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  • Program vs. Project Manager

Program Manager vs. Project Manager: Understanding Role Distinctions

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Program manager and project manager roles may sound similar, but they are two distinct positions in Agile methodology . Program managers ensure the work of Agile teams aligns with the company’s long-term strategy. They consider the big picture, supporting an overall company initiative. Project managers are frontline workers who lead a team through deadlines and deliverables. They focus on the day-to-day activities that contribute to these larger objectives.

This article outlines the difference between program manager vs. project manager roles, including their responsibilities and functions in a company.

The role of a program manager

Program managers are responsible for a group of projects, which are collectively known as a program. The role is similar to that of a product manager who is in charge of identifying customer and business needs. Project managers work with program managers to develop a project plan for their team. They coordinate with the C-suite on the company’s goals and business objectives and act as strategic advisors, formulating new tactics. They ensure alignment between strategic objectives, the program, and individual teams.  

A program manager oversees program execution, ensuring cross-collaboration between projects and teams. Their ability to effectively run a program indicates their success within the company. 

Program managers formulate and organize inter-connected projects. They must decide what strategies and objectives to pursue and coordinate with the various project teams. They may even have a leadership role where they must oversee and evaluate project managers’ performance. 

All deadlines and budgets must go through the program manager because they are responsible for risk and resource management.

The role of a project manager

A project manager oversees a team that performs activities relating to a project in the program. They own a project and are responsible for its execution from start to finish. 

Project management involves overseeing and leading short-term projects with a definitive timeline and end date. For example, project managers create the cross-functional workflow for a project and team. They focus on daily operations, such as priorities, tasks, milestones, and deliverables. 

Project managers focus on meeting deadlines and are less involved in the overall organizational picture. For instance, they get involved in small-scale projects, such as implementing a new feature request. They set the project scope and allocate resources to meet project goals. Or, they may be a Scrum master if the company uses the Scrum framework.

Program managers vs. project managers: key differences

Program and project managers help companies achieve their objectives in different ways. The diagram below illustrates the main differences and similarities between the roles of program vs. project managers:

Portfolio management Portfolio optimization. Business goal alignment. Business value alignment. Program selection Program management Prioritizing and budgeting strategic initiatives. Managing interdependencies between projects. Ensuring resource capacity and availability Project management Delivery of product or service. Managing cost, schedule, and scope. Resource and budget management.

This graphic shows the breakdown of project and program management and how they overlap.

Responsibilities

Program manager vs. project manager responsibilities differ in many ways. Project managers oversee small projects that incrementally contribute to a program. They manage resources, deliverables, and deadlines. 

A program manager, however, establishes programs and their objectives based on a company’s business needs. They are important strategic advisors collaborating with stakeholders and the C-suite and coordinating with project managers. They work to create roadmaps, budgets, and schedules. But one thing they must do is mitigate risk. For instance, they determine whether a program will be too costly to pursue and potentially become a money pit. Ultimately, they monitor and measure the effectiveness of a program.

Project manager and program manager skills tend to overlap. They both need to be clear communicators, process-oriented, tactical and strategic thinkers, and familiar with Agile methodologies . They must also be metrics-oriented and able to analyze data and adjust projects and timelines based on the analysis results. 

In addition to these skills they share, a program manager needs to be able to think more broadly than a project manager. They must focus on the macro-level aspects of several projects and decisions, as well as how interrelated projects contribute to company goals.

The goals of a project manager and program manager also differ. A program manager’s goals are more strategic and seek to align program objectives with the company’s mission. They focus on how program objectives provide value to the company and its stakeholders. 

Project managers consider the day-to-day details of a project to ensure the team meets the project objectives. They concentrate on milestones, deliverables, and resource management to efficiently run projects that deliver value to customers. Project managers focus on meeting deadlines, while program managers are responsible for how each project contributes to the wider organizational picture.

Tools required

Both professionals must be proficient in project and program management software to accurately allocate resources, track progress, and measure success. They must also be familiar with content management systems and using tools such as a RACI chart , which delineates roles among team members on a given project. 

One useful tool in their toolbox is user stories , which allows program managers to center business objectives with user needs. 

Because program managers have a broader focus than project managers, they should also be familiar with work management solutions to seamlessly manage multiple projects.

How do program managers and project managers collaborate?

Program managers and project managers should be close collaborators. They rely on each other to accomplish program goals and objectives. 

In a traditional hierarchy, a project manager reports to a program manager. That’s because a project manager is working on one piece of the program, which the program manager is primarily responsible for. However, in more flat structures, they work as partners to figure out how best to break a program down into smaller, inter-connected projects.

Is a program or project manager best for your team?

Both roles benefit a company, as an effective project manager will execute projects that align with your company’s objectives and a program manager will determine what those objectives are and how they should be carried out in an inter-connected project. 

Determining whether you need a program manager vs. project manager depends on your company’s needs.  Do you need someone strategic to align the company’s work with its mission or someone to ensure your teams meet their deliverables and deadlines? 

If you need someone strategic who can juggle multiple projects, choose a program manager. But if you need someone to drive a single project, a project manager is a better choice. However, you may find that you’ll need both to accomplish an entire program’s group of tasks.

Achieve success with the right role

Program managers and project managers are vital to the success of any company. You’ll need one or the other to ensure you can improve your product and services. However, program managers and project managers need the right tools to help them succeed. 

Atlassian’s Jira Align is a program management software that can help track programs in one easy dashboard with real-time visibility. It enables program managers to allocate resources appropriately and run programs smoothly. It also allows them to coordinate with project managers and communicate outcomes to stakeholders. 

Jira  is a great tool for project managers to plan and track project progress across every team in the company. It allows them to align dev work with other teams, such as business, sales, marketing, and HR. With dev teams and their non-technical team counterparts working from the same project management tool, it enables project managers to spot bottlenecks and dependencies across teams, allocate proper resources, and align everyone around shared milestones.

Program manager vs. project manager: frequently asked questions

Can program managers become project managers.

Yes, many program managers start as project managers. However, to progress to the new role, a project manager must be willing to learn new skills and undertake additional job training, including certification programs.  

As a project manager, you’ll want to get more involved in large-scale projects. That way, you gain the tools to lead multiple projects at once.

Are program managers considered more senior than project managers?

The seniority of these roles depends entirely on the company’s hierarchical structure. In a more traditional hierarchy, a project manager often reports to a program manager who, in turn, reports to the C-Suite, VPs, or the company president. However, in flatter hierarchies, program and project managers are close partners, collaborating to meet company objectives.

Program management vs. project management

Program and product management are both at the heart of many business endeavors. Read here to understand the similarities and differences.

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Sandeep Kashyap

Program manager vs. project manager: A detailed guide

program manager vs. project manager

Program manager vs. project manager — not able to differentiate the blurred line between the two? Let’s clear it up!

For example, you are constructing a new home. You need to build a house, paint the building, and hire an electrician for electrical fitting, a plumber for plumbing installation, and a carpenter for the woodwork. We clearly understand that a construction project is an accumulation of multiple small projects.

Similar is the case with a program and a project. A program is made up of multiple projects brought together to achieve one larger objective.

The role of a program manager is to oversee a program with multiple projects under it whereas the role of a project manager is to manage an individual project.

In this post, we will dig deep into the “program manager vs. project manager” topic. We will talk about the roles and responsibilities of the two, understand the difference with an example, and also talk about what tools they need to work together effectively in an organization.

What is a project manager?

A project manager is a project management professional who oversees an individual project. The role of a project manager is to take program initiatives and break them down into tasks , define the cost, resources, budget, & time of the project, manage a team to execute the tasks in a project, and report to the program manager on progress.

Read more: What makes a good manager

What is a program manager?

A program manager is a project management professional who oversees a group of projects in a program. The role of a program manager is to create a program that supports strategic business initiatives, guides the team, and facilitates communication among cross-functional teams in a program.

Program manager vs. project manager: The difference between the two

A program manager oversees high-level objectives at the business level whereas a project manager oversees small-level objectives at the project level. Let’s understand the difference between a program manager and a project manager with an example.

Say, you have to lead your company’s marketing campaign program to achieve the long-term organizational objective of generating leads for your B2B SaaS product.

To create an effective marketing campaign, you need to run email marketing, search engine optimization, and social media marketing campaigns.

Each campaign is a project in itself with its dedicated team, strategy, and goals, with the common goal of generating leads for your B2B SaaS product.

The role of the program manager is to oversee all the projects in a program, establish the goals of the program in alignment with larger company objectives, align the project goals with the program goals, and facilitate the communication between project managers working in a program.

On the other hand, a project manager will be responsible for the actual execution of the individual project in a program and delivering the specific deliverables on set due dates.

Difference between a program manager and project manager

Now, I will give you a brief idea about project manager vs program manager responsibilities and we also talk about program vs project manager skills.  

Key responsibilities of a program manager

A program manager takes the business initiatives and creates programs to achieve them. This will result in a set of following key responsibilities for a program manager:

  • Engaging with C-level executives to create a program that supports business objectives
  • Deciding and planning the projects to be included in a program
  • Defining and managing the program budget and resources
  • Monitoring the progress of the program
  • Risk management
  • Strategic guidance to project managers
  • Managing communication with stakeholders
  • Auditing and quality control
  • Aligning the project goals with the program goals
  • Managing multiple interrelated projects and coordinating their interdependencies

Key skills required for program managers

A program manager needs a certain set of skills to be effective at the role. Have a look at top program manager skills.

  • Research and analysis: A program manager needs to make strategic decisions. They need decent research and analysis skills to gain knowledge and make insights out of it.
  • Critical and analytical thinking: The role of a program manager is to create a program to fulfill business objectives. They should be able to analyze and evaluate data and think of all possible scenarios.
  • Goal setting: A program manager needs to establish goals to achieve results. They should be able to set reasonable and measurable goals, deadlines, and metrics for success.
  • Communication: A program manager needs to deal with different people daily. They should have good communication skills to share information with people in an effective way they can understand.
  • Risk management: A program manager is responsible for the program’s budget and resource planning. They should have strong risk management skills to identify, mitigate, and manage risks.   
  • Time management: A program manager has to oversee a group of projects. They should have good time management skills to give attention to each project.
  • Leadership: A program manager leads a group of project managers and strategies with stakeholders. They should have good leadership and decision-making skills.

Key responsibilities of a project manager

A project manager works closely with a program manager to break the program initiatives into actionable projects and manage a team to execute project tasks. This will lead to the following set of key responsibilities for a project manager :

  • Engage with a program manager to create projects that support program initiatives
  • Defining the project cost, time, and resource requirements     
  • Creating a project plan, executing the plan, and tracking the progress
  • Delegating the tasks, coordinating with the team, and handling team collaboration challenges
  • Managing project risks, budget, and resources 
  • Providing tactical guidance to the team
  • Ensuring project deliverables are delivered within budget and time
  • Maintaining the strategic alignment between the project and program goals
  • Reporting the progress to the project manager
  • Project quality control and team performance management

Key skills required for a project manager

A project manager needs a certain set of skills to be effective at the role. Have a look at top project manager skills.

  • Task delegation: A project manager should be good at delegating. They should be able to evaluate individual strengths and weaknesses and delegate tasks accordingly for the best results.
  • Flexibility and adaptability: A project manager may need to make tactical decisions to respond to dynamic challenges in achieving program initiatives. They should be flexible and adaptive to respond to changes.
  • Time planning: It is the responsibility of the project manager to deliver the agreed deliverables on strict due dates. They should be good at planning, managing, and meeting project deadlines.
  • Conflict management: A project manager should be good at conflict management because when a team works together, conflicts are bound to happen. Project managers should have active listening, negotiation, and decision-making skills for effective conflict management.
  • Project management: A project manager should be skilled in project management methodologies to better plan projects, execute the project plan, create workflows, track progress, create project reports, and manage risks, resources, and budgets to achieve business objectives.

You can learn more about the role of a project manager in this video:

  • Communication: A project manager needs to communicate with stakeholders, program managers, and team members. They should be good at understanding people and expressing what they want to convey.
  • Problem-solving and decision-making: A project manager faces challenges almost every day related to projects, teams, and more. Solving a problem is a part of workplace dynamics and often requires making a decision. A manager should be good at problem-solving, analyzing situations, and making decisions.
Read more: How to become a good manager

Are project manager and program manager roles interrelated?

Project manager and program manager roles are interrelated, but these are two distinctive organizational functions. A program manager works closely with a team of project managers to achieve business objectives.

Can a project manager become a program manager?

Yes, a project manager can become a program manager. After gaining significant experience in the role of project manager, a project manager can be advanced to the role of a program manager. However, you can increase your chances of getting promoted to program manager by obtaining industry-standard certifications for a program manager.

Program and project manager certifications

Experiential learning plays a key role in the life of a program manager and a project manager, but certifications can help lay the foundation. Obtaining industry-leading certifications proves the knowledge, skills, and expertise of program and project managers. Have a look at them.

Program manager certifications

The top three certifications for a program manager include:

1. Program Management Professional (PgMP)® by PMI

PgMP® certification verifies that the certificate holder has the advanced level of expertise and the real-world experience to manage multiple, related projects and navigate complex activities to align results with organizational goals.

2. Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM)® by Scrum Alliance 

CSM® certification verifies that a candidate has gained an understanding of the Scrum framework, team accountabilities, events, and artifacts. They know how to guide their team to apply Scrum.

3. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)®

PfMP® certification signifies your advanced competency in the coordinated management of one or more portfolios to achieve strategic objectives. Effective portfolio management allows you to implement strategic initiatives by bridging the gap between strategy and implementation.

Project manager certification

The top three certifications for a project manager include:

1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®

CAPM® certification verifies that you have foundational knowledge and skills in project management. It evaluates your skills in predictive project management, agile principles, and business analysis.

2. PMP badge Project Management Professional (PMP)®

PMP® certification verifies that a candidate is skilled at managing people, processes, and professional projects. To obtain PMP certification, a project manager must meet certain requirements and then pass a 180-question exam.

3. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®

PMI-ACP ® certification validates that you are highly skilled in understanding and applying multiple agile approaches including Scrum, Lean, Kanban, and Test-Driven Development.

Read more: Top 19 project management certifications to enroll in 2024

Program manager vs project manager salary

Let’s discover the salaries of the two roles:

How much does a program manager make?

According to Glassdoor, the estimated annual salary of a program manager in the United States is $108,158 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $100,063 per year.

However, the salary varies widely depending on factors like area, certifications, industry, education, experience, and additional skills.

The typical range falls between $84K – $140K/ year.

However, according to Salary.com estimates , the average Program Manager salary in the United States is $148,863 as of January 26, 2024, but the range typically falls between $128,121 and $170,876.

How much does a project manager make?

The estimated annual salary of a project manager is $99,726 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $92,515 per year. 

However, just like a program manager, the salary of a project manager varies widely depending on factors like area, certifications, industry, education, experience, and additional skills.

The typical pay range falls between $77K – $129K/ year.   

However, according to Salary.com estimates, the average Project Management Manager salary in the United States is $142,011 as of January 26, 2024, but the range typically falls between $126,866 and $158,680.

Who earns more, the program or the project manager?

In general, a program manager makes more than a project manager. However, the salary depends on the experience, industry, and skills.

Tools that a project manager and a program manager will need

A program manager and a project manager have to manage plenty of tasks in day-to-day life. They need tools to perform tasks efficiently and make work life easy. The top tools a program manager and a project manager need include project management software, communication apps, document management systems, data analysis software, and a to-do list app.

One of the most important tools they need is a project management tool. Studies have also confirmed the same that 77% of high-performing teams use project management tools .

If you are not using any project management software to manage projects at your organization, it would be a great idea to use a tool to manage projects in a more organized and effective way.

You can get started with ProofHub to manage all your projects, teamwork, and team communication from one place.

project management tool

ProofHub streamlines project management for program and project managers by offering:

  • Centralized platform: Manage tasks, discussions, files, and more in one place.
  • Visualizations: Track progress with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendars.
  • Seamless collaboration : Communicate with team members through discussions, chat, and feedback tools.
  • Actionable insights : Gain valuable insights through detailed reports, customizable dashboards, and time tracking.

Overall, ProofHub is an easy-to-use, scalable, and feature-rich tool that helps you improve your productivity, stay on top of work management, and collaborate with the team.

Can an individual be both a project manager and a program manager simultaneously?

Yes, in some companies, an individual can perform the role of both a project manager and a program manager based on the complexity of a project, project size, team size, resources, and company requirements.

Who is more senior program manager or project manager?

A program manager is higher in the hierarchy than a project manager. A project manager can become a program manager by adding extra skills to their portfolio and obtaining certificates for program managers.

In terms of decision-making, who holds more authority, a project manager or a program manager?

A program manager holds more authority than a project manager in decision-making as they are responsible for overseeing the higher level of objectives of multiple projects in a program.

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Project management

Program manager vs. project manager: What’s the difference?

Ben Brigden - Senior Content Marketing Specialist - Author

“Project management is like juggling three balls: time, cost, and quality. Program management is like a troupe of circus performers standing in a circle, each juggling three balls and swapping balls from time to time.”   ~ Geoff Reiss , program management author and expert

Program managers and project managers might sound like very similar jobs. They have similar job titles, work with similar concepts, and speak a similar workplace language. They even have similar academic and professional backgrounds (though there’s a difference in depth).

But make no mistake, these two roles are as crucial as they are distinct — and those distinctions are worth understanding.

This blog post explores these two professional roles in detail, showing you what’s similar, what’s different, and how these two professions relate to each other.

  • What is a program manager?

Blog post image

Program managers evaluate and define big-picture concerns for a business, looking at how to achieve long-term strategic goals and building out programs that will do so. 

Program managers might oversee a program to create a better hiring and onboarding process for the agency or to create and launch a new service offering. Any initiative made up of multiple projects that works toward a specific big-picture goal could be considered a program.

Responsibilities of a program manager 

This role can vary a lot between agencies and industries, but typical responsibilities include:

Evaluating long-term objectives from the executive team and board of directors

Determining strategic approaches for meeting those objectives

Overseeing groups of projects 

Managing ongoing, permanent programs that move an agency forward

Reviewing and advising on projects within a program

What is a project manager? 

Project management is overseeing, planning, scheduling, problem-solving, and assigning various tasks within specific projects from start to finish.

Projects are more tactical in nature: They’re time-limited, defined initiatives with clear goals and specific deliverables. Projects often fit into a broader program as well.

Project managers are typically assigned to only a handful of projects (and sometimes, just one), and they oversee their projects through all five project phases:

If a project manager does manage multiple projects at a time, they don’t typically manage the connections between those projects — that would be the program manager’s responsibility. Instead, each project is managed as a separate, distinct entity. 

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Responsibilities of a project manager 

There’s quite a bit of variation in the project manager position as well, but its common responsibilities include:

Defining project scope

Building project schedule

Creating budgets

Allocating resources

Resolving team conflicts and project bottlenecks

Monitoring adherence to schedules

Interfacing with project stakeholders

  • Program manager vs. project manager: Key differences

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These two professional roles work with similar concepts, and some of their day-to-day responsibilities may look similar. Let’s take a closer look at how the two roles differ in a few key areas.

