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Director of project management skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Elisa Chan,
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.
Director of project management example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical director of project management skills. We ranked the top skills for directors of project management based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.1% of director of project management resumes contained oversight as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a director of project management needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 director of project management skills for your resume and career

1. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how directors of project management use oversight:
  • Coordinated the development of documentation used to standardize operational procedures, and develop comprehensive reports for management oversight and resource forecasting.
  • Provided direct project management and oversight for large, complex implementations, ensuring appropriate resource allocation and on-time task completion.

2. Risk Management

Risk management is the method of recognizing, evaluating, and managing risks to an organization's resources and profits. Financial insecurity, regulatory liability, strategic management mistakes, incidents, and natural hazards are just some of the challenges or dangers that could arise. For digitalized businesses, IT security vulnerabilities and data-related threats, as well as risk management techniques to mitigate them, have become top priorities.

Here's how directors of project management use risk management:
  • Directed cross-functional teams of 20-40 associates through effective resource and communication management, risk management, and performance reporting.
  • Managed client expectations and delivery of risk management services for the financial and credit community.

3. Resource Management

Resource management is under what you call project management, wherein it is used to manage a business. This particular skill involves planning, creating, developing, implementing, and adapting certain information or data related to a project.

Here's how directors of project management use resource management:
  • Developed delivery strategy, managed stakeholder relationships, resource management, and performance metrics.
  • Created cost projection analysis reports pertinent to internal resource management and budgeting.

4. Business Objectives

Business Objectives refer to the goals and objectives which a company has set for itself. They could be related to profit, increasing growth of a business, or something else.

Here's how directors of project management use business objectives:
  • Collaborated with executive level stakeholders, cross-functional team members and customers to ensure strategic business objectives are executed and met.
  • Managed multiple projects to meet key strategic executive business objectives while following project management best practices.

5. Healthcare

Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of a person's health by the diagnosis and treatment of a person's injury, illness, or any other disease. Healthcare is a basic necessity of human life and is the responsibility of the country's government to ensure that each person gets healthcare. Providing healthcare is the job of certified health professionals that includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other physicians. Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, dentistry, therapy, and health training all come under healthcare. Healthcare plays a vital role in the country's economy and its development.

Here's how directors of project management use healthcare:
  • Designed population health management strategies alongside healthcare executives.
  • Managed Healthcare Payer and Provider Service Line/Clinic deployments.

6. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how directors of project management use customer satisfaction:
  • Conceptualized and launched Project Management Office governance and best practices ultimately to improve customer satisfaction and increased productivity by 40%.
  • Full responsibility for delivery of department results (safety, quality, operating profit improvement, and customer satisfaction).

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7. Process Improvement

Here's how directors of project management use process improvement:
  • Implement Project Office and direct all organizational projects, including technology systems, business process improvements, and balanced scorecard planning.
  • Directed project management department and oversaw all client engagements focusing on balancing quality, cost, staffing and process improvement.

8. Direct Reports

Here's how directors of project management use direct reports:
  • Direct reports include project managers, project assistants, estimating, proposal, construction managers, construction administration and safety personnel.
  • Conducted effective performance evaluations and mentored direct reports, facilitated direct reports' career development plans.

9. Program Management

Here's how directors of project management use program management:
  • Participated in organizing the over-all program management and long-term strategic planning efforts for global Project & Portfolio Management organization.
  • Championed adoption and implementation of project and program management methodology; oversaw project and program management coaching.

10. PMO

Project management office or, as is often abbreviated, PMO is a part often found in larger companies, agencies, and other organizations of varying sizes. This department's main focus is to create, alter, and help implement project management policies and regulations within their enterprise, through a number of methods and means, such as documents, guides, and personal assistance. A PMO is truly helpful in standardising and improving the way projects are handled, and thus should be good at minimising costs, errors, and incidents.

Here's how directors of project management use pmo:
  • Developed standardized project management methodology which was spearheaded and implemented by PMO project management staff in a balanced matrix organization.
  • Identified roles and responsibilities, engagement models, and conducted regular PMO meetings, effecting better company communication.

11. Client Facing

Here's how directors of project management use client facing:
  • Directed corporate and client facing agile programs and projects.
  • Lead client facing communication, training and rollout for scheduled releases and new products for the client services project management team.

