Guide
What's a plant manager and how do I be one?
If you’re looking to get into the £64.7 billion construction industry - a sector that employs more than 2.2 million people - then you will no doubt have come across the role of “plant manager.” But what exactly is a plant manager? And how do you become one?
Words by: Auto Trader
Published on 5 July 2019 | 0 min read
This article is part of the Auto Trader Plant Getting Into Construction series.
What Is A Plant Manager?
Building sites continually need new supplies to be delivered so that construction work can continue. Your job as a plant manager is to ensure that this process goes smoothly and that workers on the site have the building materials and machinery they need to do their job.
The role of a plant manager is extensive. You will have a lot of responsibilities. These responsibilities can be broken down into the following categories...
The role of a plant manager is extensive. You will have a lot of responsibilities. These responsibilities can be broken down into the following categories...
Procurement
Procurement means “getting hold of stuff” that people on your site need to do their work. Part of your job will be purchasing raw materials (like steel girders) from suppliers and obtaining equipment. You’ll need to decide whether it’s best to hire, rent, or buy particular items, depending on what makes the most financial sense for the company you represent.
Supplying labour
Plant managers don’t just deal with physical goods: they also make decisions about how much labour a site needs on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis. The labour requirements of a particular project tend to ebb and flow throughout the construction process. Some days you need a lot of people on site, and on others, very few.
Negotiating rates
If you’re not careful, logistics companies will try to overcharge to supply materials to your site. As a plant manager, it’s your job to fight your firm’s case, pushing logistics rates down as low as transport companies will allow.
Organising overtime and shift patterns
Coordinating overtime and shift patterns is typically an HR function. But as somebody intimately involved in all aspects of the construction project, you’re in the best position to organise hours and give people over time.
How Do You Become A Plant Manager?
Newly-trained plant managers can earn between £20,000 and £30,000 per year, depending on training. Experienced site managers can make between £30,000 and £40,000. And those with substantial experience and senior roles can earn up to £55,000 per year.
No Formal Training Required
Despite the high salaries, most companies don’t require you to have any formal training to become a site manager. However, some firms will insist that you have GCSEs in both English and mathematics.
Vocational Training Can Help
Employers will typically prefer to choose people with SOME training in the relevant field, rather than none. It can help, therefore, to have either a Built Environment certificate or a Diploma in Construction to show that you are interested in the industry and have an understanding of the basics.
Work Towards Qualifications On The Job
Most people who start as trainee plant managers work towards formal, industry-recognised qualifications on the job, such as NVQ or Scottish equivalent in Plant Operations at level 2. You can pick between a range of construction site NVQs, all with a different focus if you want to specialise in a particular kind of construction site. Having these NVQs makes you more attractive to future employers and allows you to ask for a higher wage.
Find Vacancies
The next step is to find vacancies in your local area.
The first place to look is on online job seeker portals. Construction companies frequently advertise plant manager roles on these sites, setting out salaries and required levels of experience. You can also check with your local recruitment agency to see whether any construction companies are looking for permanent or temporary plant managers to assist with local projects. Ideally, if you don’t have experience as a plant manager, you want to find a firm that will support and nurture you as you learn the skills you need to carry out the role to a professional standard.
The first place to look is on online job seeker portals. Construction companies frequently advertise plant manager roles on these sites, setting out salaries and required levels of experience. You can also check with your local recruitment agency to see whether any construction companies are looking for permanent or temporary plant managers to assist with local projects. Ideally, if you don’t have experience as a plant manager, you want to find a firm that will support and nurture you as you learn the skills you need to carry out the role to a professional standard.
Get Experience Operating Equipment
Finally, some firms will insist that you have experience working with plant equipment and machinery. They may also want you to understand how the hire desk works. Building this experience first, therefore, can help your application enormously.
Conclusion
Becoming a plant manager is a potentially lucrative career with high earnings upside. As a plant manager, you’ll have a lot of responsibility but, at the same time, able to earn substantial rewards. We hope this helps you consider if this is a career you would like to pursue.