Top 6 Highest Paying Careers You Can Land with a Degree in Concrete Industry Management
The concrete construction industry is filled with a myriad of career opportunities that are both challenging and rewarding.
According to Frank Flatch, the Vice President of Human Resource & Corporate Counsel at Silvi Group Companies, by entering a concrete industry management (CIM) program “you’re getting access to resources as well as experiences that you would not otherwise. There are a plethora of opportunities available and you’re guaranteed a job upon graduation.”
After earning your degree in concrete industry management, you’ll be prepared to jump into the workforce in one of these competitive roles:
1) Plant manager
Average Salary: $96,478
The plant manager is responsible for daily operations of the concrete plant. As a plant manager, you’ll oversee safety operations, inventory, production, maintenance, and supervision of employees. It’s important to be familiar with and maintain OSHA guidelines to ensure all operations remain in compliance.
Aside from leading training, performance evaluations, and team development, plant managers must make sure the plan is running as efficiently and productively as possible while following all safety protocols. This includes spotting areas in need of improvement and using critical and strategic thinking skills to solve the problem.
2) Supply chain manager
Average Salary: $87,261
Concrete industry supply chain managers develop and monitor the supply chain strategy of the company or organization. As a supply chain manager, your overall goal is to improve productivity and efficiency while also reducing costs. By keeping track of logistics and inventory, those in this role must improve how the company runs without sacrificing any high quality material.
Those in this position must be comfortable analyzing data and performance, have excellent problem solving and project management skills, and be able to collaborate well with other departments.
3) Technical services manager
Average Salary: $81,374
Concrete industry management professionals in this position have both technical support and quality assurance responsibilities. The technical services manager handles aspects of the entire process from production to customer delivery. These specialists are able to troubleshoot quality issues, assist in the preparation of projects, monitor production, collect and analyze data, and identify areas and materials that need changes based on quality and technical standards.
Flatch describes this role as “the person who steps in to answer specific questions and concerns regarding the products. This role is critical since they deal with both sides of production – the input of raw materials, and the finished product ”
4) Quality control/quality assurance manager
Average Salary: $73,167
When working with concrete, it is crucial that all materials provided for construction projects meet all guidelines and specifications, and that all employees are properly trained to safely use them. To ensure that this isn’t overlooked, the quality control manager and quality assurance manager document it all.
Those in this role have the important responsibility of monitoring, assessing, and adjusting production and placement processes to guarantee the final product will meet all specifications. These professionals document levels of quality including testing, training, materials sampling, construction inspection and project oversight.
5) Lab/research manager
Average Salary: $63,050
The role of lab or research manager is responsible for overseeing all laboratory spaces, coordinating laboratory support, and developing laboratory capabilities for research. Those who step into this managerial position ensure that all laboratory equipment is properly maintained and used correctly. They must also keep track of project deadlines, provide lab scheduling, and perform tests and experiments.
6) Environmental specialist
Average Salary: $55,526
It’s no secret that construction projects heavily impact the environment. The environmental specialist has the duty of monitoring the impact and identifying issues that arise from the project. They then assess their data and recommend viable solutions based on their analysis. Professionals in this position have a goal to improve the living conditions of the environment and help the concrete plant leave as little of a carbon footprint as possible.
Environmental specialists must conduct field inspections, train employees about environmental hazards, prepare detailed reports, and analyze test samples. To be successful in this role, you should have in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and health and safety programs. You should also understand the concrete making process to better identify causes of pollution and how to prevent spills and hazardous waste from entering the environment.
Set yourself apart with a degree from NJIT
Having a degree in concrete industry management from NJIT will help you start your career in CIM as soon as you finish school.
Flatch points out that “many companies will hire a CIM graduate right into a managerial role. Completing this degree puts you on a faster track to higher positions, advancements, and growth. You could be managing your own site just 2 years after college, if not sooner. Very early in your career you could be doing unbelievable things and start off with a 70K base salary with a 5K bonus just for having your degree.”
Don’t wait to get started. Apply today and see where this degree can take you!