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A competent project manager can be the difference between a successful project and one that gets delayed or goes over budget. When planning to hire a project manager, you need to create the perfect project management job description so that you attract the right candidates. Remember, job posting sites will have many project management job postings. You must take care to give the right amount of details about the position, responsibilities, skills, qualifications, etc. without overwhelming the prospects.
Let’s discuss the essential elements of a project management job description, along with some examples.
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What Do Those in Project Management Do?
Those in project management roles are responsible for every stage of a project, from ideating and planning to hiring teams, setting meeting timelines and delivering. A solid project manager will also be able to build and adhere to a budget for their project.
We will list project manager responsibilities in detail later, but typically it covers:
- Project ideation and planning
- Internal and external stakeholder communication
- Budget allocation and adherence
- Hiring, training and guiding teams
- Meeting deadlines
- Getting feedback
- Day-to-day operations
- Evaluating project performance
How To Write a Project Management Job Description
A project management job description must include a job brief, responsibilities, educational qualifications, experience and any other requirement as per your organization. You should also include details about your company, its culture and work environment. Also mention how you can help the hired candidates grow as a person and in their careers.
Job Brief
Start your job description with a job brief. As these are the first few sentences a candidate will read about the position, it is advisable to set expectations at the beginning. If you know the exact project for which you are hiring, mention it in the job brief itself so that the candidates know the context behind what you are looking for.
Overview, responsibilities, skills and qualifications are the essential elements of a job description. The job brief should include information about the following aspects of your company:
- The mission, vision and culture of the business
- Benefits you offer
- What should be included with the application (e.g., a portfolio or references)
- Equal employment opportunity statement for legal reasons
Objectives
Continue the job brief section with why you want to hire a project manager. Is it a new role you have created because the need for a project manager has risen for the first time? Or do you have an ongoing need for someone to manage projects as your team grows? Expound on that here so that candidates understand what the goal of the role is. Being transparent with your hiring objectives attracts the right people.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a project manager vary by industry or type of project, but industry knowledge and experience helps. When listing responsibilities of the new hire, include both general project management responsibilities and those specific to your projects.
Here are some of the most common responsibilities for project managers:
- Define and document project scope, objectives and desired outcome
- Set and manage stakeholder expectations, both internally and externally
- Prepare a budget based on project scope
- Set and adhere to budgetary allocation
- Hire the right team, internally or externally, and provide training and coaching, if needed
- Estimate resource requirement, acquire it effectively and manage efficiently
- Design a work plan for each team member depending upon project requirement and member expertise
- Provide project updates to stakeholders as per demand and requirement
- Create and manage contracts with suppliers and vendors, ensuring timely deliveries
- Perform regular assessment of project execution to identify areas for improvement
- Be aware of industry best practices, techniques and standards, and encourage team members to use them for effective project execution
- Track project performance periodically to ensure both short-term and long-term goals are met
- Create and maintain detailed project documentation
- Undertake risk management to minimize potential risks
- Use the right tools and techniques for easier project management
- Ensure project delivery is on time, as per scope and within the allocated budget
- Manage interdepartmental coordination to ensure smooth project execution
Required Qualifications
Besides domain and technical expertise, soft skills play a crucial role in the success of a project manager. This is where you’ll list the nonnegotiable skills required of a project manager so that they fulfill their responsibilities efficiently. Examples include:
- Excellent communication skills
- Proficient at managing time and resources
- Detail-oriented
- Ability to draw up detailed project plans and schedules
- Proven leadership skills
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Capable of managing crises as and when they arise
- Adept at negotiating internally as well as externally
Preferred Skills
These are some of the qualifications and skills that are nice to have, but not necessarily required. Many successful project managers don’t have certifications, but excel in their work. You can add or modify these as per your unique requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree (add disciplines relevant to your industry; if nothing else, list a business degree)
- Proven experience of three to five years in managing projects of similar size and type (modify the number of years as per your needs)
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (or equivalent)
- PMP certification desirable (add any other certification pertinent to your industry)
- Domain knowledge preferred
- Proven experience in using popular project management tools such as Asana, Trello, Kanban boards, etc. (if you or your team uses some specific tools, mention them here)
- Knowledge of project management frameworks and best practices
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Project Management Job Description Examples
Although a project manager’s fundamental job responsibilities remain the same irrespective of industry, any job description that you create must take into account your unique requirements, circumstances and work environment.
Here are three project management job description examples that illustrate how companies should highlight their unique needs.
Example 1. Project Manager at Cognizant Technology Solutions
In this Indeed job posting, the company makes its stand about U.S. work authorizations clear at the onset because it is targeting a global talent pool. You should also try to address the primary pain points of your target candidates in the job description. This will set expectations from the beginning and avoid future challenges during the hiring process.
Example 2. Construction Project Manager at Eenhoorn LLC
This is a job posting for a construction company. Observe that it has mentioned the exact project for which it is hiring. This makes it easier for the candidates to highlight the relevant experience in their résumés, which will enable you to shortlist candidates with prior experience.
We strongly recommend hiring people with prior experience for project management roles because this is crucial for successfully achieving your goals.
Example 3. Business Applications Program Manager at Single Store
This is an example of a project manager job description by a startup. The job description mentions specifics about the type of person it is looking for. The skills and experience section also lists specifics of experience required or “nice to have.” At the end, it mentions its unique work culture that allows employees to work both remotely and onsite—flexibility that is highly valued in today’s work environment.
Bottom Line
When writing your own job description, try to be as specific as possible. Don’t worry about being too long; the right candidates will be hooked to every word you say and they are the ones you should be looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a project manager need to be PMP certified?
No, a project manager need not be PMP certified to do their work properly. But it is good to have the certification as it adds credibility to your expertise, provides you an opportunity to train alongside highly experienced professionals and increases your earning potential.
Where are the best places to post job listings?
You can post job listings on popular job websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, FlexJobs, and more. If you are hiring for a specialized role, such as programming or graphic design, you can post on dedicated websites such as Dice or Dribbble.
How do you post a job on LinkedIn?
Anyone with an account can list jobs by following a few simple steps. Check out our full guide to posting a job on LinkedIn for free. If you want to promote your job posting, you can do so for just a few dollars per day.
FAQs
What is a sample job description for a project manager? ›
A project manager is accountable for planning and allocating resources, preparing budgets, monitoring progress, and keeping stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle. All of this takes place within the framework of achieving a company's goals and achieving their vision.
What is a good example of project management? ›Project management is the science and art of organizing all the components of a project. For example, the launching of a new service, a marketing campaign, or the development of a new product are projects. In fact, even a wedding is a project that requires management.
What are the 5 roles of a project manager? ›"Project Managers play the lead role in planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects. They're expected to deliver a project on time, within the budget, and brief while keeping everyone in the know and happy."
What questions do you answer when you manage a project answer? ›- Tell me about yourself. ...
- Can you tell us about the last project you worked on? ...
- Tell us about a time something went wrong in a project you were managing. ...
- How do you prioritize tasks in a project? ...
- What was your most successful project? ...
- What's your experience with budget management?
planning and monitoring the project. adopting any delegation and use of project assurance roles within agreed reporting structures. preparing and maintaining project, stage and exception plans as required. managing project risks, including the development of contingency plans.
How do you write a job description for a project? ›- Identify roles. Start by identifying the necessary roles for your project. ...
- Identify skills. Once you have an idea of the different roles necessary to complete the project, the next step is to identify the skills each of those roles requires. ...
- Evaluate workload. ...
- Assign roles. ...
- Set expectations.
Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
What are the 5 phases of project management example? ›Developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the five phases of project management include conception and initiation, project planning, project execution, performance/monitoring, and project close.
What are typical project management skills? ›That includes planning projects, assessing risks and opportunities, creating budgets, communicating with stakeholders, troubleshooting problems, and more. Of course, the skills required to get projects across the finish line are particularly useful for people who want to start or grow their careers as project managers.
What does a project manager do on a daily basis? ›A Project Manager is responsible for the planning, procurement, execution and completion of a project. The project manager is in charge of the entire project and handles everything involved, such as the project scope, managing the project team, as well as the resources assigned to the project.
What are the 4 core functions of project management? ›
Four Functions of Management: Planning, Organizing, Leading & Controlling.
What is the most important task for a project manager? ›If innovation is required to be successful, the most important job of a PM is to nurture an environment where the team can innovate. To do this, the PM must communicate with team and stakeholders throughout the project; focus on solving problems, and create space for failure.
How do you answer Tell me about a time you managed a project? ›The best approach to answering this question:
Select an example where you delivered on time and within budget results. Talk about how you utilized both the people and non-people resources available to you to deliver the expected results.
Talk about your experience and how you exhibit these skills to emphasize what you're good at and sell yourself. Some skills to talk about include strategizing, organization, leadership, teamwork, compassion, communication, relationship management, and software know-how (like ability to use project management software).
How do you describe project management experience? ›What qualifies as project management experience? Experience in project management refers to time spent planning, leading, directing, and managing projects.
What are the top 5 priorities of a project manager? ›...
5 Top Responsibilities of a Project Manager
- Planning.
- Organizing.
- Leading.
- Implementing.
- Analyzing.
Scope creep — the nightmare of every project manager. It can be frustrating to work with stakeholders who don't know what they want and who do not have a clear goal in mind. This can introduce huge risks, ultimately impacting all aspects of the project.
What does an entry level project manager do? ›Working as an Entry Level Project Manager
Plan, track and report on the performance of multiple ongoing projects. Support senior managers with the completion of project objectives. Effectively manage project risks. Streamline processes to produce more efficient progress.
A job description summarizes the essential responsibilities, activities, qualifications and skills for a role. Also known as a JD, this document describes the type of work performed. A job description should include important company details — company mission, culture and any benefits it provides to employees.
What is job description sample? ›A job description template is a reusable model that can be tailored to detail the specific requirements, responsibilities, job duties, and skills required to perform a role. It typically includes a list of common daily tasks, equipment or tools used, who the role reports to, and the overall goals of the role.
What are examples of roles and responsibilities? ›
- Plan and develop the project.
- Create and lead the team.
