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Project Management Specialists

The occupation Project Management Specialists covers people who analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. One core duty is to communicate with key stakeholders to determine project requirements and objectives. Interest ratings put Enterprising on top at 6.3 out of 7 and Conventional second, so the code is ECS and the day leans toward leading, persuading and making business decisions. Plan on a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience; O*NET labels this considerable preparation. Strength in critical thinking, active listening, and writing helps most here. People who want leading, persuading and making business decisions usually fit better here than those who need hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

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.

Main tasks

  • Communicate with key stakeholders to determine project requirements and objectives.
  • Identify project needs such as resources, staff, or finances by reviewing project objectives and schedules.
  • Submit project deliverables to clients, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
  • Confer with project personnel to identify and resolve problems.
  • Plan, schedule, or coordinate project activities to meet deadlines.
  • Request and review project updates to ensure deadlines are met.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Time Management

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on critical thinking and active listening.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.5 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ECS takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Also called

  • Fiber Project Manager
  • Implementation Project Manager
  • Project Management Consultant

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.