Description
A roofing supervisor is a professional responsible for overseeing and managing roofing projects within the construction industry. They play a vital role in ensuring that roofing activities are executed efficiently, safely, and in accordance with project specifications and industry standards. Roofing supervisors are knowledgeable in various roofing systems, materials, and installation techniques.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to roofing supervisor:
foreman roofer
house roofing supervisor
roof tiling supervisor
roofing carpentry supervisor
felt roofing supervisor
roof slating supervisor
cladding installation supervisor
tinsmith supervisor
asphalt roofing supervisor
Working conditions
Roofing supervisors work primarily outdoors, often at significant heights and exposed to various weather conditions. They must follow safety protocols and wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as harnesses and helmets, to minimize risks. The work may involve physical demands, including climbing ladders, carrying materials, and working in awkward positions. Roofing supervisors may need to work in both residential and commercial settings, and travel between different job sites as required. The work environment can be noisy, dusty, and may involve exposure to fumes or hazardous materials. They may work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate project schedules and deadlines.
Minimum qualifications
The educational requirements for roofing supervisors may vary depending on the employer and project complexity. Generally, a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Some employers may prefer candidates with additional vocational training or certifications in roofing or related fields. Roofing supervisors typically have several years of experience working as roofers, gaining knowledge and skills in various roofing systems and installation techniques. Strong knowledge of safety regulations and practices in the construction industry is essential. Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills are necessary to effectively coordinate and supervise roofing crews.
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.
Roofing supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Roofing supervisor career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to roofing supervisor.
bricklaying supervisor
water conservation technician supervisor
insulation supervisor
paperhanger supervisor
terrazzo setter supervisor
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of roofing supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of roofing supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
construction general contractor
quantity surveyor
installation engineer
construction manager
property developer
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of roofing supervisor.
- 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.
- Roofing techniques: Techniques used to form the upper covering of a building according to specific materials such as ceramic tiles, wood shingles, slate, metal, concrete of plant stalks.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of roofing 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Recognise signs of wood rot: Check whether a wood element shows signs of rot. Aurally inspect the wood by testing what sound it makes on impact. Check for visual signs of rot.
- Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
- Inspect roofs: Inspect the condition of an existing roof. Check the state of the weight-bearing structure, roof covering, insulation, and accessibility. Take into account the intended purpose of the roof, including any accessories to be installed.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of roofing 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.
- Energy efficiency: Field 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 demand, encouraging efficient use of fossil fuels, and promoting the use of renewable energy.
- 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.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of roofing supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Sort waste: Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
- Apply roll roofing: Roll out mats of roofing material, often bituminous asphalt, to cover flat or low-pitched roofs. Apply the felt layer first if required. Make sure there are no gaps so the roof is weatherproof. Firmly attach the layer to the structure.
- 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.
- Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
- 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.
- Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
- Lay non-interlocking roof tiles: Lay roof tiles that don’t interlock, such as traditional slate tiles or asphalt shingles. Take care to provide the right overlap between the tiles, taking into account local weather conditions and roof slope.
- Remove roofs: Remove faulty or otherwise unneeded roofs. Unmount roof elements and accessories such as rain gutters and solar panels. Protect the structure from the elements while the roof is being removed.
- Calculate needs for construction supplies: Take measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.
- Install metal roofing: Install the underlayments over the main roof decking and other covering materials such as ice and water shields, form and screw down the starter flashing along the eaves and wrap them around the corners, screw down the metal panels while making sure they overlap, and finish the roof by fixing the flashing over the joints.
- Install insulation material: Place insulation material, often shaped into rolls, in order to insulate a structure from thermal or acoustic influences and to prevent fire. Attach the material using face staples, inset staples, or rely on friction to keep the material in place.
- 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.
- Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
- Lay interlocking roof tiles: Lay interlocking roof tiles of various shapes and materials. Fix the tiles to the battens judiciously, and take special care of the verges, ridges and hips.
- 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.
- Construct wood roofs: Build the structural elements of wood flat or pitched roofs. Lay rafters to provide strength and battens at regular intervals to account for lateral forces and attach any covering. Back the weight-bearing elements with panels, such as plywood, and insulation material.
- Plan scaffolding: Plan 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 components and joints to make a decision on the structure of the build. Develop adequate and comprehensive instructions to put up the scaffolding construction.
- 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
- Roofing supervisor – ESCO
- Featured image: Image by Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay