The Project Manager job description is a long one.
The role of a Project Manager can change from organization to organization. It can even change from project to project. But there are elements to your job description that are common across most Project Manager roles.
So, in this article, we’ll break down the Project Manager role description in a logical way, and link to resources that will help you carry out each element effectively.
The structure of this article is simple. And it will draw from the structure of the approach to Project Management in our core Project Management training programs.
This article is a companion to an earlier article: ‘Do You Understand the Role of the Project Manager?’
In that article, we looked at:
So, this article picks up where the last one left off. It will go add a lot of detail to the final section. And, it will give you all of the elements of a Project Manager job description.
But, if you have not read it, do take a look at that article too.
If you prefer, we have a video version of this article.
First, we’ll look at all the Project Manager job description through the lens of the project life cycle… and the project process. I will use my 8-step project model…
You need to understand and document the goal, objectives, and scope of your project. And then, you must define the precise scope and specific deliverables required.
At this stage, you will document your key deliverables with only outline specifications – such as quality standards they must comply with.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles that cover these topics in-depth:
Other resources:
A simple approach to Project Definition is to work through our One-Page Project Definition Checklist.
For our downloadable One-page Project Definition and the other three videos in the series, check out the Project Management Fundamentals course in our Free Academy of Project Management.
A project must deliver good value. So, the benefits of its deliverables and their outcomes need to outweigh the costs. To demonstrate this, your role includes delivering key project documentation such as:
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover these topics in-depth:
Engaging with your stakeholders, listening to their concerns, and influencing their actions are an essential part of any Project Manager’s job description…
To support this, you need to create relevant documents and tools, that may include:
Start with: Project Stakeholder Management Knowledge Area: A Guide to Stakeholder Engagement.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover these topics in-depth:
Additional resources:
The core of your job description at this stage is to design and develop your:
These will no longer be outline plans like those of the Delivery Stage. But neither will you ever consider them final. They will go into version control.
At the same time, you also need to agree on the technical and quality aspects of the project with the appropriate Project Board members. This will lead you to prepare:
Another key part of the project manager job description at this stage is to evaluate and recommend the methods, tools, and templates that will best support your project. This may involve specifying, procuring, and commissioning software, such as a Project Management Information System (PMIS).
We will talk about people in the next step, but here, you need to think about the material resources you will need. You’ll need to:
Non-human resources include:
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover these topics in-depth:
The other essential resource is people. So, you must identify the key people you’ll need for the delivery of the project. And you must bring these people together to form a project team.
Where your team will need to include consultants or contractors, your project manager job description will also include the tendering and procurement processes.
Once you have secured your team, you’ll need to:
And a vital part of your role is to maintain team morale and develop the people in your team. Run regular project team meetings that define the project, plan its delivery, and then review progress, to:
Start with: ‘What You Need to Know about Building a Great Project Team‘.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover these topics in-depth:
Additional Resources:
Projects are inherently uncertain. So, a big part of any Project Manager job description is to take responsibility for risk and issue management.
This is a sizeable specialty in its own right. And, if your project is large, you may be lucky enough to have a dedicated risk manager on your team. Yet, even so, this responsibility remains yours – risks and issues can affect the very viability of your project!
Start with our ‘Ultimate Guide to Project Risk Management‘.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover these topics in-depth:
Additional Resources
The beating heart of your project, during its delivery stage, is the Monitor and Control Cycle (or Loop). So, at this stage, a large part of your job description will be to manage:
Start with ‘The Secret of Project Delivery: Project Implementation Heartbeat‘.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover these topics in-depth:
Your responsibilities as a Project Manager do not end, until you have shut down your project in an orderly manner. As a minimum, you need to:
Start with ‘Project Closure: Your Complete Guide to How to Close-down Your Project‘.
For our downloadable One-page Project Definition and the other three videos in the series, check out the Project Management Fundamentals course in our Free Academy of Project Management.
Projects do not exist in a vacuum. Even in a small organization, there will be other initiatives going on, as well as business-as-usual (BAU). Liaise with related projects to ensure that work is not overlooked or duplicated, and that resource or schedule inter-dependencies are managed.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
You have a responsibility to manage the people on your project, as well as managing your project. And your role is to lead, as well as to manage. For example:
We have a ton of resources on this vital topic.
Our ‘PM in Under 5 videos that answer the question, ‘What is…
Our Feature Articles and videos that cover topics in-depth:
Models of Leadership
In conclusion, I’d like to end this round-up, with a short video. In it, I draw similarities between the roles of a Project Manager and a pilot. I hope you’ll find it thought-provoking.
Please share your thoughts below, and I’ll respond to every comment.
Dr Mike Clayton is one of the most successful and in-demand project management trainers in the UK. He is author of 14 best-selling books, including four about project management. He is also a prolific blogger and contributor to ProjectManager.com and Project, the journal of the Association for Project Management. Between 1990 and 2002, Mike was a successful project manager, leading large project teams and delivering complex projects. In 2016, Mike launched OnlinePMCourses.
Project Quality Management: Principles and Practices You Need to Know
What are Assurance and Audit in Project Management? Your Awesome Guide
What is Value? …or Project Value? | Video
Robust Project Definition: How to Build it and the Components you Need
Session expired
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.