What is a site manager?
A site manager is the person who represents the contractor on the building site and makes sure the work is carried out according to the drawings, specification, programme and agreements. In the US the role is usually called a superintendent; on smaller jobs the terms general foreman or site foreman are also used. In Dutch it is called an ‘uitvoerder’.
Duties
- Day-to-day direction of the contractor’s own trades and the subcontractors.
- Managing the programme and coordinating deliveries of materials and plant.
- Setting up the site safely, including the site hut, welfare facilities and fencing.
- Checking that work matches the drawings and specification.
- Keeping a site diary: weather, labour on site, progress and any issues.
- Point of contact for the client, the architect or clerk of works, and the neighbours.
On larger projects the site manager works alongside a project manager, planner and estimator. In the Netherlands these office and site roles are grouped together as UTA staff.
Working foreman
On small jobs, such as a renovation or extension, the person running the site often also works with the tools. This is a working foreman (Dutch: ‘meewerkend uitvoerder’). In a small building firm this is often the owner or an experienced carpenter.
Application
The role exists across housebuilding, commercial construction and civil engineering. For a homeowner having work done, the site manager is in practice the main contact during construction.
Tips and points of attention
- Ask before signing who will run your site and how often they will be there. A manager covering several sites is not always available.
- Agree a single point of contact. Pass changes through the site manager, not to individual tradespeople.
- Put changes in writing, with price and effect on the programme, before the work is done. This avoids disputes over variations.
- Hold regular site meetings, for example a short weekly walk-round, and photograph anything that will later be covered up.
- Remember who they work for. The site manager works for the contractor. For independent inspection, appoint your own surveyor or clerk of works.
Related terms
- Contractor
- Subcontractor
- Clerk of works
- Site hut
- Snagging
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.