Assistant Construction Managers help Construction Managers to build sets and stages, within budgets, to deadlines, and to meet standards set by Production Designers. Reporting to Construction Managers, they assist with tasks such as scheduling, cost estimation and cost control, hiring the necessary crew, and monitoring construction. The role requires strong organisational skills, close attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure, combined with experience of the construction process.

Responsibilities
Assistant Construction Managers work closely with Construction Managers throughout productions, from the planning process through to the end of shoots. Their key responsibility is to monitor the construction of sets and stages, in order to ensure that they are built to the standards of safety and quality demanded by Production Designers, and that they are completed on schedule and within budget. Assistant Construction Managers contribute to the development of construction schedules, and provide cost estimates for the work required. They also help Construction Managers to hire in the required crew, including Riggers, Carpenters, Painters, and Plasterers, and assist in the administration of their contracts of employment.

Assistant Construction Managers assist in the purchase or hire of the materials and tools needed, ensuring that they are delivered on time, and that the costs are within budget. They help with supervising the construction of stages and sets, resolving day-to-day problems, and inspecting all work to ensure that it complies with plans, specifications, and Health and Safety guidelines. They liaise with the Construction Manager to ensure that the work carried out meets all cost projections. In addition to overseeing set construction, Assistant Construction Managers also help to co-ordinate the 'strike' (dismantling of sets), and ensure that all the materials are disposed of, or stored, in a safe and appropriate manner.

Skills
Assistant Construction Managers need excellent organisational and management skills. They must be able to juggle multiple projects, and pay close attention to details. As the role involves liaising with both the crew working on the sets, and with senior staff, such as Production Designers and other Heads of Department, Assistant Construction Managers need good people skills, and must be outgoing, confident and effective communicators.

Excellent numerical skills, and the ability to work within budget, are also vital. Assistant Construction Managers need good IT skills in order to carry out the administrative tasks relevant to the role. They must be creative and resourceful, as they often need to find solutions to construction problems while working under great time pressure.

Experience/qualifications
Assistant Construction Managers usually progress to this role after several years of working and gaining experience in one of the film industry construction roles. Most Assistant Construction Managers have accredited qualifications, such as the Advanced Construction Award, or a level 3 CITB NVQ in Carpentry and Joinery. Detailed knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures is essential. As the role involves travel, a full EU driving licence is required.

Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film.

Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. Browse Skillset's website for links to our network of training partners, information about training and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database. Finally, Skillset Careers is UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit www.skillset.org/careers.