Project Management Specialist

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Duties

Project management specialists typically handle the following tasks:

• Talk with clients to understand project goals and requirements
• Create detailed project plans outlining objectives, funding, schedules, and staffing needs
• Research, evaluate, and choose vendors or consultants to support project goals
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to project team members
• Meet with team members to discuss and solve any project issues
• Keep track of project expenses to ensure the project stays within the budget
• Monitor key milestones and the delivery of project results
• Suggest, review, and approve any changes to the project plan
• Prepare and share project-related documents

Project management specialists often start a project by clearly defining its purpose and goals, gathering input from the client. They build a project plan that lists the tasks, data, and resources needed to finish the work. They make sure the plan includes cost estimates, outlines possible risks, and sets a timeline for when the project should be completed.

As the project moves forward, these specialists lead the team’s efforts, keeping a close eye on progress and handling any problems that come up, including making adjustments if the client requests changes. When the project wraps up, they review and organize important documents like financial reports and contracts.

Project management specialists can work on a wide range of projects, such as developing a new shopping center, streamlining business operations, or launching sales in new markets. Depending on the project, they often team up with experts in specific fields. For instance, they might partner with an emergency management director during disaster response efforts or work alongside a construction manager on a building project.

Education

To enter the field, project management specialists usually need a bachelor’s degree in business, project management, or a related area. Some employers prefer candidates with a technical degree tied to their industry, such as computer science, information technology, or engineering.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

While certification isn’t always required, earning one can show employers and clients that a candidate is highly skilled. For example, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers several project management certifications for different experience levels, including the well-known Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Other Experience

Many jobs require project management specialists to have relevant work experience. Candidates often build experience by working in roles like business analyst, information security analyst, or training and development specialist.

Employers may also prefer candidates with backgrounds in areas like employee recruitment, staff relations, or compensation and benefits. Some people gain this experience through volunteering, internships, or coursework while in college.

Advancement

As project management specialists gain experience and take on more complex tasks, they may move into higher-level roles. They might start by managing smaller projects and eventually lead larger, more complicated initiatives.

Important Qualities

• Analytical skills: Specialists must be able to work through large amounts of information and data to make informed decisions.
• Communication skills: They must clearly share ideas with team members and effectively present information and results to clients.
• Critical-thinking skills: Specialists need to evaluate different strategies and choose the best approach for each project.
• Interpersonal skills: Building trust and maintaining positive relationships with clients is essential.
• Organizational skills: Managing multiple tasks and sometimes juggling several projects at once requires strong organization.
• Problem-solving skills: Specialists must quickly address challenges or unexpected issues and find practical solutions.
• Time-management skills: Working under tight deadlines means specialists must prioritize their time well to keep projects on track.

Pay

The median annual wage for project management specialists was $100,750 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,830, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $165,790.

Job Projections

Employment of project management specialists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.