Construction managers usually work as employees for building owners, real estate developers or construction management firms. A construction manager is often perceived as an agent for the owner or developer on a project, but there are many general contractors, design build and construction management firms who provide construction management at risk services who act as both agent and contractor on the project.

Construction managers typically plan, direct, coordinate, and budget a wide variety of construction projects, including the building of all types of residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, and schools and hospitals, hotels and resorts. Construction managers may supervise an entire project, multiple projects or just part of one project (if large). Construction Managers schedule and coordinate all design and construction processes, including the selection, hiring, and oversight of engineers, architects, general contractors and specialty trade contractors, such as carpentry, plumbing, or electrical. However they usually do not do any actual construction of the structure (they oversee as owner's agent rather than self perform the work as a contractor). Construction managers coordinate and supervise the construction process from the conceptual development stage through final construction, making sure that the project gets completed on time and within budget.