Explore project management roles
You are about to start on your path to securing a high-demand position as a project
manager. One of the greatest benefits of the project management field is that it
encompasses a wide variety of positions across numerous industries. As you complete
this certification, you will acquire skills that will qualify you for various job titles. Here, we
will discuss some different project management job categories and some common roles
within those categories. We’ll also describe the great potential for career progression in
project management, from entry-level positions to senior program management roles,
and the many opportunities in between!
Project management job categories and common roles
Entry-level project management roles
Entry-level project management positions are a great opportunity to get your foot in the
door and learn the ins and outs of how a company operates and manages projects. The
lessons you learn from these experiences are extremely valuable to your growth in
project management. Some entry-level project management positions include:
● Junior Project Manager: Performs all aspects of being a project manager
alongside a more experienced professional.
● Project Administrator: Assists the rest of the project team with administrative
tasks.
● Project/Program Assistant: Supports team members working on a project and
offers administrative support. May perform research or create training documents
along with other jobs as assigned by program leaders.
● Project/Program Coordinator: Participates in hands-on project work and
administrative tasks. Works under a project manager to make sure projects are
completed on time and within budget.
● Project Support Specialist: Works alongside a project manager and team
members to oversee assigned projects. May also be responsible for training and
developing employees to perform designated tasks.
Traditional project management roles
Once you have gained some experience in entry-level positions, you can explore
traditional project management roles, such as:
● Project Manager: Responsible for the initiating, planning, executing, monitoring,
and closing of a project. Includes industry-specific titles like IT project manager,
construction project manager, or engineering project manager, which utilize skills
that are transferable among industries.
● Project Analyst: Moves a project along by sharing information, providing
support through data analysis, and contributing to strategy and performance.
● Project Leader/Director: Drives core decision-making and sets the direction for
the project. Usually knowledgeable about the product or deliverable.
● Project Controller: Primarily responsible for project planning. You are likely to
see this job title in industries like engineering and construction.
● Technical Project Manager: Conducts project planning and management for
identified goals within a company. Ensures that projects are completed to the
requirements within a defined timeframe and budget.
● Project Management Office (PMO) Analyst: Manages the progress of complex
projects to ensure timely execution and completion.
Program and portfolio management roles
As you have learned, project managers are responsible for the day-to-day management
of projects. They shepherd projects from start to finish and serve as a guide for their
team. Project managers must apply the right tools, techniques, and processes to
complete the project successfully, on time, and within budget.
After you have carried out projects successfully and feel you are ready for a step up in
responsibility, a program manager position may be the next step for you. While a project
is one single-focused endeavor, a program is a collection of projects. Program
managers are responsible for managing many projects. At Google, project managers
are called program managers because they manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Successfully implementing programs as a program manager can eventually make you a
great fit for more senior positions, such as a senior program manager or a portfolio
manager. A portfolio is a collection of projects and programs across an entire
organization. Portfolio managers are responsible for portfolios of projects or programs
for one client. Over the course of your career, you might progress from project manager
to program manager to portfolio manager roles.
While project, program, and portfolio managers hold different types and levels of
responsibility, they are all project managers. In Course 4 of this certificate program, you
will learn more about differentiating projects, programs, and portfolios.
● Program managers: Manage a group of projects that are related or similar to
one another and handle the coordination of these projects. They facilitate
effective communication between individual project managers and provide
support where necessary. They also help create and manage long-term goals for
their organization.
● Portfolio managers: Responsible for managing a group of related programs
within the same organization. They coordinate various programs in order to
ensure they are on track and that the organization is meeting its strategic
initiatives. Portfolio managers look at all projects and programs within the
organization and prioritize work as necessary.
Operational management roles
In operational management roles, you will get the opportunity to experience several
different departments and how they interact and operate. Operational management
roles allow you to work alongside peers and management from various business
segments, giving you an appreciation for what each segment does on a daily basis. Key
elements of project management include making sure a project is on budget and on
schedule. This course, and your experience as a project manager, will give you the tools
to be able to apply those skills to running a business. Some operational management
positions include:
● Operations Analyst: Manages and coordinates research, investigates workflows,
creates business procedures, and recommends changes to improve the project
and company.
● Operations Manager: Oversees strategic decision-making and rolls out plans of
action based on financial, schedule, and resource reporting.
● Chief Operating Officer: Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative
and operational functions of a business.
Agile roles
We will discuss the Agile project management approach in depth later, but here are a
couple of the positions you may see that are related to that approach:
● Scrum Master: Coordinates and guides the Scrum team. Knowledgeable in Agile
framework and Scrum and is able to teach others about the Scrum values and
principles
● Product Owner: Drives the direction of product development and progress.
