What does it take to be a construction site manager?

Seema Humphries is an ESD Site Manager who has overseen the recently completed project at Daer Water Treatment Works, which has successfully gone back into supply, and currently manages the ongoing refurbishment works at Kirkconnel Wastewater Treatment Works.

Has the construction industry always been of interest to you?

I have been in the industry about 15 years now, mostly working on water projects and moving around the country. I didn’t plan to get into this industry, but I feel quite blessed to be here.

I have worked on various sites and been lucky enough to experience a variety of roles throughout my career, which means that I know, as a site manager, the true implications of the decisions I make.

I am a practical person who learns better through life lessons and practical working – I like to get my hands dirty and working in all weathers.

There are a lot of stereotypes about working on sites, maybe misconceptions that put people off. What motivates you to stay in the industry?

It sounds like a cliché, but what I like about it is that two days are never the same. You can plan your week and it can all change in the blink of an eye at any moment. Every day, I can have 50 things coming through the door. I need to look at each one from every angle, keep calm, find a solution. If you have that ability, it is a fantastically rewarding job.

What cannot happen is panic. To be able to successfully carry out this job, you need to be able to keep a level head (even if you are panicking inside!), as it tends to have a ripple effect. You have to be someone who can say ‘Right, let’s take a breather, step back a second’, and then work through the issue logically: What is the issue? What needs to come first? What are the issues – health, safety and so on – that could arise if we do x, y, z? It is like playing a game of chess, thinking several moves ahead.

I like that I have to keep on learning and adapting too. Anyone who tells you they’ve been in the industry 35 years, and they know it all, probably doesn’t. The industry doesn’t stand still: regulations, technologies, legislation – it all changes continuously and that makes it interesting.

How do you deal with these things though? It does sound daunting.

One thing I have experienced working on site is that when the chips are down, there are people that will back and support me. I can say that in the short time I have been at ESD, I have always had support from someone. Whatever decision is made, someone has my back. I am not just saying this: my experience has been that I can approach anyone about anything, even if I’ve made a mistake, without feeling they are going to judge me, and speak openly, honestly and transparently.

That’s why it is so important to be able to establish a culture of open communication within your teams, not necessarily inviting each other round for dinner, but having that respect. Otherwise, you are taking 20 steps across the chessboard. That is where you need to develop strong social and people management skills.

I had an issue on one of my sites and I don’t think I slept for a few days thinking about it, but it loops back to that point – having that amazing team around you. You can be the most knowledgeable, stare at a problem and not see it, then someone looking with fresh eyes will say ‘What about this?’

And here is the final thing. Maybe you have planned ahead, the design team have given every detail, sub-contractors are all on board – but there is always room for uncertainty. It is not until you put the shovel in the ground that you know what is really happening. What if you find something down there that throws it all up in the air? It keeps you on top, keeps you on your toes and it is never boring.

What about the ‘women in construction’ question which I am sure you were expecting. What is your take on it?

I have been the only female site manager in other companies as well as ESD. Someone asked me, I can’t remember who, if I get push-back from men. I don’t think it is so much like that, not direct push-back. But I have had experiences where I’ve been training people and people assume it’s the man training me; but no, it is the other way around. You do get tested a little bit too; people can ask questions to see if you know your stuff.

I’d like to see more women join the industry. Many people do not appreciate that there are so many good-quality jobs that are open to anyone. The best way we can overcome stereotypes is to give young people, particularly young women, the chance to experience working on site. Not just visiting for a day, like a day out, as you will not get a true representation of what we do, but spending a few weeks, trying different jobs and getting to know people.

My final word on this is that it is male-dominated on site, but I have had amazing support from the male site teams over the years. It is not an ‘us versus them’ situation. Our industry is vast in terms of the capital involved, but it is a small world on sites – you meet the same people time and again on different jobs. If you build a support network, it will tend to stay with you.