Assistant Project Manager
Name: Dom Brown
Career stage: Early career - less than 5 years' experience
Working: Office
High School Subjects: English, 2 Unit Math, History, History Extension, Geography, Business
Favourite: History! Absolutely loved my teacher, he was so passionate and knowledgeable, I honestly could of listened to him talk all day.
Further study: University
where and what: UTS - Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture
"Design & Architecture had always been an interest of mine, but I always passed it off as a hobby. After a few weeks of research about the degree, attending an open day and speaking to people within the industry, I decided to give it a go."
the inside scoop…
What does a Assistant Project Manager actually do? Client-side Project Manager's role is to work alongside the client to assist and manage with the establishment and delivery of their project. As an Assistant PM, I support my PMs, Senior PMs and Project Directors. We help clients from the early planning phases of a project, all the way through to the construction of the development. We manage the client and all the project stakeholders including the Landlord, architect, engineers, consultants, builder, etc.
What does a day in your life at work look like? Typical day usually entails arriving to the office in the morning and running through emails - project updates, documentation submissions, project risks, responding to RFIs, etc. My days are typically revolved around meetings. These meetings consist of check ins with the Landlord/Base Build Team, client meetings, consultant meetings, site visits to check on site progress. Last minute meetings are often organised for the project team / client, etc. to get together to nut out any project issues, risks, decisions within a timely and collaborative environment. Between these meetings me and my team are managing the project and the project team, ensuring everyone is completing the work that is required, ensuring the client is on top of all communications and the project has no foreseen risks or delays to delivery.
What's the best part of your job? To me being an PM is the perfect mix between two of my favourite things: (1) The design and construction industry and (2) people management and engaging with people daily.
What made you realise construction could be for you? My family has always been in the business industry so I thought that I should stick in that lane. I enrolled to Sydney Uni studying a degree in Economics. After 3 weeks I realised it was not for me - I was not interested, none of the course curriculum made sense to me and I had no passion in trying to understand it. It was simply not filling my cup. For the remainder of the semester I was researching alternative degrees and stumbled across Interior Architecture at UTS. Design & Architecture had always been an interest of mine, but I always passed it off as a hobby. After a few weeks of research about the degree, attending an open day and speaking to people within the industry, I decided to give it a go.
What do your friends and family think about working in construction? For both my family and friends construction is an area that is new and exciting. Since my family comes from a business / finance background, I am the first to have ventured into a completely new industry. They are always so intrigued about every part of my job. My friends are equally as interested. The school we attended and the subjects that were offered never discussed the opportunities of a career in construction. There wasn't a door to even offer up conversations to understand the industry. My friends always knew I was interested in design and buildings, but I passed it off as a hobby, and not as a career. Most of my friends have followed down the path of business, law, medicine, so for a lot of them they are interested in my career because it is something different.
Do you have any advice for young women picking a career? Change is a not a bad thing. Personally it took me a while to find my thing. Firstly after school, trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to study and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Secondly, finding a job that not only professionally matched my interests, passions and goals, but emotionally was something that I genuinely enjoyed doing everyday. I really struggled with the perception people would have on me. In reality, everyone goes through it, everyone will struggle with their career identity at some point. I found that a lot of people had admiration for me following my gut and not settling for something that didn't make me as happy as I could be. My advice would be to ride the wave and follow your gut, everything works out in the end.
Dom is open to engaging further via: Speaking at a high school, Mentoring a student.
If you'd like to enquire more, please fill out the form below with the subject name: "Dom Brown" and we'll pass your message on.