The duties and responsibilities of program managers vary from company to company, but common duties include project strategy, quality control, performance reporting, change management, and risk planning. A good candidate will have all of these skills and more, in addition to being a good leader who can coordinate with multiple teams.
Job Profile
Program managers are in charge of overseeing the fulfilment of larger organisational and business goals. They essentially coordinate efforts between different projects and proactively manage their progress.
Program managers can find open positions in larger companies in IT, engineering and life sciences as well as in numerous other industries.
Program manager vs project manager: What’s the difference?
To truly understand the difference between a program manager and a project manager, it is first important to understand the difference between a project and a program. To put it simply, projects are temporary and programs are underlying strategies.
But there are a few other important differences and similarities to note – the most important one being that multiple projects make up each program. This means that each project has specific objectives, which in turn represent broader program objectives. While projects have clear timelines and deliverables, programs consist of long-term business goals with multiple dependencies.
While there are many differences between the two, they still share some similarities. Both a project and a program have 4 components:
- Scope
- Difficulty
- Context
- Uncertainties
What differs is the level of complexity. Projects tend to be smaller and involve fewer uncertainties, while programs tend to be larger, have many complex relationships between departments, and involve more uncertainties.
The planning and coordination of related projects within the framework of comprehensive programs helps to implement strategic requirements in practically all industries. A program manager is an executive with a much more responsible position than a project manager.
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What does a program manager do?
Program managers take care of the long-term program strategy and success metrics. Their responsibilities range from defining success to overseeing collaboration and many other things related to it.
A program manager is in charge of introducing programs into existing systems. They can also be helpful in directing project managers and linking day projects to larger programs.
Working as a manager is possible in a wide variety of industries. Since they are the coordinator of strategically and thematically related projects, these managers can be found in the IT industry as well as in human resources, in manufacturing industries and in large publishing houses. The actual tasks then depend heavily on the respective workplace.
In general, however, a program manager summarises projects, and is in charge of coordinating controls and monitoring them. The resulting programs are embedded in the context of the company’s goals.
Tasks also include the continuous updating of both individual projects and entire programs, checking specifications and, if necessary, analysing and solving problems.
Responsibilities of a program manager:
- Planning and initiation of projects within programs
- Overall management of marketing, communication and quality assurance of the program
- Specifying guidelines
- Establishing methods and priorities
- Evaluating projects and programs
- Processing results
- Reporting to stakeholders
- Training and guidance of employees in projects/programs
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What skills do you need to be a program manager?
Program managers have extensive experience when it comes to computers and are extremely competent in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
They are also familiar with project management software tools and methodologies and are extremely capable in solving problems creatively.
In addition, since a program manager coordinates numerous projects, they must have typical leadership qualities, including assertiveness, teamwork and very good communication skills.
What are the skills of a program manager?
- Extensive experience with computers
- Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Familiarity with project management software tools and methodologies
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Ability to work well with others
- Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking
- Assertiveness
- Resilience
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Background
The basic requirements to work as a manager include a Bachelor’s degree in economics or engineering as well as several years of professional experience in a managerial position.
There are also some courses that you can take to increase your knowledge and boost your chances of finding a well-paid job. Take a look at some examples down below:
- Technical Program Management
- Program Management Training
- Program Manager Essentials
- Strategic Program Management
Salary of a program manager
Since every organisation has a basic need for management, the salary of a program manager depends largely on what industry they’re in.
Generally speaking though, a someone who’s just starting out can expect a salary of around $103,700 per year whereas a more experienced program manager can expect a salary of around $181,400 per year. The average salary for a manager is $141,400.
In Germany, the salary range for program managers is €57,000-€112,000 whereas in the UK, the range is £64,300 – £87,700.
How much do program managers earn?
| US | $103,700 – $181,400 |
| Germany | €57,000 – €112,000 |
| UK | £64,300 – £87,700 |
How much do freelance program managers earn?
Program Managers on freelancermap charge on average:
Rates in this field range between $33 and $106/hour for most freelancers.
The daily rate for Program Managers (8 working hours) would be around:
