The title Project Manager is a sought-after position, but with its’ somewhat vague description, many people are left wondering what a project manager actually does. In short, a project manager is responsible for implementing and managing a project from start to finish, but their overall responsibilities account for much more than that. Here, we take a look at their day-to-day, their responsibilities and the skills needed to succeed as a project manager.
Day-to-Day
Depending on where you are in a certain project, a project manager will spend their time creating and listening to ideas, implementing those ideas, trouble shooting and more. They are responsible for overseeing and signing important documents, setting and maintaining a schedule for completion and ensuring all budgets are in line. Often, project managers have a team under them, so they also spend their time managing team members and keeping everyone on task.
Skills Needed
A project manager is an upper level position that often requires at least 5-10 years of experience. In addition to that, employers also look for:
- Time management skills
- Budgeting skills
- Communication skills
- Management and leadership skills
- Problem solving skills
- Ability to analyze data
- Creative skills to think of new ideas and implement new strategies
- Ability to adapt to change
- Deep understanding of the work and company
Responsibilities
In order to successfully complete a project, a project manager is responsible for a variety of tasks. As mentioned in the day-to-day, a project manager will spend their days doing a ton of different things to ensure a project is completed smoothly and correctly. These include:
- Sometimes, coming up with the idea for the project, but always creating the requirements needed for the project.
- Setting a timeline, not just for the projects end date but for individual tasks that make up the project as well.
- Assigning tasks to the correct employees and team members and ensuring they understand their role in the project.
- Creating a budget and continuously tracking that budget, taking into account any extra expenses that come up.
- Being a team leader, answering questions and making sure every member of the team is on task for the projects completion.
- Relaying information to higher ups about the status of the project, often presenting updates and information during meetings.
If you are a skilled project manager looking for a new company to work for, or a company who needs to hire a project manager for their team, let The Goodkind Group help you find the perfect candidate. Contact us at 212-378-0700 or visit our website for more information.
