Field Superintendent Responsibilities

A field superintendent is a professional who generally works under the supervision of a general contractor or for a construction firm to ensure that the all the construction work on that particular site is carried out well. In any construction project, the field superintendent responsibilities are mostly associated with supervising a pool of subcontractors and other members on the field, and ensuring that they adhere by the safety rules and regulations while doing their duties.

Key Responsibilities of a Field Superintendent

The field superintendent is the most vital link between the sub-contractors and the field staff. It is his/her primary responsibility to make sure that all the duties and tasks are executed properly, and that the project gets completed within the given deadline. Simultaneously, he/she needs to keep a track of various materials that need to be supplied and that they are within the given budget constraints, so that there are no hurdles in the daily work activities. To get a better idea as to what exactly are the key responsibilities that need to be handled by a field superintendent, here are some points that will explain it in detail:

To coordinate and supervise the specific construction activities on the field and assign specific work to each person
To ensure smooth flow of routine construction activities by making arrangement for various tools, equipment, and materials and assigning a subcontractor to carry out a particular job
To help the foreman and labor staff while conducting field or on site visits and inspect the work that has been completed
While monitoring the construction work, he/she should be sure that all the work has been done as per the given specifications and that it is in accordance with OSHA as well as with the organization's safety and health regulations
To make sure whether the progress of work is as per the schedule and make arrangement to adjust the labor staff so that the work flow is managed properly
To make sure that the company's security procedures are being enforced and to be accountable for protecting all the company's assets and property that include tools, supplies, and any other relevant construction material

In addition to the above responsibilities, a field superintendent interacts and negotiates with various vendors to get the best possible price for the required material. He/she is involved in bid preparations, and ensures that all the inventories are being posted to proper accounts. He/she makes requisitions for the needed material and conveys it to the manger. He/she is equally responsible for reviewing and evaluating the performance of the labor staff, foremen, etc., and makes sure that they carry out their duties effectively so that the project is completed within the given time limit.

Essential Skills

To be a successful field superintendent, one needs to have strong communication skills which play a crucial role in maintaining effective public relations. He/she should be comfortable working under pressure situations while meeting the given deadlines. He/she should be able to lead and supervise the team members as well as should motivate them to complete their assigned duties effectively. He/she should be comfortable working with a diverse range of people. He/she should have exceptional troubleshooting skills and should be flexible to work outdoors and sustain the changing weather conditions. Excellent time management and organization skills would be beneficial.

Educational Qualification

The individual aspiring to become a field superintendent should have a combination of relevant work experience along with some training or a bachelor's degree in engineering. A business administration or management degree or a master's in a similar field would prove to be of great help.

Work Schedule

Though a field service superintendent is expected to work for forty to forty five hours per week, Monday through Friday, he/she must be ready to work overtime whenever there is lot of pressure to complete the given work within the given time limit. For this, he/she may occasionally need to work even on weekends or holidays.

Salary Details

According to a survey, the average salary package for a field superintendent is in the range of $80,000. However, the minimum salary starts at $50,000 while the maximum that can be offered is close to the range of $95,000. It may differ depending on the geographical location, type, size, experience, skills, and academic background that an individual has.

Career Prospects

The career prospects for a field superintendent really look promising, especially for those who have a demonstrated track record of success as a field superintendent. If you have proved your abilities and are backed with a strong academic background, you can be promoted as an area superintendent director or to some senior management position.

Thus, if you are able to shoulder the field superintendent responsibilities successfully, you surely have got a rewarding career ahead which promises personal and professional development as well.