Focus area is the clearest difference between the two roles:

Program managers focus on the big picture — strategic, long-term work. 

Project managers focus on short- and medium-term planning, tactical execution, and short-term performance.

The project manager’s performance is judged at the project level, while the program manager’s performance is judged on a broader scale.

A program manager oversees one or more programs at an agency, each of which is far-reaching, ongoing, or both. Programs typically contain multiple projects and span cross-functional teams. As a result, one or more project managers could report to a program manager. 

On the other hand, project managers are responsible for specific projects that are defined and limited by the project scope. These professionals can have varying levels of responsibility or seniority and may have different specializations or industry credentials.

Scope and purpose

Project managers develop and work within the scope of individual projects, while program managers work outside that scope. Anything that supports long-term business objectives could be within scope for the program manager. Even at the narrowest definition, program managers have freedom and flexibility within their entire program (consisting of multiple projects as well as ongoing initiatives).

The project manager’s purpose is to ensure that the assigned projects succeed. While they care about the agency’s broader overall success or failure, their main concern is the success or failure of their specific project. 

The program manager, on the other hand, is concerned with the agency’s long-term health and success. An entire program must succeed for the program manager to be satisfied with a job well done.

Daily tasks and responsibilities 

The mix of day-to-day responsibilities will change over the course of the project’s life cycle.

A typical day in the life of a project manager could include building a project plan, working out a schedule, adjusting a budget, leading a project team meeting, solving in-the-moment conflicts or technical challenges with the team, and whatever else needs to happen that day to keep the project on time and on track.

Most project managers will interact daily with their project management software as well, using it as a home base to keep assignments and workflows running smoothly.

The program manager doesn’t spend daily time organizing projects or delving into the details of project scheduling. Instead, program managers focus on higher-level tasks and concepts. 

A typical day could involve several meetings with various departmental leaders, stakeholders, and executives. Other duties could include evaluating the progress and health of their program and developing new goals and programs for consideration.

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Required skills and qualifications

Many project managers hold a professional project management certification (such as the Project Management Professional [PMP] certification offered by the Project Management Institute [PMI]). However, if you’re wondering how to become a project manager , breathe a sigh of relief: This credential isn’t required to become a PM. 

Some universities offer bachelor’s degrees or master’s degrees in project management, though these degrees are also not required. In fact, some project managers who focus on specific fields or disciplines (like finance, technology, or engineering) are better served by a degree in those fields instead.

Program managers typically hold an advanced professional certification in addition to significant project management experience. For example, the Project Management Institute offers a Program Management Professional [PgMP] certification, which requires a mix of a bachelor’s degree, a preexisting PMP certification, and extensive work experience as a project manager.

Both roles also require project management skills, excellent communication skills, and resource management capabilities.

Stakeholder management

Project managers' interactions are primarily internal; however, they might occasionally interact with mid-level client stakeholders seeking specific project updates. 

Program managers, on the other hand, interact regularly with senior client stakeholders — those with a stake (metaphorical or literal) in the company itself. In addition to possessing this closer connection to the higher-ups, program managers are also more likely to interact with stakeholders in numerous areas due to the cross-functional nature of the job. 

In other words, for program managers, stakeholder management has the potential to go higher, deeper, and broader than it does for project managers.

Risk management

While both job types have a role to play in this area, program managers carry a higher level of responsibility. Project managers are responsible for analyzing and mitigating risks within a project, while program managers respond to risk at a program- or even agency-wide level.

Is a program manager higher than a project manager? 

The program manager role is typically considered a higher rank or classification than standard project manager roles.

The difference here is somewhat similar to the one between project managers and project coordinators . While both the project manager and the program manager work on similar tasks, there’s a difference in scope and (usually) authority or hierarchy.

Because the program manager oversees a much bigger picture than the project manager, they typically rank higher on the org chart. In many cases, one or more project managers will report directly to a program manager, as there may be several projects within that program.

The comparison between product management and project management is similar, with the product manager having a more wide-ranging role. The key difference is product managers focus on cohesive products (physical or digital things that may be used or sold), while program managers focus on less tangible initiatives (like digital transformation).

  • How program and project managers work together for success

While the two roles are distinct, both program and project managers work on similar types of initiatives. And that means these roles can work together to achieve even more success.

Alignment with organizational goals

Organizational alignment is one area with an opportunity for synergy. Program managers can collaborate with project managers to ensure that individual project goals align seamlessly with the broader strategic objectives of the agency. 

In this way, program managers can help the agency (and the project manager) avoid siloed thinking and keep all projects moving toward the organization’s broader goals.

Resource allocation

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Project managers sometimes feel like they have to compete for limited resources within the agency — and sometimes, it’s more than a feeling. Program managers have the big picture in mind, seeing how various projects within the program fit together. 

The program manager can ensure that resources are distributed effectively to support the success of both the individual projects within the program and the program itself.

Change management

Change management often cuts across teams , departments, and divisions. Changes affect projects, programs, departments, individuals, and clients . For those changes that affect both individual projects and the program as a whole, program and project managers can work to navigate them together.

Program and project managers can use standard collaboration tools to facilitate two-way communication. Project management tools like Teamwork.com and its seamless communication tools can fill this role nicely as well!

Quality assurance

Program managers and project managers work together to establish and enforce consistent quality standards across all projects within the program.

Individual project managers are responsible for implementing quality assurance processes within their projects. They also collaborate with program managers to ensure alignment throughout the program.

Success evaluation

While project managers focus mainly on individual project success, isolated success isn’t enough. Winning the project management Olympics might not matter if that win occurs in the middle of a broader program- or agency-level failure.

Program managers can help project managers evaluate success in a broader context, and project managers can provide data and context to explain project-level success to the program manager.

  • Empower your team to achieve collaboration excellence with Teamwork.com

Staying on top of project details can be a challenge — as can creating and maintaining programs that meet organizational goals and move agencies forward.

But the right software can make a huge difference.

Program managers and project managers both win when agencies implement a collaboration-friendly project management platform like Teamwork.com. 

Teamwork.com helps create in-depth project schedules, track project details, and handle task management with ease. Agencies can measure and evaluate multiple projects simultaneously, giving them a clearer picture of all projects within a program (and within the broader organization).

From gathering data to communicating with stakeholders to allocating resources effectively, Teamwork.com is the platform that makes it happen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • What is a project manager?
  • Is a program manager higher than a project manager?

Ben Brigden - Senior Content Marketing Specialist - Author

Ben is a Senior Content Marketing Specialist at Teamwork.com. Having held content roles at agencies and SaaS companies for the past 8 years, Ben loves writing about the latest tech trends and work hacks in the agency space.

