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What does a delivery/program manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

A delivery/program manager spearheads and oversees programs and various initiatives to ensure that operations comply with schedules, budgets, and goals. They typically have the responsibility to set goals and guidelines, establish timelines, handle accounts, liaise with internal and external parties, and manage teams, delegating duties among staff. They also monitor all procedures and address issues, solving them promptly and efficiently. Moreover, as a delivery/program manager, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while promoting and implementing company policies and standards.

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Delivery/program manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real delivery/program manager resumes:

  • Manage cross-functional teams including global communications, product/parts replacements, logistics and hardware fulfillment, warranty, and escalations.
  • Develop and institutionalize a service catalog and delivery model for a global infrastructure services team.
  • Direct information technologies including infrastructure, applications, security, monitoring, storage and restore/backup to deliver client projects as required.
  • Follow the PMO processes and guidelines and contribute to improving processes and procedures to deliver solutions in a dynamically changing environment.
  • Leverage SharePoint to communicate and collaborate with project team members on all projects.
  • Develop strategy and objectives for integrating Linux into everyday operations so that customers would embrace the Linux system.

Delivery/program manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Delivery/Program Managers are proficient in Project Management, Program Management, and Service Delivery. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Delivery/Program Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Project Management, 13%

    Leveraged features to deploy social communities and business intelligence capabilities to publish various dashboards used globally by the project management community.

  • Program Management, 8%

    Perform internal program management and consulting in IT areas in support of US Public Sector for the U.S. Army/Air Force Account.

  • Service Delivery, 7%

    Participated in service delivery metric gathering, business review reporting, process improvement and service delivery best practice documentation.

  • Portfolio, 7%

    Provided leadership through organizational transformations including Sales re-alignment and Consulting portfolio integration while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.

  • Infrastructure, 6%

    Developed and institutionalized a service catalog and delivery model for a global infrastructure services team.

  • Cloud, 4%

    Participated in solution teams for many accounts including Allianz and Nestle which were key wins for the IBM cloud team.

Most delivery/program managers use their skills in "project management," "program management," and "service delivery" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential delivery/program manager responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a delivery/program manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "it managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them." Delivery/program managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "program management of a real time large data warehouse using etl solution. "

Business skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling delivery/program manager duties is business skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "it managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations." According to a delivery/program manager resume, here's how delivery/program managers can utilize business skills in their job responsibilities: "partner with process and regional service center teams in identifying business process gaps and developing and documenting improved processes. "

Communication skills. delivery/program managers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to delivery/program manager responsibilities, because "it managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates." A delivery/program manager resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "advanced communication management by facilitating daily scrum standup calls with cross-functional team members and slick presentations to senior management. "

Leadership skills. For certain delivery/program manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a delivery/program manager rely on this skill, as "it managers must lead and motivate it teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what delivery/program managers do: "provided leadership in organizing effective technical and business process owner (bpo) teams to resolve problems. "

Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in delivery/program manager job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what delivery/program managers do. Delivery/program manager responsibilities rely on this skill because "some it managers must coordinate the work of several different it departments to make the organization run efficiently." You can also see how delivery/program manager duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "build and oversee the program management of internal microsoft office365 operations development initiatives, partnering across all organizational functions. "

Most common delivery/program manager skills

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Compare different delivery/program managers

Delivery/program manager vs. Information technology director

An information technology (IT) Director is an individual responsible for the management, strategy, and execution of an organization's IT infrastructure. He/She supervises a team of workers while working with the organization's management and external vendors and advisors. Aside from managing workers, an IT director should possess problem-solving skills and an aptitude for organizational thinking. An IT director must also identify new market opportunities and should lead an effort to improve the organization's IT process.

We looked at the average delivery/program manager salary and compared it with the wages of an information technology director. Generally speaking, information technology directors are paid $28,913 higher than delivery/program managers per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between delivery/program managers and information technology directors are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like project management, cloud, and software development.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a delivery/program manager are more likely to require skills like "program management," "service delivery," "portfolio," and "infrastructure." On the other hand, a job as an information technology director requires skills like "customer service," "network infrastructure," "disaster recovery," and "windows server." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Information technology directors tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $145,076. In contrast, delivery/program managers make the biggest average salary, $109,397, in the technology industry.information technology directors tend to reach lower levels of education than delivery/program managers. In fact, information technology directors are 6.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Delivery/program 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.

Senior information technology manager positions earn higher pay than delivery/program manager roles. They earn a $23,145 higher salary than delivery/program managers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Delivery/program managers and senior information technology managers both require similar skills like "project management," "service delivery," and "cloud" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real delivery/program manager resumes. While delivery/program manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "program management," "portfolio," "infrastructure," and "manage change," senior information technology managers use skills like "architecture," "strong problem-solving," "customer service," and "sr."

Senior information technology managers may earn a higher salary than delivery/program managers, but senior information technology managers earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $143,891. On the other hand, delivery/program managers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $109,397.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Senior information technology managers tend to reach similar levels of education than delivery/program managers. In fact, they're 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Delivery/program manager vs. Information technology manager

An information technology manager is responsible for supervising tasks for the company's network and information systems operations. Information technology managers require excellent knowledge of the information systems industry, a strong command of programming languages, and software and hardware application processes. An information technology manager reviews the performance of the IT department staff, ensuring that networks and systems maintain the highest quality and efficiency, and adjusting the specific system updates as needed. Information technology managers monitor the security of the system's database and identify business opportunities to utilize all business systems to improve the company's services.

On average scale, information technology managers bring in higher salaries than delivery/program managers. In fact, they earn a $9,596 higher salary per year.delivery/program managers and information technology managers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "project management," "hr," and "business development," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a delivery/program manager is likely to be skilled in "program management," "service delivery," "portfolio," and "infrastructure," while a typical information technology manager is skilled in "customer service," "database," "network infrastructure," and "sql server."

Information technology managers typically earn lower educational levels compared to delivery/program managers. Specifically, they're 8.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Delivery/program manager vs. Manager, project management

The role of a project management manager involves the planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure of projects. Project managers oversee the scope of the entire project, the team, success or failure, and its resources. They facilitate productivity and commitment, remove obstacles, and motivate their team members. Their skills should include leadership, critical thinking, communication, negotiating, and risk management. They should also know about cost management, scheduling, and task management.

Managers, project management typically earn lower pay than delivery/program managers. On average, managers, project management earn a $7,068 lower salary per year.While both delivery/program managers and managers, project management complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like project management, portfolio, and infrastructure, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "program management," "service delivery," "manage change," and "cloud" are skills that commonly show up on delivery/program manager resumes. On the other hand, managers, project management use skills like risk management, customer service, on-time delivery, and project scope on their resumes.In general, managers, project management earn the most working in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $115,297. The highest-paying industry for a delivery/program manager is the technology industry.In general, managers, project management hold similar degree levels compared to delivery/program managers. Managers, project management are 3.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of delivery/program manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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