What does an application manager do?
An application manager is in charge of overseeing software applications and systems within a company, ensuring efficiency and quality. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify company needs, assessing existing applications to determine their strengths and weaknesses, and implementing solutions to optimize the quality of services. They may also conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of applications, performing corrective measures when necessary. Furthermore, as an application manager, it is essential to coordinate with the information technology staff, encouraging them to reach goals and new heights.
Application manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real application manager resumes:
- Manage the migration of all EDI infrastructures to a new ERP system on time and on budget.
- Manage development and QA teams prior to releases; organize UAT test cycles with various business groups.
- Manage organizational change via the PMO department
- Manage separation of companies to individual ERP environments.
- Manage methodologies to support Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) application requirements.
- Lead design of POS replenishment process and software design/implementation to significantly increase retail sales.
- Plan and coordinate changes and service windows with vendors, ensuring minimal disruption of operations.
- Work in conjunction with CIO to contribute to company short and long term technology strategies, objectives and budgetary requirements.
- Implement PeopleSoft financial systems including general ledger, accounts payable, and asset management - including interfaces to banks and treasury.
- Help implement multiple enterprise-level CRM projects.
- Create a SharePoint base online university for employee training and certificate distribution.
- Develop SDLC for organization using a combination of agile and traditional development standards.
- Introduce best-practice methods for project & portfolio management to standardize planning and execution.
- Deploy large-scale warehouse management system that uses Java applications running remotely on Java activate devices.
- Heighten communication in establishing regular meetings and SDLC processes to facilitate strong and timely resolutions.
Application manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Application Managers are proficient in Customer Service, Project Management, and Application Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Organizational skills, and Business skills.
We break down the percentage of Application Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 10%
Provide customer service to outside departments, manage escalated requests and perform root cause analysis to identify areas of improvement.
- Project Management, 10%
Directed management and non-management employees providing technical and programming support and project management for multiple software applications and over 300 users.
- Application Development, 5%
Managed all aspects of application development, selected computer equipment and peripherals required for specific projects, and project estimation.
- Architecture, 4%
Partnered with Business Analysts, Enterprise Architecture, infrastructure teams and other groups in requirements gathering and documenting potential company-wide solutions.
- Infrastructure, 4%
Coordinated institutional involvement in community-wide information systems and infrastructure
- Software Development, 4%
Manage and coordinate staff of business systems analysts and contracted development, database administration, and vendor software development resources.
Most application managers use their skills in "customer service," "project management," and "application development" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential application manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an application manager to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "it managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them." Additionally, an application manager resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "oversee the projects of the clinical application coordinators, including sitereadiness assessments, work flow analysis/redesign, and technical assessments. "
Organizational skills. Many application manager duties rely on organizational skills. "some it managers must coordinate the work of several different it departments to make the organization run efficiently.," so an application manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways application manager responsibilities rely on organizational skills: "re-engineered internal business processes to gain significant organizational efficiencies. "
Business skills. This is an important skill for application managers to perform their duties. For an example of how application manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "it managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an application manager: "introduced and implemented scrum methodology in the business unit and trained resources to quickly adapt to the framework. ".
Communication skills. application manager responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "it managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates." This resume example shows what application managers do with communication skills on a typical day: "improved competency level of application support staff and improved communications between users of the system and technical staff. "
Leadership skills. Another crucial skill for an application manager to carry out their responsibilities is "leadership skills." A big part of what application managers relies on this skill, since "it managers must lead and motivate it teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective." How this skill relates to application manager duties can be seen in an example from an application manager resume snippet: "provided overall leadership, including directing sub-teams utilizing scrum methodology and built all integrations. "
The three companies that hire the most application managers are:
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Compare different application managers
Application manager vs. Senior analyst/project manager
A senior analyst project manager's main job is to track the milestones of their company's important projects. They also manage the clients' databases. They are responsible for distributing databases to the sales representatives. They also help in automating their company.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an application manager are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "architecture," "software development," and "java." On the other hand, a job as a senior analyst/project manager requires skills like "data analysis," "risk management," "visio," and "test cases." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Senior analyst/project managers really shine in the retail industry with an average salary of $115,212. Comparatively, application managers tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $127,447.The education levels that senior analyst/project managers earn slightly differ from application managers. In particular, senior analyst/project managers are 4.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an application manager. Additionally, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Application manager vs. Senior project manager
Senior project managers are experienced employees assigned to oversee a specific project in the organization. They manage the project from conception to execution. They are onboard the project from the ideation phase, providing valuable insights to ensure the success of the project. Senior project managers are also in charge of managing the budget, ensuring that the expected timelines are followed, adjusting strategies when needed, and guiding project team members. It is important for senior project managers to be good leaders and communicators. They should be able to balance the interests of all the stakeholders involved in the project. They should have good interpersonal skills and decision-making skills.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real application manager resumes. While application manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "java," "application support," "business processes," and "ongoing development," senior project managers use skills like "program management," "portfolio," "risk management," and "microsoft project."
On average, senior project managers earn a lower salary than application managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, senior project managers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $118,994. Whereas application managers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $127,447.senior project managers earn similar levels of education than application managers in general. They're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Application manager vs. Senior development manager
A senior development manager oversees the daily operations of a company's product development team. They mostly have administrative duties, such as spearheading projects and programs, streamlining project requirements, establishing objectives and timelines, setting budgets and guidelines, delegating responsibilities among teams, and monitoring their progress, coordinating every team's efforts to ensure an effective workflow. Being a senior development manager takes years of experience, which they utilize to lead and guide teams in a joint effort to reach project goals and deliver profitable products.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, application managers are more likely to have skills like "infrastructure," "application support," "ongoing development," and "technical support." But a senior development manager is more likely to have skills like "cloud," "sr," "web services," and "c++."
Senior development managers make a very good living in the hospitality industry with an average annual salary of $165,136. On the other hand, application managers are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $127,447.senior development managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to application managers. Specifically, they're 4.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Application manager vs. Senior information technology manager
A senior information technology manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of the company's technology and network systems. Senior information technology managers oversee technology infrastructures and operations, ensuring the processes adhere to the company policies and regulations. They analyze the schematics and specifications of computer systems, maintaining the safety and security across all networks to prevent unauthorized access. A senior information technology manager must have extensive knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages.
Types of application manager
Updated January 8, 2025
