Carpenter supervisor

Description

A carpenter supervisor is a skilled professional who oversees and manages carpentry projects, ensuring the successful completion of construction or renovation projects involving woodwork. They play a crucial role in coordinating and leading a team of carpenters, ensuring work is carried out to meet project specifications, timelines, and quality standards. Carpenters supervisors are responsible for managing resources, ensuring safety compliance, and providing technical guidance to the carpentry team.

Here are some of the duties of a carpenter supervisor:

  • Supervising carpentry work on a job site
  • Ensuring that all safety regulations are followed and that the carpentry work remains smooth and efficient by organizing workflows and monitoring staff
  • Directing, training, and assisting lower-level carpenters
  • Preparing carpentry reports and compiling carpentry records
  • Ensuring that all equipment is functioning properly and preparing work schedules
  • Conducting reviews for personnel performance and evaluating employee performance
  • Conferring with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances
  • Advising others on ways to improve processes or products.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to carpenter supervisor:

joinery shop supervisor
joiner supervisor
joinery supervisor
carpentry foreman
carpentry overseer
carpentry supervisor
timber workshop supervisor
framer supervisor
supervisor of carpentry operations

Working conditions

Carpenter supervisors work in various construction settings, such as residential, commercial, or industrial sites. They may work both indoors and outdoors, depending on the project requirements. The work often involves physical labor, including lifting heavy materials and operating power tools. They may be exposed to noise, dust, and other construction-related hazards. Safety precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment, are essential to minimize risks. The role may require working in tight spaces, at heights, or in adverse weather conditions. Carpenter supervisors may need to work evenings, weekends, or overtime to meet project deadlines or address emergencies.

Minimum qualifications

The educational and professional requirements for a carpenter supervisor can vary based on the employer and the scope of the projects. Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required. A carpentry apprenticeship program is highly recommended to gain practical experience and knowledge in the field. Many employers prefer candidates with additional certifications or vocational training in carpentry. Several years of experience as a carpenter, with progressively responsible roles, is necessary to develop the skills and expertise needed to supervise and lead a team effectively. Strong knowledge of carpentry techniques, building codes, and safety regulations is essential. Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills are crucial for success in this role.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Carpenter supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Carpenter supervisor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to carpenter supervisor.

insulation supervisor
roofing supervisor
water conservation technician supervisor
construction painting supervisor
paperhanger supervisor

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of carpenter supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of carpenter supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

construction general contractor
quantity surveyor
installation engineer
property developer
construction manager

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of carpenter supervisor.

  • Woodworking tools: The various tools used to process wood, such as planers, chisels and lathes.
  • Energy performance of buildings: Factors that contribute to lower energy consumption of buildings. Building and renovation techniques used to achieve this. Legislation and procedures regarding energy performance of buildings.
  • Building codes: The set of guidelines that determine the minimum standards for buildings and other constructions in order to protect public health and safety.
  • Wood cuts: Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the optimal cut for a given purpose. Influence of special attributes of the wood, like knots or defects.
  • Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of carpenter supervisor.

  • Advise on construction materials: Provide advice on and test a wide range of construction materials.
  • Answer requests for quotation: Make up prices and documents for the products that customers may purchase.
  • Check compatibility of materials: Make sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.
  • Manage health and safety standards: Oversee 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 level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
  • Work in a construction team: Work 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 manner.
  • Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
  • Ensure compliance with construction project deadline: Plan, schedule and monitor the building processes in order to ensure completion of the project by the set deadline.
  • Identify wood warp: Identify wood that has changed shape due to stresses, wear or incorrect installation. Recognise the different types of warp, like bow, twist, crook and cup. Identify possible causes and solutions to wood warp.
  • Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
  • Plan shifts of employees: Plans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.
  • Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
  • Evaluate employees work: Evaluate 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 the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
  • Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
  • Order construction supplies: Order required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.
  • Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
  • Interpret 3d plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.
  • Use safety equipment in construction: Use 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 does occur.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
  • Interpret 2D plans: Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.
  • Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of carpenter supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
  • Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
  • Asbestos removal regulations: The legislation and regulations surrounding the removal of asbestos contamination from buildings or structures, the safe removal of contaminated materials and the regulations to avoid and prevent contamination.
  • Loading charts for transportation of goods: Understand the information displayed in loading charts showing the weight of shipments loaded in trailers. Read loading charts for the transport of larger items, dangerous materials or shipments that need special care.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of carpenter supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Operate crosscut saw: Operate a crosscut saw to make manual cuts.
  • Install wood elements in structures: Install elements made of wood and wood-based composite materials, such as doors, stairs, plinths, and ceiling frames. Assemble and affix the elements, taking care to prevent gaps. Inspect the work and notify the responsible person in case of problems.
  • Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
  • Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
  • Assess conservation needs: Assess and list the needs for conservation/restoration, in relation to current use and planned future use.
  • Apply restoration techniques: Select and apply appropriate restoration techniques in order to achieve the required restoration goals. This encompasses preventive measures, remedial measures, restoration processes and management processes.
  • Use squaring pole: Use a squaring pole, a telescopic measurement pole that allows for checking the length of the diagonals of an inset area of a structure. If the diagonals are of equal length, the inset is straight.
  • Operate band saw: Operate a band saw, an industrial saw that features a continuous flexible blade revolving around two or more wheels.
  • Use sander: Use 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.
  • Join wood elements: Bind wooden materials together using a variety of techniques and materials. Determine the optimal technique to join the elements, like stapling, nail, gluing or screwing. Determine the correct work order and make the joint.
  • Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
  • Calculate needs for construction supplies: Take measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.
  • Create smooth wood surface: Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.
  • Keep track of wooden elements: Order wooden elements to be used for a workpiece in a logical way. Clearly identify the elements and how they will be joined together, using symbols drawn onto the wood or another system.
  • Estimate restoration costs: Estimate the cost implications of restoring and replacing products or parts.
  • Create cutting plan: Draw up plans to show how the material will be cut into functional pieces to minimise loss of material.
  • Install construction profiles: Install a variety of metal or plastic profiles used to attach materials to each other or to structural elements. Cut them to size if called for.
  • Manage contracts: Negotiate 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, agree on and document any changes.
  • Operate wood router: Handle automated or non-automated industrial wood routers, which feature a routing head that moves over the wood, going up and down to regulate the depth of the incision.
  • Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
  • Install wood hardware: Use hinges, knobs and rails to fix wooden hardware on wooden elements. Make sure the hardware fits onto or into the element. Make sure moving hardware articulates smoothly and securely.
  • Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
  • Program a CNC controller: Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
  • Create wood joints: Use the proper tools and processes to create the joints where multiple pieces of wood fit together.
  • Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
  • Negotiate supplier arrangements: Reach 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.
  • Operate table saw: Handle an industrial table saw, which cuts with a rotating circular blade built into a table. Set the height of the saw to control the depth of the cut. Pay particular attention to safety, as factors such as natural stresses within the wood may produce unpredictable forces.
  • Apply wood finishes: Use a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.
  • Train employees: Lead 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 performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
  • Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take 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 and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

ISCO group and title

3123 – Construction supervisors


References
  1. Carpenter supervisor – ESCO
  2. 7 Types of Carpentry | Indeed.com
  3. Featured image: By Chandravathanaa – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated on June 11, 2023