Are you great at planning? Do you have a strong presence in the community? If you are a leader with plenty of experience in construction, you’d make a great construction vice president. As the VP, you will be working in the company, but mostly in the office. You will likely be in communications with the construction managers, project managers, captains, and more to determine when projects will be finished and how much they’ll cost. You will need to develop strategies to grow the company in the future and manage operations and finances.
Construction vice presidents will need to have excellent communication skills, a strong work ethic, the ability to multitask, and superior leadership skills. You will also need to have plenty of experience in construction, likely a decade or more. If you possess all of this, then becoming a construction vice president may be for you!
Sample job description
[Your Company Name] is looking for a new construction vice president for the company! This position is full-time. The construction vice president is required to manage operations and finances for the business, as well as provide interpersonal management and relevant outbound marketing and customer relations. The ideal candidate for this position must have an extremely good communication ability, a strong work ethic, and the ability to legislate and manage multiple aspects of the business. This position comes with benefits, paid vacation time, and other positive benefits. If you’re interested in becoming a construction vice president, this position is definitely for you!
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Meet and work closely with other executives
- Negotiate contracts and agreements
- Analyze reports and financial statements
- Hire managers and department heads
- Offer ideas to improve performance
Education and experience
Vice presidents of construction need to earn a high school diploma or equivalent. They should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, preferably in a field such as construction management or business administration (MBA). Extensive experience in the construction industry, in a variety of roles, give job candidates an edge. Employers also prefer that applicants have certifications, although they are not required.
Required skills and qualifications
- Time-management skills and the ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to understand blueprints and contracts
- Solid analytical skills to interpret data
- Outstanding decision-making skills
- Calm, professional demeanor
- Keen attention to detail
Preferred qualifications
- Strong communication skills
- Excellent management skills
- 5+ years managing a construction company
- Bilingual
Typical work environment
Construction vice presidents oversee general and specific aspects of a construction company. These areas can include human resources, human relations, finances, operations, logistics, and more. This position is almost always full-time in order to ensure the top-quality project management required for a construction or similarly related company. A construction vice president is required to have extremely good communication skills and be able to multitask and manage a team of workers, employees, and company members. This position is good for those able to delegate and manage teams in the most efficient way possible.
Typical hours
Construction vice presidents typically work regular hours, from 9 AM to 5 PM, but they frequently log more than 40 hours a week and are on call in the evenings or on weekends in case of an emergency. They also might need to travel extensively for meetings and conferences.
Available certifications
Construction vice presidents benefit from some certifications which are relevant to their position, including some of the following certificates:
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM). The Certified Construction Manager (CCM) program is universally recognized as a beneficial certificate program for a construction vice president, as it gives the beneficial skills required for managing and controlling a construction company. This certificate will be extremely useful to anyone looking to become a construction vice president.
- OSHA Safety Certificate. The OSHA Safety Certificate is a must for any construction vice president due to the nature of the position and the requirement of safety in field and office work. This program is 40 hours long and gives a complete overview of federal regulations, OSHA guidelines, and other general information required for construction and similar fields.
Career path
The first step to becoming a construction vice president is to earn a high school diploma or equivalent. Students should then receive a bachelor’s degree, and ideally a master’s degree in a construction-related field or business administration (MBA). Employers expect leadership training for someone in a VP role and experience in different facets of the construction industry. The Construction Management Association of America offers certifications as well as career coaching, a learning center, and job listings.
US, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job outlook
SOC Code: 11-9021
| 2020 Employment | 448,000 |
| Projected Employment in 2030 | 499,400 |
| Projected 2020-2030 Percentage Shift | 11% increase |
| Projected 2020-2030 Numeric Shift | 51,400 increase |
Position trends
Population growth means that construction-related jobs will continue to be in demand. Maintenance, improvements, and construction of roads and bridges also will create more job opportunities. The emphasis on environmentally friendly development and energy efficiency should give the industry a boost as well. However, the number of VP positions is very limited and, therefore, extremely competitive.
Some companies looking to save money in recent years have cut the number of positions for executives such as vice presidents, who earn substantial salaries.