Engineering ServicesISCO 3123

Concrete finisher supervisor

A concrete finisher supervisor is a person who oversees the concrete finishing process on a construction site: assigning tasks to concrete finishers, monitoring the work and making quick decisions to resolve problems as they come up. The supervisor may also pass on their skills to apprentices.

Check yourself in a minute: concrete finisher supervisor

Rate 5 of the 24 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

advise on construction materials

check compatibility of materials

monitor stock level

inspect construction supplies

plan surface slope

About concrete finisher supervisor

Before the work starts, the supervisor reads two- and three-dimensional plans, plans the slope of surfaces and makes sure the equipment needed on site is available. They order construction supplies, handle incoming deliveries and inspect them, including deliveries of concrete, and check that the materials used are compatible with one another. Stock levels on site are monitored as well.

During the job, the supervisor inspects concrete structures, uses measurement instruments and oversees the curing of the concrete. They make sure the work does not damage utility infrastructure such as cables and pipes. They keep records of work progress, plan the crew's shifts and evaluate the work of each crew member.

Safety is also part of the role: the supervisor makes sure construction health and safety procedures are followed and that personal protective equipment is used. They act as the link between the crew and site management and advise on construction materials. The job calls for knowledge of concrete work, the ability to read construction plans and the ability to lead a team. Requirements for the role, including any certification, are set by the employer and by local regulations.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a concrete finisher supervisor.

1

Concrete Finishing Process Monitoring

  • Oversee concrete finishing operations to ensure high-quality surface finishes and proper curing
  • Monitor the concrete curing process and adjust conditions as needed for optimal results
  • Inspect supplied concrete for quality, consistency, and adherence to specifications
  • Plan and manage surface slope, surface preparation, and finishing techniques for various concrete applications
2

Work Planning and Task Assignment

  • Plan work schedules and shifts to ensure efficient completion of concrete finishing tasks
  • Assign tasks to concrete finishers based on skill level, availability, and project requirements
  • Coordinate with other trades to prevent damage to utility infrastructure and ensure workflow efficiency
  • Make quick decisions to solve on-site problems and keep project on schedule
3

Materials and Equipment Management

  • Advise on compatibility of concrete materials and construction materials used in finishing work
  • Monitor stock levels of concrete materials, tools, and equipment
  • Ensure equipment availability and proper maintenance of all tools used in concrete finishing
  • Order and process incoming construction supplies, checking for quality and quantity
  • Inspect construction supplies and materials upon delivery to verify compliance with specifications
4

Quality Control and Inspection

  • Inspect concrete structures and finishes to verify quality and compliance with project specifications
  • Use measurement instruments and 3D plans to ensure accurate dimensions and surface flatness
  • Identify defects or deviations from specifications and determine corrective actions
  • Document inspection results and maintain quality records for project documentation
5

Health, Safety and Team Leadership

  • Manage health and safety standards and follow safety procedures in construction operations
  • Prevent damage to utility infrastructure through careful planning and supervision
  • Supervise staff and evaluate employee performance to maintain productivity and quality standards
  • Pass on skills and knowledge to apprentices and junior team members through mentoring and training
  • Foster a safety-conscious work culture and promote best practices among the team

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (24)

