The Project Management: Roles, Responsibilities and Career Path
If you’re a natural leader with a keen eye for detail, a career in project management could be right up your street. But what exactly are the project manager’s roles and responsibilities? What is it that a project manager does, and what contribution do they make to the businesses they work for?
Truth is, project management is a complex and demanding field that varies significantly from one employer to the next. The project manager’s responsibilities extend to every stage of the process throughout the project lifecycle – initiation, planning, execution, control and completion. The role of the project manager is therefore hard to define, as they have an influence on everything that takes place from beginning to end.
Project managers work with large and small teams on the completion of various types of projects. As a result, they need to be natural team players and extremely sociable. Not to mention, confident and responsible enough to take ownership of the entire project. Flexibility and good communication let the heart of every successful project, as does the ability to multitask at the highest level.
The Project Manager’s Skills and Competencies
Every project has its own unique requirements and complications. Irrespective of the complexity of the task, the project manager is expected to do whatever it takes to ensure all key objectives are met. Along with a detailed understanding of the organisation and general business acumen, the successful project manager must bring a variety of additional skills and competencies to the table.
Examples of which include the following:
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A creative mindset
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Advanced problem-solving skills
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Accuracy and attention to detail
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Good analytical skills
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Honed communication and negotiating skills
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Experience with accountancy and budgeting
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Advanced organization and multitasking skills
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Interpersonal skills and natural leadership qualities
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Motivation and time management
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Familiarity with key project management tools
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Relentless commitment to deadlines and schedules
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An approachable and amicable personality
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Sufficient risk management experience
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The ability to remain calm and objective under pressure
These represent just a few of the hard and soft skills you’ll need to become a successful project manager. Some of which will be covered in your chosen project management course, others are the kinds of qualities and character traits you either have or you don’t. You can also develop these qualities through Free Project Management Courses.
Project Management Roles and Responsibilities
So far, we’ve taken a very broad look at the roles and responsibilities of project management personnel. But what exactly does a project manager do on a day to day basis?
Again, specific duties and responsibilities vary significantly from one organization and industry to the next. Nevertheless, there are several fundamental project management roles and responsibilities, which the vast majority of project managers will be expected to take ownership of.
Examples of which include the following:
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Helping stakeholders establish objectives and expectations
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Creating and publishing a detailed project management plan
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Deploying, supervising and motivating team members
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Tracking the progress of the project and its contributors
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Creating accurate financial forecasts and managing budgets
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Ensuring every contributor has the information and resources they need
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Pre-empting and solving problems as the project progresses
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Reporting directly to senior stakeholders and executives
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Updating project documentation as required
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Liaising with third party suppliers and service providers
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Measuring progress against predetermined KPIs
Project managers often play something of a ‘behind the scenes’ role, though are always the linchpin that holds the entire project together. A position of enormous responsibility, careers in project management can be fulfilling and financially rewarding in equal measures.
Project Management Career Path
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not strictly necessary to earn a formal college degree to become a project manager. Studying project management is mandatory, but professional experience and personal qualities are more important than traditional qualifications.
A good project management course will provide you with the key industry insights you need to build a successful career in the field. Upon completion of your course, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of career prospects with established employers worldwide. You could even take the first steps towards setting up your own business from scratch.
Studying project management will ensure you know what’s expected of you, while identifying your current strengths and weaknesses. If you’re unable to commit to traditional classroom education, consider an online project management course as a flexile and cost-effective alternative.
For more information on our Project Management Courses or to discuss your requirements in more detail, contact a member of the team at Brentwood Open Learning College today.
Our Free certificate courses are online study programs. This means that you are able to study your Free Project Management course from home.
