Project Manager Job Description
Table of Contents
Note: This is NOT a job posting. This is just a sample job description. If you use it, please attribute this site.
This is a real-world description for a project manager. The description itself is several years old, but 95% of it is still appropriate for today.
PROJECT/PRACTICE RELATED COMPETENCIES
Project /Practice Management
- Creates and executes project work plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
- Identifies resources needed and assigns individual responsibilities.
- Manages day-to-day operational aspects of a project and scope.
- Reviews deliverables prepared by team before passing to client.
- Effectively applies our methodology and enforces project standards.
- Prepares for engagement reviews and quality assurance procedures.
- Minimizes our exposure and risk on project.
- Ensures project documents are complete, current, and stored appropriately.
Project Accounting
- Tracks and reports team hours and expenses on a weekly basis.
- Manages project budget.
- Determines appropriate revenue recognition, ensures timely and accurate invoicing, and monitors receivables for project.
- Follows up with clients, when necessary, regarding unpaid invoices.
- Analyzes project profitability, revenue, margins, bill rates and utilization.
CAREER PATH CORE COMPETENCIES
Financial Management
- Understands basic revenue models, P/L, and cost-to-completion projections and makes decisions accordingly.
- Understands our pricing model and billing procedures.
- Accurately forecasts revenue, profitability, margins, bill rates and utilization.
- Assures project legal documents are completed and signed.
Business Development
- Identifies business development and “add-on” sales opportunities as they relate to a specific project.
- Leads proposal efforts including completing project scoping and LOE assessments.
- Effectively conveys our message in both written and verbal business development discussions.
Communication
- Facilitates team and client meetings effectively.
- Holds regular status meetings with project team.
- Keeps project team well informed of changes within the organization and general corporate news.
- Effectively communicates relevant project information to superiors.
- Delivers engaging, informative, well-organized presentations.
- Resolves and/or escalates issues in a timely fashion.
- Understands how to communicate difficult/sensitive information tactfully.
Technical Understanding
- Possesses general understanding in the areas of application programming, database and system design.
- Understands Internet, Intranet, Extranet and client/server architectures.
- Possesses a thorough understanding of our capabilities.
- Maintains awareness of new and emerging technologies and the potential application on client engagements.
PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES
Leadership
- Challenges others to develop as leaders while serving as a role model and mentor.
- Manages the development of team by ensuring, when possible, that project tasks are in line with each Innovator's career interests.
- Inspires coworkers to attain goals and pursue excellence.
- Identifies opportunities for improvement and makes constructive suggestions for change .
- Manages the process of innovative change effectively.
- Remains on the forefront of emerging industry practices.
Teamwork
- Consistently acknowledges and appreciates each team member's contributions.
- Effectively utilizes each team member to his/her fullest potential.
- Motivates team to work together in the most efficient manner.
- Keeps track of lessons learned and shares those lessons with team members.
- Mitigates team conflict and communication problems.
- Plans and facilitates regular team activities outside of the office.
Client Management
- Manages day-to-day client interaction.
- Sets and manages client expectations.
- Develops lasting relationships with client personnel that foster client ties.
- Communicates effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions.
- Continually seeks opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and deepen client relationships.
- Builds a knowledge base of each client's business, organization and objectives.
ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Innovator Development
- Conducts effective performance evaluations and mentors those with less experience through formal channels.
- Helps team execute career development plans.
- Seeks and participates in development opportunities above and beyond training required by us.
- Trains other innovators and clients through both formal and informal training programs.
- Encourages more junior Innovators to take responsibility for their development within the company.
- Challenges fellow Innovators to progress toward their professional development goals.
Internal Operations
- Suggests areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions.
- Leads internal teams/task forces
- Approves team member's time and expense reports in a conscientious and timely manner.
- Reviews the status reports of team members and addresses issues as appropriate.
- Complies with and helps to enforce standard policies and procedures.
Other Job Descriptions
- Web and Software Development
- Project Management
- Business Analysis
- Relationship and Vendor Management
- Technical Management
- Network Engineering
- IT Management
- IT Infrastructure Management
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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I am going for a job in this area and am currently in college at the time. My major is Business Administration and am wondering what other aspects of this job degree wise would be a good choice for students like me looking into this kind of work.
Dear Marios,
I read the job description of Project Manager and I noticed that it has overlap on the functions of a Business Analyst and Training Manager.
It looks like that PM functions are too huge and very dynamic in size. What my concern is I may not find someone that has all the qualifications, knowhow, experience, etc in one individual.
Best regards.
German Sipin
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Project managers often have overlapping skills with others. Many, after all, start their careers doing other things and gravitate towards the PM role. As for finding something with all of the qualifications, that isn't usually possible. Instead, finding someone with the qualifications that are most important to the job at hand is a better approach to take. Job descriptions are idealized and describe the perfect candidate.
German,
You may not find someone with all the great or stellar qualifications in one individual, but you will find that a Senior Non-Commisioned Officer, (E-7 and above) has all of these traits. They are one of the most over looked assets in the PM hiring process. With a little coaching and mentoring into the specifics of your company, they can be a great asset. They have the Leadership, the drive, and most, if not all have the training and real world application of Budget to cost applications.
I myself was an Infantry Platoon Sergeant for over 20 years. I was responsible for $18 million dollars of equipment on any given day. On a typical deployment in Iraq, I was tasked with planning, resourcing, and building a Combat Outpost in a remote region of Kurdistan, Northern Iraq. Imagine the logistical nightmare that was. Moving 80 tons of equipment, 100+ personnel, hiring 30+ local workers, coordinating their housing, food, medical needs, pay, plus providing security and conducting 24 hour patrols in the surrounding city. All with a budget of $40 million dollars. Not too mention I had my own Soldiers to take care of at the same time.
I succeeded, and so has every other Senior NCO in my position. Not just in Combat, but also in Administrative positions. Look beyond College Degree’s and look for non-traditional avenues and you might be pleasantly surprised in what you might find.
Scott
Hello Marios,
I read your job description for Project manager and Senior Project manager and actually I don't see the main difference in the job and responsibilities assigned. Could you please specify the main difference in the job package of PM and SPM? How would you determine when you need a PM for the project or SPM?
Regards,
OLGA
Dear Marios,
All of the items mentioned are correct and they also describe what I expected from my Sales Manager, Operations Managers , General Managers, Regional and District Managers. In other words all of my middle management group were expected to perform these and other duties .
To illustrate - Your category of "Client Management" takes place every time you set down with a customer to discuss his business. A formal meeting or a 20 minute lunch the professional "Manager" or Project Manager is involved in "Client Management and if they are not aware of this then....
"Project' suggest to me that one only needs these talents or skills on a single endeavor and that PM's can only work on one thing at a time?
Just thoughts for your consideration.
Hi Ralph,
You are right that you'll find a lot of overlap between a project manager and other jobs. That's partly because project managers "sit" in between everybody coordinating tasks. As such they require some very general skills that other professionals also have. The more specific skills needed will depend on the organization and the products/services it is developing. I've see project managers go on to become specialists after some time in the PM role. Very few become VPs of Project Management.
As for "project" suggesting that a project manager works on just one thing at a time, that's not entirely correct. While a PM may indeed be dedicated to a single effort, they are often involved in multiple projects. A project in this context is simply an effort that has a start, an end, and a particular outcome. Contrast this to something like a call center job where the effort goes on forever.
Marios