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Program Manager vs. Project Manager: What’s the Difference?

research manager vs project manager

Program managers and project managers are often assumed to be similar roles — in fact, they’re sometimes mistaken as two titles for the same job. While both positions share some common skills and responsibilities, they are quite distinct from each other. The difference between project manager and program manager lies in their respective focuses; project managers focus on single, specific projects (e.g., the release of a product or the completion of a study), whereas program managers focus on how various projects align with an organization’s high-level objectives in more of a managerial and operations-based role.

To be successful in their role, program managers have to keep tabs on multiple projects that serve a similar goal. In doing so, they work with the project managers running those projects, who are involved in the details and day-to-day tasks required to complete them. So, while individuals in these positions often work together, their jobs are quite different.

What Does a Program Manager Do?

Program managers oversee a variety of projects that share a common goal — this group of projects is commonly called a program. Each project will have its own timeline, team and budget; and the program manager works with the project managers on each individual team to ensure that the projects are tracking to fulfill the organization’s overall goal.

Beyond their work with project managers, program managers also coordinate with key stakeholders like executives and C-level teams to track the organization’s goals and develop new strategies. Some of the specific factors they need to communicate to stakeholders are project strategy, risk assessment, quality control and performance. All high-level information must be communicated to the individual teams to ensure that everyone — from executives to analysts — is on the same page and working toward the same objectives. Lastly, they need to assess projects from a high level by measuring ROI or assessing how the project has fit into big-picture success to better manage future programs.

What Does a Project Manager Do?

As the person who manages a project’s day-to-day tasks and milestones, project managers are in charge of planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and ensuring a project’s completion. They must assemble a team, come up with and articulate a plan, manage the project as it progresses and communicate that progress to program managers and other key stakeholders. They are in charge of setting and managing a budget and timeline — and of making sure key deliverables are completed and submitted accurately and on time.

While project managers, like program managers, need to have strong managerial skills so they can effectively manage their teams, they also need to manage the minutiae of a project. This means they are responsible for working in any project management software or methodologies that their organization might use. They also need to assess the success of their projects, both within their team and across key departments.

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Program Manager vs. Project Manager Skills

Project managers and program managers share many skills. They both need to be able to manage teams, assess the success of projects, communicate well with stakeholders and work across teams to achieve goals. That said, project management skills are more detail-focused, whereas program managers need more high-level, managerial and organizational skills. Project managers need to be able to write and balance budgets, create and manage schedules, manage a team and implement project management tools like Asana, GANTT charts and burndown charts. Program managers also need significant organizational and business knowledge; they must manage large teams successfully and assess and analyze the business success of a variety of projects.

Program Manager Skills

Program managers need to hone a wide array of skills in order to be successful at their job. Not only do they need to understand the work of project managers, they must also take a 30,000-foot view of a program to understand the larger picture. On a given day or week, they may need to check in on project budgets, conduct high-level strategy meetings with key stakeholders and develop company-wide risk management plans while constantly communicating with multiple individuals and teams.

Communication is key in program management; managers must communicate confidently, authoritatively, clearly and persuasively to individuals below and above them. They need to be in constant conversation with the project managers that they oversee, while also communicating their findings to higher-ups.

Program managers also need strong leadership and management skills, as they need to guide and advise the project managers they work with. They also need to be good at big-picture thinking and understanding business operations from a macro perspective, so they can strategize on their company’s goals and objectives.

Risk management is another important skill for program managers to have. Managers should be constantly aware of the risks facing their program and know which steps they are taking to mitigate those risks.

Lastly, program managers need to have strong project management skills. These skills will help them understand how to better support their team and understand the struggles and successes that their project managers are facing.

Project Manager Skills

In addition to honing a similar skill set to program managers, project managers need a variety of technical skills. They need to be excellent communicators, as they are in charge of communicating the project plan to their team and key stakeholders and program managers; and they need to be able to clearly communicate the goals, progress and results of their project through verbal communication and well-formatted documents.

Scheduling, time management and budgeting are also important project management skills. Project managers are in charge of creating schedules and budgets — and then ensuring that their team sticks to these schedules and budgets as closely as possible. They should therefore be able to realistically predict the needs of their team, and stay abreast of how their team is tracking with these internal goals.

There are a variety of project management methodologies, software and tools that companies use. Project managers need to be educated in all of these fields, and they should become experts on the tools and methodologies used by their organizations. They should be well-versed in the five phases of project management , as well as other methodologies like Agile, Waterfall and Scrum, as well as data analysis skills for understanding and synthesizing their team’s learnings.

Lastly, project managers need strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Each project has its own unpredictable set of challenges that inevitably arise, and project managers need to be able to manage them swiftly and strategically.

Program Manager vs. Project Manager Requirements

When you’re considering the question of program manager vs. project manager, a key difference is that program managers must understand business operations at a high level. As a result, they must be able to communicate with, and command respect from, high-level stakeholders. They also need to be able to manage large teams — strong management experience is often a requirement for individuals pursuing these roles. Project managers, on the other hand, need technical training in project management software, budgeting and schedule-making in order to successfully lead their teams and projects.

How to Become a Program Manager

The program manager career path is different for everyone, and many program managers have vastly different backgrounds and even areas of interest.

That being said, many program managers have completed a four-year degree. According to Glassdoor , 84% of program managers have at least a Bachelor’s degree — this is common in high-level management positions. However, a degree isn’t always necessary to get started in this role. A combination of work experience and other educational pathways, like a project management boot camp , can offer the foundational training you need to become a successful program manager.

If you do choose to pursue a traditional degree in the hopes of becoming a program manager, you may want to consider courses in business administration, management, communications or computer science. All of these routes will prepare you for the career in different ways, so if you do go this route, choose a topic that resonates strongly with your interests and goals.

Many program managers begin as project managers, and many entry-level positions track toward program management. If you’re curious about how to become a program manager, this is a great place to start. Not only will you learn skills that are indispensable to program managers, you’ll also likely work with program managers and may identify with a mentor who can teach you about the job as you make the jump from project manager to program manager. As you consider this jump, you may also want to volunteer as a project coordinator to gain some additional experience.

How to Become a Project Manager

The first step on the project manager career path is deciding which educational route you want to pursue. As with program management, many project managers have four-year degrees, but it’s not always a job requirement. If you do choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree, you may want to consider finance or business administration.

