Career

Restoration Project Manager

Specialized Construction

Runs the actual rebuild after property damage, the project management counterpart to the estimators and adjusters who scope and price the claim.

What is a Restoration Project Manager?

A Restoration Project Manager manages the reconstruction and repair work after property damage, fire, water, storm, or other loss, coordinating crews, subcontractors, and schedule the same way a general construction Project Manager would, but working from an insurance-approved scope and budget rather than a standard construction bid. No personal license or certification is legally required to hold this role as an employee; a restoration company itself, like any general contractor, typically needs its own state contractor's license to legally perform and bill for the work, but that license attaches to the business, not to each individual project manager it employs.

What they do

Manage restoration projects from the approved insurance scope through completion
Coordinate subcontractors and crews across multiple simultaneous restoration jobs
Track project costs against the insurance-approved budget
Communicate progress to the property owner and, often, the insurance adjuster or public adjuster
Manage change orders when concealed damage is discovered mid-project
Ensure completed work passes final inspection and closes out the insurance claim

A typical day

7:30 AMReview overnight updates from active restoration jobs and prioritize site visits
9:00 AMWalk a fire-damage restoration site with the lead subcontractor
11:00 AMDocument concealed water damage found during demolition and prepare a supplement request
1:00 PMUpdate the property owner on progress and revised timeline
3:00 PMCoordinate final walkthrough scheduling for a nearly complete project

Skills

Project management and schedulingReading insurance scopes and estimatesSubcontractor coordinationClient communication, often with owners in a stressful situationChange order and supplement documentation

Software

XactimateProcore

Education

Required:: High school diploma or equivalent, since no personal license or certification is legally required for this role as an employee; the restoration company itself typically needs its own state contractor's license to perform the work
Preferred:: Bachelor's degree in construction management or a related field, or equivalent field experience
Helpful:: IICRC restoration certifications, Project Management Professional (PMP) credential
Not necessary:: A construction management degree, since many restoration PMs move up from estimating or field supervision within restoration work

Career progression

1.Restoration Estimator or Production Coordinator
2.Restoration Project Manager
3.Senior Project Manager
4.Director of Operations (at a restoration contractor)

Who hires for this role

Restoration and Reconstruction ContractorsGeneral Contractors with a restoration division