Program Manager Vs. Project Manager: What’s The Difference?

Both roles are high levels of management, which makes it easy to confuse the two. However, program managers and project managers have different responsibilities and goals. So, you may be wondering: what exactly is the difference?

The best way to explain it is to articulate how a program and a project differ from one another. Projects have set goals, objectives, and timetables. Something like a product launch is a project. There’s a clear start, objective, and finish.

Programs, however, are vaguer. Unlike a project, a program doesn’t have a set start and end date and is more an overarching idea to strive for than a set, tangible outcome. Programs typically have several different projects under their umbrella, all moving towards the same general objective.

Key Takeaways:

Program Manager	Project Manager
Program managers are typically in charge of a larger organizational goal, which means there’s no hard start or end date.	Project managers oversee a project from start to finish, then move on to the next project.
Being a program manager puts you in the upper echelons of management. Your job is to pull together people to run projects under the umbrella of your program.	Project managers are also high-level management, but their main duties are in setting timetables, creating goals, and putting a team together to complete them.
Program management is about organizational goals and direction. Program managers look at the big picture and put together projects to move the organization in that direction.	Project management is on the operations side of an organization. Someone in this role is responsible for making sure that things get done on time and within budget.
Annually, program managers make a median salary of $98,000.	Project managers’ salary average is $96,000 per year.

What Is a Program Manager?

A program manager’s objectives are long-term. They generally work with organizational goals within the organization. Because of that, their work typically doesn’t have a set start or end date nor a way to mark it complete.

The results of their efforts aren’t always easy to measure, either. Program managers may be in charge of changing a brand’s image, for instance. This isn’t something that can be measured empirically, nor is it something that can be achieved in a set period of time.

To that end, program managers can direct project managers to oversee individual projects toward that goal. Such as: creating a new advertising campaign, launching a new product in line with the program, or overhauling the company’s logo.

In that way, program managers are even higher management than project managers. They are in charge of a group of projects under the umbrella of the program.

What Is a Project Manager?

Like program managers, project managers are found in almost every industry. Project managers are the ones to make sure that timetables are met and that the product or service is completed to specifications. They’re also responsible for working out timelines, handling resources, and making sure the different teams are able to work together or at least in parallel.

Project managers are much more specific and goal-oriented than program managers. Their projects have set start and end dates, as well as a set budget. They have to deliver the project on time and under budget – if at all possible.

This means that they need to do a lot of planning, setting timetables, as well as taking costs into account. They’re also the ones who will set goals or metrics and make sure that the different teams are meeting them. And if they aren’t, they have to figure out why and how to rectify the problem.

Tips for Being an Effective Program Manager

If you’d like to work as a program manager, here are some things to consider:

A program manager is a very high-level management role. A lot of experience in management positions is going to be a must.
Program managers’ don’t tend to have set, direct goals like a project manager. Their task is ongoing – not necessarily indefinitely, but for a long time.
At this level of management, you won’t be doing any work on projects themselves – you’ll be overseeing the overseers. This means you have to be excellent at delegation.
A program is usually a very broad concept. You have to be able to take a general direction and break it down into projects, then pull together other leaders who can get those projects done.

Tips for Being an Effective Project Manager

If you’re thinking about becoming a project manager, here are a few things to consider:

Project management is all about juggling different responsibilities but also being willing to let others do their jobs. A micromanaging project manager prevents anything from getting done.
In order to effectively manage a project, it’s imperative that you understand the parameters. You need to make sure that you understand exactly what’s being asked of you, under what time constraints, and with what budget.
Project managers are the ones who set the timetables and goals for individual teams under their oversight. You need to be organized, good at communication, and willing to take advice from experts.
A large part of a project manager’s job is making sure that everything’s done on time and to make sure that the teams are working together. This means you need to be attentive, ready to make changes, and unafraid to take the blame and shield your team when necessary.
There are several different project management methods that can help with organization. Such as:
- Agile
- Waterfall
- Scrum
- Strategic

Program Manager vs. Project Manager FAQ

Can a program manager do the job of a project manager?

Yes, a program manager can do the job of a project manager. Both are high-level management positions that involve delegation and setting goals. Program managers have often ascended through the ranks, as well, so they even have been project managers before being pushed upwards.
What skills should a project manager possess?

Project management requires possessing many useful skills – both hard skills and soft skills. This includes:
- Communication.
- Planning.
- Time management.
- Risk assessment.
- Teamwork and team management.
- Delegation.
- Leadership.
What industries use project managers and program managers?

Almost every industry makes use of both project managers and program managers. Both programs and projects are almost universal. Exactly what a project manager oversees varies vastly depending on the organization, and program managers can work with a plethora of different programs.

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Author

Di Doherty

Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.

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