If you’ve already completed an unrelated degree and want to upskill for a job in project management, or you’ve decided that a traditional degree isn’t for you, consider taking a project management boot camp . These flexible, intensive courses can help you develop the skills you need to land a job in project management without requiring years of your time. A boot camp will also offer career counseling to ensure that you have access to the best professional opportunities once you’ve completed the course.

You may also want to consider getting certified in project management. There are a number of certification programs available, so it’s a good idea to do some research on which option fits your professional goals and interests. Project management jobs span many industries, so consider which types of projects you’re most interested in working on. Some of the most popular and useful project management certifications are:

  • Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) — Project Management Institute
  • Certified Scrum Master (CSM) — Scrum Alliance
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) — Project Management Institute
  • Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) — Project Management Institute
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) — AXELOS Global Best Practice
  • Professional Scrum Master™ Level I — Scrum.org

Once you’ve prepared yourself for the project manager career path through education and certification, you’ll want to hone your resume and begin applying for jobs. It’s important to focus your resume on any and all experience that might have prepared you for a job as a project manager, and underscore the educational opportunities you’ve taken to pursue this career.

You may also want to find other project managers to speak to — these professionals can offer valuable advice as you begin your career, and even serve as mentors as you develop your project management repertoire.

Program Manager vs. Project Manager Job Outlook

As we’ve mentioned, program managers often begin as project managers, so these jobs and their outlooks are inextricably linked.

Program Manager Jobs

According to Burning Glass Technologies (Source: Burning Glass Technologies: Labor Insight. 2020.), program manager positions are currently in high demand, with around 191,722 new job openings in the past 12 months alone. The field expects a projected growth of 3.6 percent in the next decade, with particularly high growth expected in professional, scientific, and technological services.

Project Manager Jobs

Project managers are in-demand workers, thanks to their flexible skill set. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), jobs in project management will grow 33 percent between 2017 and 2027, which is significantly higher than the national average of 7 percent . The PMI claims that this is due to the fact that project managers contribute significantly to a company’s productivity.

Entry-level project management roles include project coordinator and project scheduler, while higher-level roles include senior project manager or technical project manager. These higher-level roles require more management skills, while the lower-level roles are more task-focused.

There are also companies that offer specific project management services. According to Airiodon Global Services , the top project management firms are:

  • Anser Advisory
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
  • Brailsford & Dunlavey
  • CSL Consulting
  • Mott MacDonald
  • Bloom Consulting and Project Management

Program Manager vs. Project Manager FAQs

What is a program manager.

A program manager manages a group of projects (i.e., a program) that all serve a common organizational goal. They oversee and coordinate these projects to make sure that they are serving the stated goal, and they work with the project managers involved, offering strategic guidance when needed. They also communicate the status of these projects to key stakeholders in their organization and often assist in high-level organizational planning.

What are the most popular project manager companies?

Some of the top consulting companies that work in project management are Anser Advisory, Bechtel, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Brailsford & Dunlavey and CSL Consulting. That said, there are a variety of companies of all sizes that hire project managers across industries.

What are the responsibilities of a program manager?

A program manager’s job is to oversee various projects that all share a common goal that serves their organization. Program managers work with project managers to ensure that all projects are going according to plan, and they also communicate their findings with management and executives to help with high-level strategic planning and analysis.

What do project managers do all day?

Project managers always have their hands on many tasks. Within a given day, they might be meeting with their team, managing budgets, keeping an eye on schedules or working on deliverables to share with key stakeholders. Their job is to make sure that the project is running smoothly, and tracking to meet its goals.

Project management and program management are both exciting and growing careers that offer opportunities for collaborative teamwork, critical thinking and strategic planning. If you’re interested in taking the next step to pursue these careers, consider a project management boot camp , which will give you the tools and professional guidance to start your career in project management or program management.

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager: What’s The Difference?

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager: What's The Difference?

  • Updated March 14, 2023
  • Published February 7, 2023

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager – what are the differences? Learn everything you need to know about the differences between a Project Specialist and a Project Manager.

When a company is embarking on a project, it must consider who will lead the project. While both a project specialist and a project manager can lead a project, there are distinct differences between the two roles.

A project specialist is someone who is an expert in a certain area or technology and is often brought on for the technical knowledge they can bring to the project. On the other hand, a project manager is a more general role with a focus on the organization and management of the project.

This article will explore the differences between a project specialist and a project manager in more detail.

What is a Project Specialist?

A Project Specialist is a professional who has the knowledge, experience, and skills to plan, organize, and manage a project from start to finish. They are responsible for the management of all aspects of a project, including a budget, timeline, resource allocation, and risk management.

They also provide guidance to project team members and stakeholders throughout the project.

What is a Project Manager?

A Project Manager is a professional who is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the completion of specific projects for an organization.

They will typically be responsible for overseeing the entire project from beginning to end, including setting deadlines, coordinating resources, and managing budgets. Project managers are also responsible for ensuring the project meets its objectives.

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager

Below we discuss the main differences between the job duties, job requirements, and work environment of a Project Specialist and a Project Manager.

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager Job Duties

Project Specialists and Project Managers both play important roles in managing and executing projects, but their job duties differ.

The job duties of a Project Specialist typically involve supporting the Project Manager in the day-to-day management of projects. This may include conducting research, creating project plans and schedules, and tracking project progress.

Project Specialists may also be responsible for communicating project updates to team members, stakeholders, and upper management. They may also assist with risk management and problem-solving, as well as coordinate resources and equipment needed for projects.

The job duties of a Project Manager are more extensive and include taking the lead on managing projects from start to finish. Project Managers are responsible for defining project scope, goals, and deliverables and creating and managing project schedules, budgets, and resources. They must effectively communicate with team members, stakeholders, and upper management and make decisions that impact the success of the project.

Project Managers must also have a good understanding of risk management and be able to identify and mitigate potential risks to the project. In addition, Project Managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

In conclusion, both Project Specialists and Project Managers play important roles in managing and executing projects.

Project Specialists typically support the Project Manager in day-to-day project management, while Project Managers take the lead on managing projects from start to finish.

Both roles involve conducting research, creating project plans and schedules, and tracking project progress, but the level of responsibility and complexity of tasks can vary depending on the role.

Related :  Project Specialist vs. Project Manager: What’s The Difference?

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager Job Requirements

Project Specialists are responsible for executing specific project tasks and ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. They may also assist with project planning and implementation, but their primary focus is on the day-to-day execution of project tasks.

As such, Project Specialists need to have strong technical skills, a keen eye for detail, and excellent project management skills, including time management, budget management, and the ability to coordinate with project team members.

