The role of an Interim Manager in the Construction sector

The role of an Interim Manager in the construction sector is to ensure that the repair or construction work is carried out efficiently, in strict compliance with the set deadlines and the allocated budget.

The construction sector often uses Interim Managers: in fact, major projects may require high technical skills and a level of expertise that is not always easy to find internally.

A Transition Manager must, if necessary, be able to manage several sites at the same time. As a director on these sites, he must know how to manage and motivate a team. This is why the use of the Interim Manager is classic in the construction sector .

Why hire an Interim Construction Manager?

On a construction site, it is common to be confronted with problems of organization and coordination, which could prevent the company from completing the work planned within the deadlines set by the client.

The function of Interim Manager consists of putting his skills and experience at the service of his client company, in order to carry out the various works planned on a construction site.

On a site with high stakes, mobilizing cross-functional teams and taking place within very tight deadlines, the delegated site manager must make his experience and technical skills available to the site.

It is up to the Transition Manager to ensure the coordination of all the actors on the site, namely:

• Customers or project owners (who define the project and the needs),
• The builders (who ensure the realization of the project),
• Design offices (which carry out technical studies),
• Companies (which supply products and external work to the contracting authority),
• The subcontractors (who carry out the work),
• The project managers (who coordinate the site).

An Interim Manager must therefore know how to manage a group of employees at very different hierarchical levels, communicate with various interlocutors and manage to make them share a common vision and mobilize them around a project.

The role of the Transition Manager in construction is to guarantee the quality of the work and ensure compliance with deadlines and costs. Absolute mastery of the processes and current safety rules in the construction sector are essential when managing a large-scale construction site.

What positions does an Interim Construction Manager hold?

The functions of a transition site manager are very varied. They include:

• Recruitment and human resource management. The Interim Manager endeavors to define the needs of the positions to be filled, seek candidates according to these needs, recruit them, train them and optimize their skills.
• Organization of material resources (equipment, tools, etc.). The Transition Manager must manage the storage, maintenance of materials and equipment as well as the purchase of materials.
• Directing and coordinating the implementation of projects. The Transition Manager oversees the execution of the work by the various teams. He must ensure the interoperability of the various technical systems required (temperature control, piping, etc.) and define the procedure to be followed for the use of the equipment.
• Calendar planning. The Transition Manager must define the tasks to be carried out, the number of men needed for each task and ensure that the work is carried out in accordance with this schedule.
• Monitoring and evaluation of works, accident prevention and crisis management. The Transition Manager should establish a performance control system to ensure that the work is carried out on time and at the planned cost. In particular, he must check the invoices and monitor the results of the work. In the event of a new, unforeseen situation (accident, equipment malfunction, etc.), the Interim Manager must be able to organize the necessary responses to guarantee the safety and smooth running of the works.

The role of the Interim Manager is therefore cross-functional and involves a diversity of skills acquired over long experience.

What profile for an Interim Manager in construction?

A transition M anager in construction must have real technical skills but also personal leadership and leadership qualities. He must have a real appetite for operations and for managing large-scale projects.

His knowledge of the procedures and legislation in force is an essential prerequisite. He must be able to work in a world where the unexpected is frequent and know how to manage his relations with customers, suppliers, local authorities, etc.

In addition, the Transition Manager specializing in construction must have the following skills:

• Excellent knowledge of the construction market,
• Knowledge of public works contracts if necessary,
• Knowledge of project management and coordination markets,
• Knowledge of mediation and negotiation techniques to convey messages to various interlocutors,
• Knowledge of administrative law, labor law.
• Knowledge of real estate law.

Finally, the Transition Manager specializing in building must have a strategic vision to anticipate any contingencies likely to impact the smooth running of the site.

How much does an Interim Manager in construction cost?

The cost of an Interim Construction Manager is estimated at 30,000 euros per month.

The cost of a transition management mission in construction is impacted by various parameters:

• The duration of the mission (from a few days to a few weeks),
• The complexity of the project on which the Interim Manager is working,
• The size and composition of the team supervised.