Education:
Project Management Specialist
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Job Outlook:
Faster than average
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Work From Home
Salary
High:
$159,150.00
Average:
$101,610.00
Hourly
Average:
$48.85
What they do:
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
On the job, you would:
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate project activities to meet deadlines.
- Assign duties or responsibilities to project personnel.
- Communicate with key stakeholders to determine project requirements and objectives.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. Project management specialists must be able to understand large amounts of information and data.
Communication skills. Project management specialists need to convey information to staff and must get input from and present results to clients.
Critical-thinking skills. To determine which strategy would work best for a particular project, these specialists must assess its goals and impact.
Interpersonal skills. Project management specialists must establish trust with clients and respond well to their questions and concerns.
Organizational skills. Project management specialists’ work involves balancing a variety of responsibilities, and they may oversee more than one project at one time.
Problem-solving skills. Project management specialists must be able to handle difficult or unexpected situations and find effective solutions.
Time-management skills. Project management specialists often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule.
Job Details
Responsibilities
Assign duties or work schedules to employees.
Discuss business strategies, practices, or policies with managers.
Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Develop detailed project plans.
Select resources needed to accomplish tasks.
Participate in staffing decisions.
Monitor flow of cash or other resources.
Manage information technology projects or system activities.
Manage operations, research, or logistics projects.
Supervise information technology personnel.
Coordinate resource procurement activities.
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Manage construction activities.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Prepare operational reports or records.
Develop detailed project plans.
Participate in staffing decisions.
Report information to managers or other personnel.
Gather organizational performance information.
Manage information technology projects or system activities.
Present work to clients for approval.
What Project Management Specialists Do
Once a project is underway, project management specialists direct the team in carrying out the work.
Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, and other details of a project. They lead and guide the work of technical staff. Project management specialists also may serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
Duties
Project management specialists typically do the following:
- Communicate with clients to determine project requirements and objectives
- Develop project plans to include information such as objectives, funding, schedules, and staff
- Identify, review, and select vendors or consultants to meet project needs
- Assign duties or responsibilities to project staff
- Confer with project staff to identify and resolve problems
- Monitor project costs to stay within budget
- Monitor project milestones and deliverables
- Propose, review, and approve modifications to project plans
- Produce and distribute project documents
Project management specialists may begin a project by defining its scope or goals, using input from the client. They then create a plan that itemizes the individual activities, data, and resources needed to complete the project. Project management specialists ensure that the plan estimates costs, identifies potential risks, and specifies a timeline for completion.
Once a project is underway, project management specialists direct the team in carrying out the work. They monitor progress by tracking milestones and troubleshooting problems that may arise, including adjusting the project to address changes requested by the client. Finally, they close out the project by reviewing and organizing financial statements, contracts, and other documents.
These specialists may oversee a variety of projects, such as building a new commercial center, improving business processes, or expanding sales into additional markets. In coordinating a project, they may work closely with those whose expertise is in a particular field. For example, a project management specialist may collaborate with an emergency management director in disaster relief efforts or a construction manager in building a facility.
Work Environment
Project management specialists held about 881,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of project management specialists were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 28% |
| Construction | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Administrative and support services | 7 |
| Finance and insurance | 5 |
Project management specialists usually work in an office setting. Although project management specialists may collaborate on teams, some work independently. Project management specialists also may travel to their clients’ places of business.
Work Schedules
Project management specialists generally work during normal business hours. However, their schedules may require flexibility, such as when working across time zones or during off-peak hours. Most work full time, and some may work more than 40 hours per week.
Getting Started
How to Become a Project Management Specialist
Project management specialists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation.
Project management specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree that may be in a variety of fields, including business or project management. Although not always required, certification may be beneficial.
Education
To enter the occupation, project management specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in business, project management, or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a degree in a technical field related to the industry in which they will work, such as computer and information technology or engineering.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although not always required, professional certification demonstrates competency to prospective clients and employers. For example, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers several certifications in project management for workers at various experience levels, including the Project Management Professional (PMP).
Other Experience
Some positions require project management specialists to have relevant work experience. Candidates may gain experience as business analysts, information security analysts, training and development specialists, or in other related occupations.
Employers also may prefer to hire candidates who have experience in areas such as personnel recruitment, employee relations, or compensation and benefits. Candidates sometimes get this experience by volunteering or while in college, either through courses or internships.
Advancement
Project management specialists may advance to more senior positions as they gain experience and take on more responsibility. For example, they may begin as trainees working on small projects and progress to large, complex projects.
Job Outlook
Employment of project management specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 68,100 openings for project management specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
As organizations seek ways to maintain and improve productivity, employment of project management specialists is expected to increase. These specialists will be needed to help manage various business operations, ensuring that projects meet their goals and are completed on time and within budget.
Demand for project management specialists is expected to be strong in computer systems design services. More project management specialists will be needed to manage the growing volume and complexity of information technology (IT) projects required to support expanded telework.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about project management specialists, including details about certification, visit
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