advise on construction materialsadvise on construction materialsProvide advice on and test a wide range of construction materials.check compatibility of materialscheck compatibility of materialsMake sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.manage health and safety standardsmanage health and safety standardsOversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company's health and safety programmes.monitor stock levelmonitor stock levelEvaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.work in a construction teamwork in a construction teamWork as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible ma...inspect construction suppliesinspect construction suppliesCheck construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.plan surface slopeplan surface slopeMake sure the planned surface has the necessary slope to prevent puddling of water or fluids.inspect supplied concreteinspect supplied concreteCheck the quantity and quality of delivered concrete. Make sure that the concrete will withstand any expected pressures.prevent damage to utility infrastructureprevent damage to utility infrastructureConsult utility companies or plans on the location of any utility infrastructure that may interfere with a project or be damaged by it. Take the necessary steps to avoid damage.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.inspect concrete structuresinspect concrete structuresVisually inspect a concrete structure to see if it is structurally sound. Check for different types of cracks, such as those due to reinforcement corrosion, impact damage or high water content.plan shifts of employeesplan shifts of employeesPlans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.follow health and safety procedures in constructionfollow health and safety procedures in constructionApply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.evaluate employees workevaluate employees workEvaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check ...supervise staffsupervise staffOversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.order construction suppliesorder construction suppliesOrder required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.process incoming construction suppliesprocess incoming construction suppliesReceive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.monitor concrete curing processmonitor concrete curing processMonitor the process where the poured concrete cures or sets. Make sure the concrete does not dry too quickly, which may cause cracking. Rehumidify the concrete when called for.interpret 3D plansinterpret 3D plansInterpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.use measurement instrumentsuse measurement instrumentsUse different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.use safety equipment in constructionuse safety equipment in constructionUse elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident do...keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.interpret 2D plansinterpret 2D plansInterpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.liaise with managersliaise with managersLiaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Optional (28) — show
construction product regulationconstruction product regulationRegulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.cost managementcost managementThe process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.crane load chartscrane load chartsCrane load charts detail the features of the crane and how its lift capacity varies depending on distance and angle.energy efficiencyenergy efficiencyField of information concerning the reduction of the use of energy. It encompasses calculating the consumption of energy, providing certificates and support measures, saving energy by reducing the dem...work ergonomicallywork ergonomicallyApply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.apply proofing membranesapply proofing membranesApply specialised membranes to prevent penetration of a structure by dampness or water. Securely seal any perforation to preserve the damp-proof or waterproof properties of the membrane. Make sure any...provide first aidprovide first aidAdminister cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.answer requests for quotationanswer requests for quotationMake up prices and documents for the products that customers may purchase.use sanderuse sanderUse different types of drywall sanders, automatic or manual, handheld or on an extension, to sand surfaces to a smooth finish or to rough them up for better adhesion.apply finish to concreteapply finish to concreteFinish concrete using a variety of techniques like polishing and acid staining.pour concretepour concretePour concrete into a form from a mixer truck chute, hopper or hose. Pour the correct amount to balance efficiency with the risk of the concrete not setting completely.recruit employeesrecruit employeesHire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.mix concretemix concreteUse compact concrete mixers or various ad-hoc containers such as wheelbarrows to mix concrete. Prepare the correct quantities of cement, water, aggregate and optional added ingredients, and mix the in...calculate needs for construction suppliescalculate needs for construction suppliesTake measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.remove concrete formsremove concrete formsRemove concrete forms after the concrete has cured fully. Recuperate materials if possible, cleaning it and taking the right steps to store it for later reuse.manage contractsmanage contractsNegotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, ...place concrete formsplace concrete formsSet up forms out of wood, plywood, various plastics, or other suitable materials to form concrete into supportive columns or walls. Place sheathing delineating the shape of the planned structure and u...drive mobile heavy construction equipmentdrive mobile heavy construction equipmentDrive movable heavy equipment used in construction. Load the equipment onto low loaders, or unload it. Judiciously drive equipment on public roads when required.negotiate supplier arrangementsnegotiate supplier arrangementsReach an agreement with the supplier upon technical, quantity, quality, price, conditions, storage, packaging, send-back and other requirements related to the purchasing and delivering process.screed concretescreed concreteSmooth the surface of freshly poured concrete using a screed.plan scaffoldingplan scaffoldingPlan the construction of the scaffolding, based on the nature of the project, the environment, and the available resources. Apply knowledge of scaffolding standards and load bearing properties of the ...apply wood finishesapply wood finishesUse a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...follow safety procedures when working at heightsfollow safety procedures when working at heightsTake necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures...operate concrete mixer truckoperate concrete mixer truckWork with concrete mixer trucks. Drive the truck and operate controls. Keep track of time. Take the necessary steps to evacuate the concrete upon arrival at the site, either alone using a full range c...guide concrete hoseguide concrete hoseGuide the concrete hose while the pump is operating. Make sure to distribute the concrete efficiently and securely.provide technical expertiseprovide technical expertiseProvide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.energy performance of buildingsenergy performance of buildingsFactors that contribute to lower energy consumption of buildings. Building and renovation techniques used to achieve this. Legislation and procedures regarding energy performance of buildings.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

Frequently asked questions

What does a concrete finisher supervisor do?

Concrete finisher supervisors monitor the concrete finishing process. They assign tasks to finishers and take quick decisions to resolve problems. They may also pass on their skills to apprentices.

What skills does a concrete finisher supervisor need?

A concrete finisher supervisor needs 24 essential skills, including advise on construction materials, check compatibility of materials, manage health and safety standards, monitor stock level, work in a construction team.

Will AI replace concrete finisher supervisor jobs?

The AI disruption score for concrete finisher supervisor is 32/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: monitor stock level, keep records of work progress, process incoming construction supplies. Most resilient: use safety equipment in construction, provide first aid, mix concrete.

Quick Facts

ISCO GroupScience and engineering associate professionals
Essential Skills24

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