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
Introductory-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 introductory-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 time frame 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, all 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. May also be listed as a Technical Program Manager or Technical Project
Manager.
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.
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.