How to become a production manager or director in construction

Official title: Production managers and directors in construction

Also called: Manager, Director, Area manager, Site manager, Site director, Plant manager, Works manager, Highway manager, Service manager, Company director, Building manager, Highways manager

Production managers and directors in construction direct and co-ordinate resources for the construction and maintenance of civil and structural engineering works including houses, flats, factories, roads and runways, bridges, tunnels and railway works, harbour, dock and marine works and water supply, drainage and sewage works.

Main tasks

• Liaises with other managers to plan overall production activity and construction activities, sets quality standards and estimates timescales and costs
• Receives invitations to tender, arranges for estimates and liaises with client, architects, Chartered architectual technologists and engineers for the preparation of contracts
• Plans, directs and co-ordinates the construction and maintenance of civil and structural engineering works, including demolition, pipelines and pilings
• Receives reports upon work in progress to ensure that materials and construction methods meet with specifications and statutory requirements and that there are no deviations from agreed plans

How to become one

There are no pre-set entry standards. Entry is possible with either a degree or equivalent qualification and/or relevant experience, via apprenticeships or S/NVQs in Management at levels 3 to 5. On-the-job training is provided, and professional qualifications are available.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Construction design and build technician (level 4). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0043.
• Apprenticeship (England): Construction site management (degree) (level 6). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0047.
• Apprenticeship (England): Design and construction management (degree) (level 6). England. Typically 48 months. Skills England standard ST0044.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £56,021 a year The middle half earn £42,575 to £70,710.
• About 176,300 people work in this job now, and about 193,300 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)

Related jobs

• Production managers and directors in manufacturing
• Production managers and directors in mining and energy

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Questions people ask

How do I become a production manager or director in construction?

There are no pre-set entry standards. Entry is possible with either a degree or equivalent qualification and/or relevant experience, via apprenticeships or S/NVQs in Management at levels 3 to 5. On-the-job training is provided, and professional qualifications are available.

How much does a production manager or director in construction earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £56,021 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £42,575 to £70,710.

Is a production manager or director in construction a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 176,300 to about 193,300 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a production manager or director in construction?

Not always. 38% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Construction design and build technician (level 4).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03