On the other hand, project managers are responsible for overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from planning and implementation to close-out. They need to have a broad understanding of the project scope, budget, schedule, and risk factors and be able to make decisions that will keep the project on track.

Project Managers need to be able to lead and motivate a team, build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, and have strong communication and interpersonal skills. They also need to have a good understanding of project management methodologies and risk management techniques and have a strategic perspective on projects.

In conclusion, the primary difference between Project Specialists and Project Managers lies in the scope of their responsibilities. Project Specialists focus on the execution of specific project tasks, while Project Managers are responsible for the overall success of the project.

Both roles require different sets of skills, and organizations should carefully consider the specific job requirements for each role when filling these positions.

Related :  Project Executive vs. Project Manager: What Are The Differences?

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager Work Environment

The work environment for Project Specialist and Project Manager positions can differ in terms of responsibilities, level of autonomy, and team dynamics.

Project Specialists generally work in a team environment, where they are responsible for supporting the Project Manager and the project team in carrying out project activities. They are often involved in tasks such as scheduling, tracking progress, and ensuring that project deliverables are completed on time. Project Specialists may also assist with budget management and risk assessment.

The work environment for Project Specialists is typically fast-paced, and they are expected to work well under pressure and be able to multitask effectively.

On the other hand, Project Managers have a higher level of responsibility and autonomy in the work environment. They are responsible for leading the project team, setting project goals and objectives, and ensuring that the project is delivered on time and within budget.

Project Managers must also have strong communication and leadership skills, as they are expected to manage conflicts, make decisions, and keep the project team motivated.

The work environment for Project Managers can be challenging, as they are accountable for the overall success of the project and must be able to balance competing demands.

In summary, while both Project Specialist and Project Manager positions involve project management, the work environment can differ significantly. Project Specialists work in a supportive role in a fast-paced team environment, while Project Managers have a higher level of responsibility and autonomy and must be able to lead and manage their teams effectively.

Related :  Project Analyst vs. Project Manager: What’s The Difference?

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager Skills

The distinction between a Project Specialist and a Project Manager can vary depending on the company and the specific project, but in general, there are several key differences in the required skills for these two positions.

A Project Specialist is typically responsible for executing specific aspects of a project, often focused on technical or specialized tasks. In this role, strong technical skills and attention to detail are important. Project Specialists may also be responsible for conducting research, developing project plans and schedules, and communicating project progress to team members.

On the other hand, a Project Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire project from start to finish, ensuring that all aspects of the project are completed on time, within budget, and to the appropriate quality standards. In addition to technical skills, Project Managers must also have strong leadership and organizational skills and the ability to effectively communicate and manage a team.

In terms of salary, Project Managers tend to earn higher salaries than Project Specialists due to their increased level of responsibility and leadership. However, salaries can vary depending on the company, industry, and location.

In conclusion, while both Project Specialists and Project Managers play important roles in the success of a project, the main difference between the two is the scope of responsibility and the required skills. Project Specialists should have strong technical skills, while Project Managers should have a combination of technical, leadership, and organizational skills.

Related :  Project Engineer vs. Project Manager – What’s The Difference?

Project Specialist vs. Project Manager Salary

In a world of ever-changing job titles, understanding the difference between a project specialist’s and a project manager’s salary can be difficult. Both roles involve the management of projects, and both require different sets of skills and expertise. However, the salary expectations between the two positions can vary significantly.

Project specialists are generally responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and execution of a specific project. They are responsible for developing a project timeline and budget, identifying risk and developing mitigation strategies, and managing the project team.

As project specialists typically focus on the technical aspects of a project, they often have a background in engineering or computer science. In terms of salary, a project specialist can expect to earn an average of $70,000 per year.

In contrast, project managers are responsible for the overall strategic direction of a project. They are responsible for setting goals and objectives, managing resources and budgets, and ensuring the project is completed on schedule.

Project managers often have a background in business or project management and are expected to have advanced communication and leadership skills. The average salary for a project manager is significantly higher than that of a project specialist, at approximately $90,000 per year.

When considering the difference between a project specialist’s and a project manager’s salary, it is important to note that the salary expectations for both roles can vary depending on the specific job requirements, the company they are working for, and the level of experience they have.

Ultimately, a successful project specialist or project manager should have a strong understanding of the industry and a passion for delivering successful projects.

Related :  What Does a Director of Project Management Do?

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  • Project Executive vs. Project Manager: What Are The Differences?
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  • Construction Superintendent vs. Project Manager – What’s The Difference?

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Clinical Research Associate Vs Clinical Project Manager

The differences between clinical research associates and clinical project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical research associate and a clinical project manager. Additionally, a clinical project manager has an average salary of $100,510, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a clinical research associate include patients, informed consent and CRA. The most important skills for a clinical project manager are manage cross, patients, and clinical research.

Clinical research associate vs clinical project manager overview

What does a clinical research associate do.

A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.

What does a clinical project manager do?

A clinical project manager specializes in developing and organizing clinical trials. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and coordinating with all necessary personnel and experts, scheduling meetings, and preparing necessary documentation, ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations. Moreover, a clinical project manager must devise strategies and train all staff, develop protocols and guidelines, coordinate with vendors and suppliers, evaluate staff and verify documentation, and assist in all activities to ensure that every process aligns with the project's agenda. Should there be any issues or concerns, a clinical project manager must conduct corrective measures right away.

Clinical research associate vs clinical project manager salary

Clinical research associates and clinical project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Differences between clinical research associate and clinical project manager education

There are a few differences between a clinical research associate and a clinical project manager in terms of educational background:

Clinical research associate vs clinical project manager demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research associates' and clinical project managers' demographics:

Differences between clinical research associate and clinical project manager duties and responsibilities

Clinical research associate example responsibilities..

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.

Clinical Project Manager Example Responsibilities.

  • Develop, manage, motivate and ensure professional development of project staff (13 CRAs).
  • Manage domestic and international oncology clinical study sites.
  • Manage multiple pharmaceutical studies ensuring compliance with FDA guidelines.
  • Manage the operational aspects and execution of clinical studies focusing on oncology.
  • Supervise rotating team of CRA's contract with the CRO, educating on therapeutic area, and ensuring ICH GCP compliance.
  • Ensure GCP / ICH regulatory compliance on studies, preventing study deviations and provide swift resolutions to possible violations.

