Position Description

Construction Manager, Residential

Reports to: Managing Director and Project Manager

Direct reports: Carpentry teams, site foremen and subcontractors across all residential sites

Location: Canberra/ACT and NSW projects

Typical workload: 4 to 6 residential builds running concurrently, each with a 7 to 12 month programme

Normal hours of work: 7:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday, with flexibility depending on performance

Role Purpose

The Construction Manager is the ceiling for onsite delivery of Megham's residential builds. This role takes day to day running of the teams and the sites off the Managing Director and Project Manager, so they can focus on sales, design and precon. The Construction Manager leads the carpentry teams and subcontractors, holds the standard for quality, keeps every build on programme, and works alongside the Project Manager to keep every job on budget.

The Managing Director and Project Manager bring issues to the Construction Manager. The Construction Manager takes it from there: onto the site, into the team, and through to resolution. This is a senior, hands on leadership role that requires a proven track record running residential sites and crews.

Key Accountabilities

Team Leadership

- Lead and manage the carpentry teams and onsite subcontractors across every active residential build.

- Run daily stand ups and weekly toolbox meetings to align the team on priorities.

- Mentor and develop the team, address performance issues promptly and constructively, and escalate people matters to the Managing Director where required.

- Allocate labour across sites to match programme demands and keep crews working efficiently.

Programme and Quality

- Own the build programme for every residential site: plan, sequence and adjust the critical path as issues arise.

- Ensure every home is built to Megham's stated quality standard, catching and correcting defects before they compound.

- Conduct regular quality control checks and keep records filed against Megham's QA process.

- Book and follow up council and independent inspections, and troubleshoot technical issues onsite.

Budget

- Work alongside the Project Manager to keep each build within its stated budget and margin.

- Monitor material usage,



minimise waste, and flag cost overruns early.

- Sign off subcontractor and material accounts for payment in line with the agreed schedule.

- Support the Project Manager on pricing variations and final account checks where site knowledge is needed.

Coordination and Communication

- Act as the primary escalation point between the Managing Director, Project Manager and the onsite team.

- Liaise with subcontractors and suppliers to keep material and trade sequencing on track.

- Provide regular progress updates to the Managing Director and Project Manager, and flag risks before they become problems.

- Support client facing site visits and walkthroughs alongside the Project Manager where required.

Site Set Up and Site Standards

- Oversee site set up: services connection, temporary fencing, site safety pack, storage and silt fencing as required.

- Ensure every site is kept secure and tidy, and that materials and pallets are managed and returned for credit where applicable.

- Set the standard for site presentation and conduct across all Megham residential projects.

Health and Safety

- Enforce Megham's safety protocols and site regulations across every site.

- Identify and eliminate hazards using the Eliminate, Isolate, Minimise approach.

- Ensure all incidents, near misses and hazards are reported and documented without delay.

- Confirm subcontractors are site safety inducted and hold current public liability insurance on file.

Record Keeping and Reporting

- Maintain accurate records of hours worked, materials used and subcontractor activity across all sites.

- Submit regular progress and status reports to the Managing Director and Project Manager.

- Photograph and document progress for client updates in line with Megham's process.

Key Expectations





- Runs the sites and the teams so the Managing Director and Project Manager do not have to.

- Proactive: identifies and resolves issues before they reach the directors.

- Upholds Megham's reputation for quality and reliability on every job.

- Leads with accountability, sound judgement and clear decision making under pressure.

- Maintains a professional, tidy appearance and full PPE at all times, and holds the team to the same standard.

Key Performance Indicators

Weighted in order of priority: programme, team leadership, budget, quality, then safety.

1. Programme and Timeline Delivery

- Builds typically run 7 to 12 months. Practical completion is hit inside the programmed window, or within an agreed buffer where delay is genuinely outside the Construction Manager's control.

- Programme reviewed and updated across all live jobs on a set day each week, so the Managing Director and Project Manager always have a current picture.

- Any slippage flagged to the Managing Director and Project Manager within 48 hours of being identified.

2. Team Leadership and Crew Efficiency

- Daily stand ups and weekly toolbox meetings run consistently across all sites.

- Crews allocated ahead of need. No site sits idle waiting on labour or trades.

- Performance issues addressed within an agreed window rather than left to drift.

- Carpentry team retention holds steady, with unplanned turnover tracked and flagged.

3. Budget and Margin Protection

- Cost reports reviewed against the original estimate with the Project Manager monthly, with variances flagged as soon as they are seen.

- Material waste kept within an agreed tolerance per job.

- Subcontractor and material payments signed off accurately and on schedule.

4. Quality and Defect Rate

- No more than 5 open defects carried at each staged inspection.

- Internal defect walkthrough ahead of completion: fewer than 20 defects outstanding across the whole build.

- Client handover: zero outstanding defects.

- Maintenance list items closed out within 14 to 21 days of being raised.

5. Safety

- Zero unreported incidents.

- Hazards identified and closed out promptly, not left open.

- Subcontractor inductions and public liability certificates 100% on file before anyone is on site.

📌 Residential Construction Manager (Canberra)
🏢 Megham Building Services
📍 Canberra