| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Construction and Projects |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Foreman |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 6 years in carpentry or shuttering work |
Carpenter job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Carpenter
Department: Construction and Projects
Reports to: Foreman
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Carpenter builds and fixes wooden work on a construction or fit-out site. On civil works they make the formwork and shuttering that holds concrete until it sets; on finishing and interiors they build doors, frames, partitions, panelling and furniture. It is skilled trade work measured on accuracy, strength and finish. A good Carpenter reads drawings, sets out shuttering true to line and level, builds strong and neat woodwork, wastes little material, and works safely with sharp tools and machines.
Key responsibilities
- Build formwork and shuttering for slabs, beams, columns and other concrete members.
- Set out shuttering true to line, level and dimension before concreting.
- Make and fit doors, frames, partitions, panelling and other woodwork on finishing jobs.
- Read drawings and measurements and cut timber and boards accurately.
- Strip and clean shuttering after curing and prepare it for reuse.
- Check that formwork is strong and properly supported before a pour.
- Minimise timber and board wastage while cutting and building.
- Maintain hand and power tools in safe working order.
- Follow site safety rules and use protective equipment during the work.
- Support the gang in meeting the day's carpentry target with quality.
Requirements
- ITI in carpentry or equivalent skill
- Able to read basic drawings and measurements
- Experience in construction or furniture carpentry
- 1 to 6 years in carpentry or shuttering work
KRAs and KPIs for a Carpenter
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Shuttering quality | Formwork true to line and level with no failures during pours |
| Finish quality | Woodwork built to the drawing with a clean, accurate finish |
| Material wastage | Timber and board wastage kept below the agreed level |
| Output | Daily carpentry target met with the gang |
| Safety | Zero avoidable injuries with safe use of tools and machines |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Hand saw and power saw, Chisels and planes, Drill machine, Measuring tape and square, Safety gear.
Reporting line and career path
Interview questions for a Carpenter
- How do you set out shuttering true to line and level for a column?
- How do you check that formwork is safe before a concrete pour?
- How do you keep timber wastage low while cutting?
- How do you build a door frame accurately from a drawing?
- What safety steps do you follow when using a power saw?
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What does a Carpenter do on a construction site?
A Carpenter builds and fixes wooden work on site. On civil works they make the formwork and shuttering that holds concrete until it sets. On finishing and interiors they build doors, frames, partitions, panelling and furniture. They read drawings, set out shuttering true to line and level, and build strong, neat woodwork with little wastage.
What is the difference between a shuttering carpenter and a furniture carpenter?
A shuttering carpenter builds the temporary formwork that holds wet concrete in slabs, beams and columns until it sets, working on civil structure. A furniture or finishing carpenter builds doors, frames, panelling and furniture for the finishing stage. Both are skilled carpenters, but one focuses on structural formwork and the other on finishes.
What qualifications does a Carpenter need?
An ITI in carpentry or equivalent hands-on skill is the usual base, along with the ability to read basic drawings and measurements. Employers value accuracy, strength and finish in the work, low material wastage, and safe use of hand and power tools. Experience in construction shuttering or furniture carpentry matters most.