Discover the wide array of exciting career opportunities in Project Management, each with its own unique responsibilities and requirements. Learn about specific roles such as IT Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Technical Project Managers, and industry-specific positions such as Healthcare or Construction Project Managers.
Key Insights
- A Project Manager ensures the successful completion of a project within its time frame and budgetary constraints.
- IT Project Managers need a more technical background, often holding degrees in Computer Science or possessing knowledge of information systems and programming languages.
- Scrum Masters lead teams through projects using the Agile Project Management methodology, focusing on short development cycles known as sprints for quick progress and adjustments.
- Project Administrators work closely with project management, handling administrative tasks like tracking budget and expenses, making phone calls, and note-taking at meetings.
- Technical Project Managers are not only leaders but also tech experts who generally manage IT and IT-adjacent projects, often having degrees in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or Engineering.
- Industry-specific Project Managers require industry experience and specialized knowledge in fields like Healthcare, Construction, or Aerospace.
What is a Project Manager?
A Project Manager oversees all aspects of a project from start to finish. A Project Manager's goal is to ensure that the assigned project is finished on time and within budget.
IT Project Manager
IT Project Managers handle Project Management for IT companies, departments, and projects. This position typically requires more technical training than other project management positions and may require a Computer Science degree or knowledge of information systems and programming languages.
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager handles a company's or organization's operational activities, including managing staff and hiring decisions, overseeing productivity, monitoring quality control and customer satisfaction, and analyzing performance. The primary goal of an Operations Manager is that everything runs smoothly and successfully.
Scrum Master
A Scrum Master leads a team through a project using Agile Project Management. The Agile methodology uses short development cycles called sprints, allowing fast progress and adjustments throughout the process. The Scrum Master is in charge of this highly collaborative approach by focusing on the team.
Project Administrator
A Project Administrator assists a Project Manager by completing administrative tasks. Project Administrators are most common in the engineering and healthcare industries. Often, they work side-by-side with project management. Some of the tasks that the Project Administrator might handle include making phone calls, tracking budget and expenses, note-taking at meetings, and general administrative duties for the project.
Technical Project Manager
A Technical Project Manager combines the traditional skills of a Project Manager with tech training. They will need to be both a leader and a tech guru. They typically manage IT and IT-adjacent projects. Technical Project Managers typically have a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), computer science, or engineering.
Industry-Specific Project Management Job Titles
Project management positions that require specific skills within an industry will have industry-specific job titles, such as Healthcare Project Manager, Construction Project Manager, or Aerospace Project Manager. In addition to the general skills required of a Project Manager, these positions will require industry experience and specialized knowledge.
Agile Project Manager
An Agile Project Manager manages projects through specialization in the Agile Project Management methodology. In Agile, teams work in shorter cycles (referred to as sprints) to create faster and to allow for more adjustments in real time. While much of Agile was developed for software projects, its success and popularity have pushed it into other industries.
Project Management Consultant
Project Management Consultants are hired to work for different businesses to oversee projects and then move on to another company. They are typically tasked with multiple projects and may also work for several clients at a time.