Field Superintendent (RCS) Certification Program

The HBI Field Superintendent designation helps NAHB members in the often difficult task of finding good site supervisors who are technically qualified, able to deal with customers and vendors in a professional manner and can ably represent the company and employer's emphasis on quality and craftsmanship.

Geared to meeting the needs of builders, contractors, remodelers or any other industry professional in search of reliable field personnel, the Field Superintendent Designation program tackles the day-to-day issues encountered by site superintendents.

Course Curriculum
Eight course modules cover the skills essential for effective field superintendents. Candidates receive the designation after completing the courses described below.

To schedule a superintendent series program contact your local home building association or the Florida Home Builders Association at 850-224-4316. 

Budget Management and Cost Control (3 Hrs)
How does the superintendent impact the profitability of the company? Learn the importance of your role regarding profitability, the critical elements in job cost and how to control them. Identify the costs to everyone when a job is not done right the first time.

Participants will learn:
• The relationship between production, overhead and profit
• The superintendent’s role in the profitability of the company
• The importance of accurate estimating
• Important elements in job cost
• How to control job costs
• The cost of not doing it right the first time!

Codes and Quality Control (3 Hrs)
This newly designed class shows you how to define quality within your company by identifying the five essential quality components. Learn to set performance expectations based on your quality foundation. The course also discusses the superintendent’s responsibilities regarding codes and tips on how to enforce code compliance on the job site.

The participant will learn:
• Define quality and recognize the three myths
• Incorporate the five tenets of quality into your organization
• Set performance standards based on your quality foundation
• Know your responsibilities regarding codes
• Apply tips for working with Inspectors
• Effectively enforce codes on the jobsite
• Access a code and find specific information

Customer Service & Homeowner Relations(4 Hrs)
This new class focuses on understanding the human and business needs of your customer so that you can meet and exceed their expectations. Avoid the seven deadly sins of customer service and learn how to deal with the difficult customer.

Participants will learn:
• The relationship between customer service and sales
• How to understand customers’ expectations
• How to focus on the human and business needs of the customer
• The seven deadly sins of customer service
• The cost of losing a customer
• How to deal professionally with the difficult customer

General Project Management (4 Hrs)
Learn the multiple and varied role of the superintendent, managing production operations by using the PAR method and understanding estimates. This course provides an overview of the many facets of being a superintendent and is a good introductory class to the superintendent series.

Participants will learn:
• The Role of the Superintendent
• Managing Production Operations
• Planning
• Action
• Review
• Understanding Estimates
• Record Keeping, Reports & Documentation
• Conflict Resolution Tips

Hiring, Training and Supervision (4 Hrs)
This new class teaches superintendents about the common mistakes that are made in the interview process and the steps to follow to ensure that each subcontractor and/or employee is the right fit for the company. The course also provides some tips and tools for setting and measuring performance expectations.

The participant will learn:
• Be aware of the common mistakes in the interview process
• Learn and implement the six steps to effective interviewing
• Be able to ask behavioral questions to determine job fit
• Set and measure performance expectations
• Effectively train your workforce

Office and Subcontractor Relations (4 Hrs)
Learn what a superintendent should be looking for in a subcontractor and what to do to recruit the most successful subcontractors’ to your job. The course also offers tips for creating a win/win partnership with your internal customers and provides a proven strategy for dealing with conflict.

The participant will learn:
• Qualities a Superintendent should be looking for in a Subcontractor
• What a Subcontractor looks for in a successful Superintendent
• Effectively managing Subcontractors
• Tips for creating a win/win partnership
• The office is your friend! Tips for partnering with your internal customer
• Solving Conflict – collaboration techniques

Planning and Scheduling (4 Hrs)
Improve your planning and scheduling skills to increase your profits, your effectiveness as a superintendent and your on-time deliveries. Learn the five fundamental scheduling methods and how to utilize each one to successfully manage a project. 

Participants will learn :
• To understand the definition and concepts of planning and scheduling
• To understand the importance of planning and scheduling as a superintendent
• How to utilize each of the five fundamental scheduling methods to successfully manage a project:
     4Desktop calendar
     4Critical path method
     4Jobs schedule board
     4Spreadsheet
     4Gantt chart

Safety and Security. (4 Hrs)
Protect your job site by learning the essential ingredients of a safety program, what the most common OSHA citations are and how to prepare for an OSHA inspection. Review your responsibilities and those of your employees in order to effectively protect the job site.

The participant will learn:
• The benefits of investing in a safety program
• The recipe for a successful safety program
• The responsibilities of the superintendent and employees re: safety on the jobsite
• The most common OSHA citations
• How to handle an OSHA inspection
• Training for OSHA Compliance
• Tips on site security