What does a digital program manager do?
Digital program managers are executive professionals who are responsible for managing the digital products of an organization across a variety of different functions and disciplines. These managers are required to partner with product owners so that they can understand the owner's objectives and develop digital project portfolios that help them meet those objectives. They must facilitate the planning and management of digital products to ensure that they are delivered on-time and within budget. Digital program managers must also prepare project status reports for executive management to review.
Digital program manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real digital program manager resumes:
- Manage schedule milestone dates in company database; supervise full-service vendor in updating Smartsheet schedule.
- Interface with key internal and client stakeholders to define and lead digital and CRM initiatives.
- Own entire worldwide marketing budget, prioritize spends and ensure best ROI (units & mix).
- Provide level of effort estimations and resource requirements in partnership with BA, UX, development and QA project resources.
- Generate complete SEO/analytic reports identifying specific aggregates, require metrics and investigate reporting discrepancies with JIRA as required.
- Task with the ongoing improvement and optimization of these e-commerce capabilities.
Digital program manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Digital Program Managers are proficient in Digital Transformation, Digital Marketing, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Digital Program Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Digital Transformation, 19%
Launched a digital repository with 100+ real/named IoE/IoT customer references to share their innovative digital transformation stories.
- Digital Marketing, 15%
Serve as primary interface and partner to functional experts including external agencies, Central Digital Marketing and regional counterparts.
- Project Management, 13%
Reduced schedule risks by incorporating Theory of Constraints into project management process.
- Program Management, 9%
Program Management professional with 6+ years of global experience in E-commerce domain.
- Digital Content, 3%
Introduced file automation, digital asset library and metadata utilization to deliver digital content more efficiently to global and studio customers.
- KPIs, 3%
Established and spearheaded Digital Optimization Teams by business, focusing improvement efforts on agreed upon KPIs linking clearly defined business objectives.
Most digital program managers use their skills in "digital transformation," "digital marketing," and "project management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential digital program manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a digital program manager to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what digital program managers do because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." Additionally, a digital program manager resume shows how digital program managers use analytical skills: "market analysis, new product launch, a/b testing and sales enablement. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform digital program manager duties is communication skills. Digital program managers responsibilities require that "managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process." Digital program managers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "establish digital strategy to ensure alignment of all proposed communications programs with broader enterprise initiative. "
Creativity. This is an important skill for digital program managers to perform their duties. For an example of how digital program manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a digital program manager: "managed the program responsible for product management, targeted sales campaigns and creative social media strategy to 12m+ international clients. ".
Organizational skills. For certain digital program manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "organizational skills." The day-to-day duties of a digital program manager rely on this skill, as "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what digital program managers do: "led organizational content strategy across large network of fox sports properties. "
The three companies that hire the most digital program managers are:
Compare different digital program managers
Digital program manager vs. Marketing director
Marketing directors are responsible for the overall branding and marketing direction of the company. They are in charge of identifying goals and strategies related to marketing. They create strategies that cater to the target market of the organization's products and services to help with sales. They lead the company's marketing department and create the company's brand promise. They ensure that all marketing collateral is in line with the rest of the marketing campaigns of the organization. They should be updated on all the current trends in the marketing world.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, digital program manager responsibilities require skills like "digital transformation," "program management," "digital content," and "kpis." Meanwhile a typical marketing director has skills in areas such as "market research," "sales strategies," "integrated marketing," and "press releases." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Marketing directors really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $131,349. Comparatively, digital program managers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $114,509.The education levels that marketing directors earn slightly differ from digital program managers. In particular, marketing directors are 8.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a digital program manager. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital program manager vs. Manager, strategy
A strategy manager is an individual who reviews a company's objectives for growth and works with executives to formulate actionable plans to achieve these objectives. To make comprehensive recommendations, strategy managers must conduct data analysis of the organization as well as the overall industry. They must provide assessments of market trends and identify business threats and opportunities. Strategy managers should also work with department heads to develop individual team goals and break them down into actionable steps for the employees to complete.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that digital program manager responsibilities requires skills like "digital transformation," "program management," "digital content," and "product management." But a manager, strategy might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "portfolio," "business development," "market research," and "business strategy."
On average, managers, strategy earn a higher salary than digital program managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, managers, strategy earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $116,769. Whereas digital program managers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $114,509.In general, managers, strategy achieve higher levels of education than digital program managers. They're 8.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital program manager vs. Business development manager
A business development manager's duties include identifying business opportunities, developing effective models and strategies to improve business performance, searching for potential clients to generate income and attract partnerships. A business development manager must have extensive knowledge of the market trends and adjust strategies as needed to meet the needs of the client. Excellent communication, decision-making, critical thinking, and leadership skills are just some of the key factors that business development managers should possess to communicate and negotiate with the clients.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, digital program managers are more likely to have skills like "digital transformation," "digital marketing," "program management," and "digital content." But a business development manager is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "healthcare," "business relationships," and "customer relationships."
Business development managers earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $103,515. Digital program managers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $114,509.Most business development managers achieve a lower degree level compared to digital program managers. For example, they're 7.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital program manager vs. Revenue manager
A revenue manager is responsible for conducting price analysis and revenue strategies to support business development and improve marketing techniques. Revenue managers research on the current market trends, evaluate statistical data of resources, maintain reasonable rates, and match the competitiveness of other hotel industries. They also work closely with the marketing and public relations team on releasing press releases, managing media appearance, and publishing content on the digital platform. A revenue manager must have excellent communication and organizational skills, tracking business and financial transactions, and coordinating with potential clients for partnerships.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between digital program managers and revenue managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a digital program manager might have more use for skills like "digital transformation," "digital marketing," "project management," and "program management." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of revenue managers require skills like "revenue cycle," "reservations," "customer service," and "patients. "
In general, revenue managers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $99,553. The highest-paying industry for a digital program manager is the technology industry.The average resume of revenue managers showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to digital program managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of digital program manager
Updated January 8, 2025