Industry-specific management roles
As you search for project management roles, you may see positions with titles like
“engineering project manager” or “construction project manager.” Keep in mind that the
skills you learn in one industry can be applied to another industry. For example, you
may have experience as a software engineer but are interested in pursuing a career in
project management. You will be able to apply what you’ve learned working in a
technical field, as well as with the skills you have picked up in this certification course, to
a project manager position in multiple industries. Having experience working on a team
to achieve a task and understanding how to execute an effort on schedule and on
budget are aspects of your professional experience—combined with your project
management knowledge—that make it possible for you to move between industries.
Now that you know more about the possible project management roles, you might be
interested in finding a specific job. Job searching can be a time of self-reflection, growth,
and excitement. Add a career path change into the mix, and it can also seem
intimidating. To help you search, this section will introduce you to some common
buzzwords and skills that commonly appear in job descriptions.
Using buzzwords and skills in your job search
In order to search for the right job, you will want to utilize the most effective
buzzwords—words or phrases that are popular for a period of time or in a particular
industry. In today’s job market, buzzwords like data-driven, team player, and self-starter
are common. You may see terms like these show up throughout your searches.
Similarly, many job descriptions list the specific skills they require candidates to have.
These skills can become some of the terms that you use in your job search. Examples
of these skills include:
● Coordination, or getting people and teams to work together. You may see
responsibilities in job descriptions such as “coordination of efforts to achieve
project deliverable” or “coordinate internal resources to ensure successful project
completion.” Being a project manager is essentially managing the coordination of
resources to achieve your end goal. Coordination is one of the top skills a project
manager should have, so searching for this term can lead you to appropriate
positions.
● Organization, or the ability to stay focused on different tasks. You may come
across phrases like “solid organizational skills, including attention to detail and
multitasking skills” or something as simple as “highly organized.” Organization is
key to being a great project manager. We will discuss many ways to sharpen this
skill in the upcoming lessons.
● Leadership, or being able to lead a group of people. You may see phrases like
“strong leadership qualities” or “ability to lead” in job descriptions. A project
manager needs to display leadership in a number of ways, including effective
planning, efficient task coordination, inspiring team members, and key
decision-making. You are working on many of the skills needed to become a
great leader in this program!
Take a look at the skills required for this position. The job description lists each of
the terms that we talked about or a variation of these terms.
Project Manager
● Excellent time management, prioritization, and organizational skills
● Demonstrated ability to lead others
● Outstanding communication skills
● Successful track record in coordinating the work of internal and external teams
to develop new products
You may also come across positions in your search that do not include the title “Project
Manager” or any of the job titles we previously discussed, but you shouldn’t rule these
positions out. In many cases, the job description will include project management
experience and expectations, but the position may be called something else entirely.
Look at some of the job responsibilities required for a position titled “Operations
Associate.” This position is a type of project manager. You will find that most project
management-related job descriptions call for the ability to plan, organize, monitor,
and execute tasks—all skills you will be able to do once you complete this certification.
Operations Associate
● Plan and organize team objectives and priorities
● Develop and execute reporting and process design
● Monitor daily operations and enhance processes to maximize efficiency
● Coordinate training plans
Common project management buzzwords
Including buzzwords and skills in your job search can help you find jobs that are ideal
for you and your skill set. Once you have found a position you want to apply for, listing
buzzwords and skills that are relevant to the position can also help recruiters and hiring
managers identify you as a qualified and knowledgeable candidate.
Some common project management-related buzzwords and skills you could include on
your resume are:
Analytical Leadership engagement Project coordination
Assertive Managing meetings Project implementation
Assessing outcomes Managing client expectations Project initialization
Assessing progress Managing conflicts Project planning
Attention to detail Managing relationships with stakeholders
Conflict resolution Project reporting Managing vendors
Collaborative Quality control Meeting deadlines
Coordination Risk assessment Monitoring
Communication Risk management Multitasking
Development Solution development Planning
Evaluation Strategic planning Prioritizing
Executing plans Strong interpersonal skills Problem-solving
Financial analysis Strong verbal communication
Impact assessment Strong written communication
Process development Process improvement
Job searching for your first (or next) project management position can be easier if you
enter the right search terms. Search for the skills you’re learning throughout this project
management certificate program, or skills you’ve acquired in your current or previous
positions. These terms will help you determine if you have found a potential match. As
you start your project management career, don’t let the requirement for project
management experience stop you from applying for project management-adjacent
roles. Once you have completed this certification course, you'll see how many skills you
already have that can be translated and correlated to a project management role.
Key takeaway
Project management is a career path with a great deal of potential! With each step
along your career path, you are building yourself up to be a significant contributor to any
company. We have discussed a number of possible job titles for you to search for when
you start exploring project management roles. Regardless of the industry in which you
currently work, you have gained transferable skills. Transferable skills are abilities that
can be used in many different jobs and career paths. Your transferable skills can likely
be utilized in project management roles in many other industries.