Career Paths
This page contains all the information from the career paths section of the site.

Building Inspector

Skills required:
In this role you will need to develop technical report writing skills as well as having a strong understanding of building code rules & regulations. You will also need to be able to interpret construction drawings and deal with a diverse group of individuals.

Job Description:
Inspect, test and grade buildings according to the National and Provincial Building Codes and enforce laws guided by the Code as well as review designs, working drawings and material specifications and any changes during construction or renovation.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $55,000

Business Development Officer

Skills required:
This position will appeal to those individuals who have a flair for marketing, strong mathematical and analytical skills and enjoy both writing and providing presentations.

Job Description:
Examine various business alternatives, prepare budgets, liaison with consultants, develop marketing budgets, conduct marketing research, provide design input and prepare proposals.

Salary Range: $40,000 - $60,000

Buyer/Purchasing Agent

Skills required:
Proficient knowledge of the current market (i.e., what products are available, how to obtain competitive pricing and delivery time frames, etc.) as well as strong coordination and time management skills are required for this role. Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills are also required.

Job Description:
Purchase bulk material for the company, coordinate product delivery, research and negotiate competitive prices, plan, schedule and forecast procurement activities, liaison with various stakeholders, approve payments to various suppliers and attend tradeshows to research current product and service information as required.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $60,000

Consultants

Skills required:
As a consultant, you will have developed an expertise in a particular trade that you can offer to other individuals or companies in the construction industry. A consultant role may appeal to those individuals who are well organized, enjoy working with a diverse group of people and have a creative flair for marketing.

Job Description:
Provide knowledge and advice as required, develop a client base, update learning of industry trends.

Salary Range: Varies (salaries may be quite low for new consultants to six figures plus for highly successful consultants)

Contract Administrator

Skills required:
A strong understanding of related regulations, laws and contract conditions as well as an extensive knowledge of the construction industry is required. Effective communication and writing skills are definite assets.

Job Description:
Negotiate contracts and ensure contract obligations are met as well as handling job scheduling and site inspections.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000

Estimator

Skills required:
In this role you will need strong analytical and mathematical skills as well as being able to pay attention to details and the "big picture". Field construction experience is an asset. Job

Description:
Review plans and specifications, collect sub-contractor pricing, examine working drawings and determine the various trades needed, and estimate the costs involving labour, material and overhead components for work to be bid (includes determining actual vs. estimated costs).

A trade estimator would perform many of the above mentioned duties but would be focusing only on one trade, i.e. plumbing, as opposed to a variety of trades.

Salary Range: $25,000 - $64,600

Field/Project Engineer

Skills required:
A project/field engineer works very closely with the site superintendent and provides assistance as required. You will have to be able to successfully resolve conflicts and deal with a diverse group of individuals as well as being organized and having good time management skills. An aptitude or interest to move into a project management role is also important.

Job Description:
Maintain and update project master schedules, purchase site materials and monitor project material needs, assist with staffing needs, provide interpretation of plans and specifications, prepare reports and analyze and resolve field construction problems and discrepancies as required.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $65,000

Home Appraisers

Skills required:
This career will appeal to an individual who is well organized with strong interpersonal and writing skills and who enjoys learning as continual knowledge regarding the current housing market is necessary.

Job Description:
Estimate value of homes taking into account location, current market, house size, etc. and prepare assessment reports for appropriate parties (i.e. homeowners, realtors, banks, etc.).

Salary Range: $30,000 - $60,000 (dependent on economy and volume of assessments)

Home Inspectors

Skills required:
An understanding of the residential construction industry as well as strong technical report writing skills are required. Effective time management and interpersonal skills are beneficial.

Job Description:
Inspect homes and assess any areas that need repair including structural damage, notify prospective buyers of deficiencies and provide cost estimation of repairs and ensure that building construction complies with appropriate building codes.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $60,000 (dependent on economy and volume of assessments)

Owners

Skills Required:
Individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit may enjoy managing a company or having their own company. Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to listen, communicate instructions and manage conflict as well as effective time management, team building and leadership skills are required for this career. A strong construction field background would be an asset.

Job Description:
Motivate employees and develop employee career planning, set goals as well as define and implement the corporate vision, determine company objectives, oversee the annual budget and financial operations, establish company working conditions, oversee company marketing and bidding activities, manage quality control and liaise with clients at all stages of a project, as well as manage quality control.

Salary Range: Varies (salaries may be quite low for new owners and sixfigures plus for highly successful owners)

Project Coordinator/Project Manager

Skills required:
In this career you will need to effectively communicate instruction as well as enjoy dealing with a diverse group of individuals. You need to be well organized and have an aptitude or desire to move into a project management role.

Job Description:
Handle project administration (including cost control, schedule control, and change order administration), estimate, read blueprints, prepare schedules and over see material and time control, complete bid preparations, maintain bid document records, prepare construction cost status reports, and review construction contract document and handle contract changes as required. You will liaison with trades and suppliers and report directly to owners and/or developers.

As you move from a Project Coordinator into a more senior Project Manager role you will continue to have the above mentioned responsibilities as well as developing an increasing level of responsibility such as negotiating the overall project with the client.

Salary Range (Project Manager): $50,503 - $115,166

Safety Officer

Skills required:
A strong understanding of safety code rules and regulations as well as a technical understanding of the construction industry is required. Effective communication and writing skills are also needed. Previous training experience would be an asset.