Clinical research associate vs clinical project manager skills

  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Manage Cross, 12%
  • Clinical Research, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 5%
  • Oversight, 5%

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COMMENTS

  1. Research Manager Vs Project Manager

    The differences between research managers and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project manager has an average salary of $91,578, which is higher than the $82,894 average annual salary of a research manager.

  2. Program Manager vs. Project Manager: Job Description ...

    The project manager is described as a tactical manager (Hansen, 2018) as he or she has more oversight over specific tasks and the people involved in those tasks. As such, the focus is to ensure the delivery of the project in an efficient and timely manner. On the other hand, program managers are strategic managers.

  3. Senior Research Manager Vs Senior Project Manager

    The differences between senior research managers and senior project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior project manager has an average salary of $110,947, which is higher than the $104,701 average annual salary of a senior research manager.

  4. Research And Development Project Manager Vs Project Manager

    A comprehensive comparison of Research And Development Project Managers vs. Project Managers. Explore the difference between Research And Development Project Managers and Project Managers in their roles, responsibilities, skills, salary, and career growth opportunities.

  5. Program Manager vs. Project Manager: What's the Difference?

    The differences between project managers and program managers can be broken down largely into three main points: Program managers oversee groups of projects, while project managers lead individual projects. This makes the program manager more of a strategic player than the project manager. Program managers tend to have more managerial duties ...

  6. How to Become a Research Manager: A Complete Guide

    A research manager oversees the entire research process, from proposal development to project completion. Key responsibilities include securing funding, managing research teams and resources ...

  7. What does a Research Project Manager do?

    Project managers are responsible for planning and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed in a timely fashion and within budget. Project managers plan and designate project resources, prepare budgets, monitor progress, and keep stakeholders informed the entire way. This is all done within the confines of a company's goals and vision.

  8. Program Manager Vs. Project Manager

    A project manager is essentially the "owner" of a specific project. Their role is more specific in scope than a program manager, with the project manager keeping team members on task and ...

  9. Program Manager vs. Project Manager: Differences Explained

    Responsibilities. Program manager vs. project manager responsibilities differ in many ways. Project managers oversee small projects that incrementally contribute to a program. They manage resources, deliverables, and deadlines. A program manager, however, establishes programs and their objectives based on a company's business needs.

  10. Programme Manager vs. Project Manager Jobs: A Complete Guide

    They tend to be less hands-on in projects and more managerial. One of the biggest differences between a project manager and a programme manager is the timeframes they work within. Project managers typically work within limited timeframes, moving onto other projects after their existing project is complete. Programme managers guide an enterprise ...

  11. Program Management Vs Project Management: What's The Difference?

    Program management involves a long-term strategy encompassing multiple project tasks ranging from defining success to driving it across different teams. Project management is the process of delivering value that moves a program forward. This often involves organizing projects, coordinating work, and tracking progress.

  12. Program Manager Vs. Project Manager: Know The Difference

    The role of a program manager is to oversee a program with multiple projects under it whereas the role of a project manager is to manage an individual project. In this post, we will dig deep into the "program manager vs. project manager" topic. We will talk about the roles and responsibilities of the two, understand the difference with an ...

  13. Program manager vs. project manager: What's the difference?

    The project manager's performance is judged at the project level, while the program manager's performance is judged on a broader scale. A program manager oversees one or more programs at an agency, each of which is far-reaching, ongoing, or both. Programs typically contain multiple projects and span cross-functional teams.

  14. What is a Project Manager & What Do They Do?

    Project managers equip their teams with the tools to succeed and evolve through projects. And they use various project management skills to do so, including: Leadership and Adaptability. Organization and Time Management. Creative Problem-Solving. Effective Communication. Motivation and Team Management. If you'd like to see how project ...

  15. Program Manager vs. Project Manager: What is the Difference?

    The differences between project managers and program managers can be broken down largely into three main points: Program managers oversee groups of projects, while project managers lead individual projects. This makes the program manager more of a strategic player than the project manager. Program managers tend to have more managerial duties ...

  16. Program Manager vs. Project Manager: What's the Difference?

    Program managers oversee a variety of projects that share a common goal — this group of projects is commonly called a program. Each project will have its own timeline, team and budget; and the program manager works with the project managers on each individual team to ensure that the projects are tracking to fulfill the organization's overall goal.

  17. Principal Researcher vs. R&D Project Manager: Who should drive R&D?

    In this paper, it is analyzed the hypothesis that in R&D the principal researcher (PR) is accepted as the coordinator or project manager (PM), carrying out the search for financing and to manage ...

  18. Project Coordinator vs. Research Project Manager

    The title 'Project Coordinator' makes me think you're a Project Manager's low-level gofer; you set up meetings and might do some work on the project schedule, but you don't lead meetings and have no power to assign resources or otherwise make important decisions regarding a project. In contrast, 'Research Project Manager' makes me think you're ...

  19. Five Differences Between A Project Manager And A Project Leader

    5. Project managers aim to maintain the status quo, whereas project leaders take risks. Project managers aim to maintain the status quo and ensure everything goes according to plan. They manage ...

  20. Project Coordinator vs. Project Manager: What Are the Differences?

    Project coordinators assist organizations with various administrative tasks for projects, while project managers supervise project coordinators and other personnel to ensure they complete projects on time and within budget. A project coordinator is responsible for daily project tasks and works to coordinate the actions of other team members.

  21. Research And Development Project Manager vs. Project ...

    A comprehensive comparison of Research And Development Project Managers vs. Project Engineering Managers. Explore the difference between Research And Development Project Managers and Project Engineering Managers in their roles, responsibilities, skills, salary, and career growth opportunities.

  22. Research And Development Program Manager vs. Project ...

    A comprehensive comparison of Research And Development Program Managers vs. Project Engineering Managers. Explore the difference between Research And Development Program Managers and Project Engineering Managers in their roles, responsibilities, skills, salary, and career growth opportunities.

  23. Project Specialist vs. Project Manager: What's The Difference?

    Project Specialists typically support the Project Manager in day-to-day project management, while Project Managers take the lead on managing projects from start to finish. Both roles involve conducting research, creating project plans and schedules, and tracking project progress, but the level of responsibility and complexity of tasks can vary ...

  24. Product Manager vs. Project Manager: What's the Difference?

    Product managers and project managers often work together, but they have distinct roles. While a product manager sets the vision, goals, and business trajectory of a product, a project manager leads the many projects to make those goals a reality. So if the product manager is a strategic thinker, the project manager is more of a doer.

  25. Clinical Research Associate Vs Clinical Project Manager

    Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical research associate and a clinical project manager. Additionally, a clinical project manager has an average salary of $100,510, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.