines.
Every construction manager is different, so you should tailor your persuasion to each individual. If you’re looking for a job through traditional advertising, this isn’t possible – you’ll need to convince potential applicants with the general advantages of the position and your company: Let the talented candidates know what makes working at your company special and what benefits they can only enjoy with you. If you actively search and use direct contact, you have more flexibility: You or your recruiter can find out the specific requirements of a potential construction manager regarding aspects such as salary, vacation time, working hours, or benefits, and tailor your offer accordingly. You may even know the aspects that bother the construction manager in question about previous employers or their current employment, thus positioning your company as a better alternative.
According to the State Building Code (LBO), every construction site in Germany must be supervised by at least one qualified construction manager. Therefore, there is no alternative to a construction manager.
For a construction manager to stay with your company long-term, the conditions must be right: Anyone who is truly dissatisfied with their salary will sooner or later look for a new position. However, there are numerous other factors that determine whether employees stay or not. Construction managers who feel comfortable in their workplace, feel valued by their boss and colleagues, and are able to continually take on new challenges are more motivated in the long term. Therefore, there are numerous measures you can take to promote employee retention, such as flexible working hours, continuing education opportunities, a company car, a private office, company parties, and many more.