Job Description:
Conduct ongoing site inspections, prepare safety reports noting all instances of non-compliance, enforce safety code regulations as required, provide safety training to employees and liaison with a wide variety of stakeholders.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $55,000

Scheduler/Expediter

Skills Required:
Proficient knowledge of the current market (i.e. how to obtain competitive pricing and delivery time frames, etc.) as well as strong coordination and time management skills are required for this role.

Job Description:
Coordinate service and/or product departures and arrivals, determine location and status of all materials, research competitive prices, and liaison with various stakeholders.

Salary Range: $30,000 - $50,000

Shop Foreman/Equipment Manager

Skills required:
This career may appeal to those individuals with a mechanical aptitude. Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to listen, communicate instructions and manage conflict as well as leadership skills are required.

Job Description:
Oversee the maintenance, repair and operation of all construction equipment and vehicles as well as provide direct staff supervision and other human resources functions (promotions, terminations, employee training, etc.) as required.

Salary Range: $40,000 - $50,000

Site Superintendent

Skills required:
A diverse field background as well as a strong understanding of the various construction trades are key requirements for this career. Leadership skills, the ability to communicate instruction, and deal with a diverse group of individuals are also important. You will also need a strong understanding of sequencing of events on a construction project at both the micro and macro level.

Job Description:
Oversee day to day field activities, provide direct staff supervision as well as coordinate various sub-trades, complete takeoffs, purchase materials as needed, conduct employee orientations and safety meetings and handle various human resources functions (i.e. hires, promotions, terminations and employee training).

Salary Range: $48,200 - $84,525

Technical Instructor

Skills required:
Knowledge in a particular area of the construction industry, as well as strong interpersonal skills (including the ability to communicate information in a group setting) and listening skills are required. Previous teaching skills would be an asset.

Job Description:
Teach students, develop and prepare class lectures and assignments, assist students with areas of course difficulty as required, update learning in terms of current trade technology, and supervise lab or shop activities.

Salary Range: $25,000 - $50,000

Technical Salesperson/Supplier

Skills required:
A technical understanding of products and/or services as well as the ability to clearly understand customer needs and manage conflict is required for this job. Attention to detail and effective time management skills are also required.

Job Description:
Resolve customer concerns and satisfy customer needs, maintain and expand customer base, learn new information as new products and services are introduced.

Salary Range: $25,000 - $50,000

These career path opportunities are more specific to the industrial sector. (large industrial plants, refineries, etc.)

Analyzer Technician

Skills required:
This career opportunity may be of interest to individuals with strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. A technical understanding of company equipment and plant processes is required. Effective communication and writing skills are a definite asset.

Job Description:
Design and implement new analyzer systems as needed and update learning as new equipment is purchased. As well, maintain existing analyzer installations.

Salary Range: $50,000 - 60,000

Equipment Inspector

Skills required:
A strong technical understanding of company equipment is required. As well as good interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with a diverse group of people.

Job Description:
Prepare reports and notify appropriate parties of any equipment deficiencies. Ensure compliance with codes and standards and update learning in terms of new technology.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000

Operations Manager

Skills required:

This role will require you to be an effective time manager as well as having the ability to listen, communicate instructions and manage conflict. An understanding of company regulations is also required. Strong writing skills are a definite asset.

Job Description:

Prepare reports and audit current procedures to monitor efficiency of operations, assist with audits to ensure compliance with established standards, assist with implementation of policies and procedures to facilitate processes and correct procedural problems, ensure employee conformance to established practices and proper training of staff as well as assume increasing accountability in terms of overseeing day-to-day operations.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $100,000+

Quality Control Officer

Skills required:
As a quality control officer you must be well organized with a strong understanding of various codes and specifications as well as a technical understanding of the construction industry and an aptitude for mathematics. The ability to deal with a diverse group of individuals as well as strong writing skills are definite assets.

Job Description:
Interpret and review shop drawings, monitor overall construction performance in terms of technical quality and compliance with design and specification requirements, monitor test results and quality levels and trace products and materials as necessary. As well, prepare reports, studies and recommendations as required, insure compliance of applicable codes, standards and specifications, draft quality control manuals and ensure information is current.

Salary Range: $40,000 - $60,000

Rotating Equipment Inspector

Skills required:
A strong technical understanding of company equipment and effective communication skills are required as well as an aptitude for writing.

Job Description:
Prepare reports and notify appropriate parties of any product deficiencies as well as update learning as new equipment is purchased.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000

X-Ray Technician

Skills required:
Strong technical knowledge of radiographic techniques is required. As an X-Ray technician you must be able to perform and interpret radiography. You must also know how to interpret codes, standards and customer requirements. The ability to deal with a diverse group of individuals as well as strong writing skills are definite assets.

Job Description:
Key responsibilities in this role are preparing customer reports and ensuring radiation safety equipment standards are met.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000

Safety Codes Officer

Skills required:
Do you have a strong understanding of safety rules and regulations? Do you understand the technical aspects of the construction industry? Are you an effective communicator with good writing skills? Have you ever given a training session? Then safety officer may be the career for you.

Job Description:
• Conduct ongoing site inspections.
• Prepare safety reports noting all instances of non-compliance.
• Enforce safety regulations as required.
• Provide safety training to employees.
• Liaise with wide variety of interested parties.


You may wish to consider entering the Construction Safety Officer (CSO) Program. This program combines formal training with an individual’s field experience. Individuals enter the program with a recommendation from their employer. The program includes nine compulsory courses and two electives. The CSO Program enables participants to:
• Help management in the administration, implementation and maintenance of a health and safety management system.
• Identify and review various health and safety concerns specific to the worksite.
• Communicate with government, management and workers about safety both on and off the job.