Project directors have overall responsibility for the successful conclusion of construction projects.
Salaries typically range depending on location, level of responsibility and chartered status.
To work as a project director you would usually be qualified to degree or postgraduate level in a relevant subject, such as construction management or business and management.
For those without relevant qualifications in project management, it’s still possible to progress on the strength of industry experience. Supporting roles in project teams provide essential experience and can be combined with part-time study to complete relevant qualifications in project management.
It’s also possible to work towards professional qualifications in project management to different levels and at varying times in your career. The Association for Project Management (APM), Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) all offer a range of appropriate, professional qualifications.
To progress to project director, you would need at least ten years’ industry experience.
Brian Pettigrew is a Project Director for Robertson Partnership Homes.
I have a very varied role but it predominately covers getting involved in projects very early on in the construction process. This ranges from working closely with design teams and the client to make sure that they get a fantastic project at the end of the day.
I meet a lot of very knowledgeable people through work and it’s very interesting learning about different disciplines. I’m a great believer in the saying ‘every day is a school day’.
My working day would start either in the office or alternatively I could be on one of our sites, or even travelling on the train to meetings. It’s fair to say not one day is ever the same, it’s a highly varied role and I thoroughly enjoy it. We have to be very flexible in order to satisfy our clients’ demand, sometimes we need to re-arrange our day in order to go and meet them at short notice if required.
For me, excellent communication and problem solving skills are essential in this role. You also have to be able to think on your feet at times. People management also plays a major part of my day-to-day duties, so I need to possess really good leadership skills.
I left school and entered into an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery, which I completed over a four-year period. I then worked as a time-served joiner before getting the opportunity of progressing to site manager. Over the period of then till now, I obtained further qualifications that have allowed me to progress my career. I have fulfilled the positions of project manager, senior project manager, contracts manager, construction manager, and then onto my current role.
I am really proud of what I have achieved in my career, especially coming from a trade background; I feel this gave me an excellent grounding into the industry. I’m also extremely proud of some of the projects I’ve managed and delivered, as some of these have been award-winning schemes.
I hope to establish myself in my current role but ultimately progress towards the role of a business leader within the company.
I’m a great believer in the trade qualification route within the industry; whether it’s as a bricklayer, joiner, electrician or plumber, this gives you an excellent all-round experience for the future. Also, try to further your education within the industry whenever you can. Employers now are very keen to promote individuals from within their organisation rather than recruiting externally, so the potential to progress is massive. It’s a great industry to work in and you will meet some excellent people.
Career trends and forecasts
4,780
additional staff needed
The UK construction industry will need an additional 4,780 senior, executive, and business process managers (which includes project directors) to meet demand every year from 2017 - 2021, according to the latest Construction Skills Network research (LMI). The majority of this demand is in the South West followed by Greater London. Then a fairly even split of demand between Yorkshire and Humber, East of England, Scotland and Wales.
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For information on job roles in Scotland please visit the Skills Development Scotland website My World of Work.
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