- Monitor and share project progress.
A 2017 report published by the Harvard Business Review divides project manager personalities into four different types—executor, prophet, expert, and gambler [2]. Knowing how you or other project managers operate can be useful in discerning what kind of project management style is best for the situation.
What are the seven 7 stages of project cycle? ›The Project Lifecycle consists of seven phases intake, initiation, planning, product selection, execution, monitoring & control, and closure. These phases make up the path that takes your project from start to finish.
What is start to finish in project management example? ›Consider a construction project where you need to move to a new house. To be able to do this, the new house needs to be already built. This is an example of a Start-to-Finish relationship.
How do you describe project management skills on a resume? ›- Communication and interpersonal skills.
- Leadership and teamwork skills.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Time management and organizational skills.
- Risk and cost management skills.
- Performance monitoring.
- Technical skills.
Organization is one of the most critical soft skills of project management to possess. One of the main reasons companies seek out a project manager is to find someone capable of organizing a large number of moving parts.
What are the two primary responsibilities of project management? ›- Planning: A project manager is responsible for formulating a plan to meet the project's objectives while adhering to an approved budget and timeline. ...
- Leading: An essential part of any project manager's role is to assemble and lead the project team.
It turns out that 90% of a project manager's job is spent on communication so it's important to make sure everybody gets the right message at the right time.
What does a normal day look like for a project manager? ›Their day-to-day work includes communications around hiring, managing job codes, liaising with external recruiters/agencies, owning the company's HR tech stack, managing the different job boards it uses, and maintaining good employer branding.
What are the three 3 main elements of project management? ›The project management triangle is a model in project management that shows how the balance between three constraints—scope, time, and budget—affects the quality of the project.
What are the key steps in project management? ›
The five stages of project management are initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/controlling, and closing. In each of these five project management steps, teams follow a structured project outline to ensure projects close according to schedule, budget, and scope.
How do you answer why do you want to work in project management? ›- Leadership.
- Communication and collaboration.
- Interest in business.
- Team camaraderie.
- Team member professional development.
- Flexibility across industries.
- Transferable skills.
- Value you can add to the company.
Example: 'I worked on a sales team where we needed to increase our monthly sales. I started a weekly meeting where the team could brainstorm and share our ideas for innovating and finding new sales tactics. I worked with colleagues to put these ideas into presentations, which we delivered to managers.
How do you answer what's the best project you've ever worked on? ›- Prepare in advance. This is a common interview question, so it's ideal to prepare an answer ahead of time. ...
- Use the STAR interview technique. ...
- Be specific and concise. ...
- Include measurable outcomes. ...
- Explain your role. ...
- Stay positive.
- Showcase foundational skills. ...
- Sign up with a mentor. ...
- Get certified. ...
- Find training opportunities. ...
- Earn your bachelor's degree. ...
- Explore project coordinator positions.
“I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by/with my …” “I feel my skills are particularly well-suited to this position because …” “I believe I have the type of knowledge to succeed in this role and at the company because …”
How do you ace a project manager interview? ›- Emphasize your knowledge and experience.
- Demonstrate good communication skills.
- Prepare talking points about the different tools used in project management.
- Outline your organization techniques.
- Highlight your focus on customer satisfaction.
Project management is the science and art of organizing all the components of a project. For example, the launching of a new service, a marketing campaign, or the development of a new product are projects. In fact, even a wedding is a project that requires management.
How would you describe a project manager position? ›Project managers play the lead role in planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing out projects. They are accountable for the entire project scope, the project team and resources, the project budget, and the success or failure of the project.
Why is project management important give some examples? ›Project managers help teams break down a project into more manageable pieces. By breaking the project into a clear process of assigned tasks, milestones, and deadlines, project managers can direct their teams more efficiently and react to issues with greater agility.
What is a real life example of management? ›
In everyday life, a person does many things like managing home, family, work, shopping, saving pocket money, purchasing vegetables, managing social life, and many more. If one observes keenly, unknowingly, in all these activities, a person actually manages many things in the daily life.
What is the primary objective of project management? ›The purpose of project management is to foresee or predict as many dangers and problems as possible; and to plan, organise and control activities so that the project is completed as successfully as possible in spite of all the risks.
What is the most important thing in project management? ›1. Communication. In order for projects to be successfully managed, PMs need to be incredibly adept at communicating efficiently and effectively with their teams. It's crucial that they're able to effectively share their visions, goals, ideas, and issues.
Why project management is important? ›The importance of project management in organizations can't be overstated. When it's done right, it helps every part of the business run more smoothly. It allows your team to focus on the work that matters, free from the distractions caused by tasks going off track or budgets spinning out of control.
What are the five example of management? ›At the most fundamental level, management is a discipline that consists of a set of five general functions: planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling.
What are the four functions of management explain with example? ›The four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. In order to be a successful manager, you must do all four while managing your work and team. These are the foundations of any professional managerial position.
What are the 3 S's of project management? ›Scope, schedule, cost. Good, fast, cheap.
What are the 4 C's in project management? ›To solve this problem, PBL has evolved to include a new Gold Standard that incorporates the “Four Cs” of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.