12. Manage Cross

Here's how directors of project management use manage cross:
  • Manage cross-functional teams of clinical staff, trainers, business analyst and curriculum developers.
  • Support program lead in a manner to effectively manage cross-functional team throughput, strategic decisions, risk assessment and team dynamics.

13. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how directors of project management use business development:
  • Project Management Director / VP of New Business Development Ensured successful Project Management practices, following company policies and client requirements.
  • Spearhead business development efforts by securing leads, developing RFP responses, creating audio/visual presentations and securing new business opportunities.

14. Employee Development

Here's how directors of project management use employee development:
  • Managed employee development and the achievement of certifications.
  • Worked with peers to develop platforms for improving operations, employee development and morale.

15. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how directors of project management use customer service:
  • Developed and implemented business customer service strategy for National and Small/Medium Business customers for end to end solutions.
  • Designed and implemented a database to automate customer service surveys and teller reconciliation application using Access database.
top-skills

What skills help Directors Of Project Management find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on director of project management resumes?

Elisa Chan

Assistant Professor of Marketing, New York Institute of Technology

In my opinion, the fundamental skills required for marketing jobs haven't really changed. What changed is where or how these skills are applied. So my response to this question might sound cliche, but I strongly believe that it is true. Strong statistics and marketing analytics ability to show that you are able to make data-driven decisions. Interpersonal skills to show that you can respectfully and effectively interact with others, which are indicative of how you will manage work relationship as well as that with clients and customers.

What director of project management skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.Nicole Jones Young Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College

Gap years are interesting to me. There is a difference between someone who has ample monetary resources and voluntarily decides to take a "gap" year to travel the world, as opposed to someone who involuntarily takes a "gap" year because they legitimately cannot find a job.
For students who opt not enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, I would recommend that they utilize this time in a strategic fashion, primarily expanding their network, increasing their skills related to data analytics/analysis, and reading or researching within the broader business field as well as their particular field of interest. Expanding your network is always beneficial because of the value employers place on referrals. If students do not know where to start, I would recommend they join their applicable professional organization and begin attending events (virtual events can still help build relationships).
While specific job duties may differ, the ability to understand and utilize data is in high demand in virtually every job role. Having comfort with data-both quantitative and qualitative--can be a highly beneficial skill that many in the job market may not have to offer.
I also recommend continued reading and researching, as whenever you do enter the workforce you want to know what is going on. I am never surprised, but always disappointed when I ask my students if they heard the latest job numbers or if they saw a recent news article. It is hard to articulate your value to an organization's problems if you are unaware of what they are. Stay current.
Interestingly, I would not recommend that someone enroll in a graduate program simply to take up time. If you just love school, have a clear focus, or had already planned to enroll in graduate school prior to COVID, then proceed. However, if you are unsure about your interests or future career goals, enrolling in a graduate program may be a large investment of time and money that may not result in securing a job of interest upon completion.

What type of skills will young Directors of project management need?

Jennifer TockmanJennifer Tockman LinkedIn profile

Director of Career Development and BOLD Women's Leadership Network, Colby-Sawyer College

Flexibility, ability to adapt to whatever style work style, and the environment we are using given the world around us, working as a team (even if remote), can be a self-learner, especially in a private fashion. Excellent communication skills are also essential for success.

What technical skills for a director of project management stand out to employers?

Stephen O'ConnellStephen O'Connell LinkedIn profile

Gil and Frank Mustin Professor of Economics, Chair, Department of Economics, Swarthmore College

The organization, presentation and interpretation of data are probably particularly valued. Comfort with all kinds of online productivity tools. As always, capacity for critical thinking. For now especially, ability to work independently within a team that meets only remotely.

What soft skills should all Directors of project management possess?

Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.Milena Stanislavova Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Economics Department, University of Kansas

Working and collaborating in groups, presenting to different audiences, writing technical reports, grant applications and researching new topics are all essential soft skills. Much of today's world relies on data, so collecting, summarizing, organizing and presenting data is also an important soft skill that is becoming quite fundamental.

List of director of project management skills to add to your resume

Director of project management skills

The most important skills for a director of project management resume and required skills for a director of project management to have include:

  • Oversight
  • Risk Management
  • Resource Management
  • Business Objectives
  • Healthcare
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Process Improvement
  • Direct Reports
  • Program Management
  • PMO
  • Client Facing
  • Manage Cross
  • Business Development
  • Employee Development
  • Customer Service
  • ERP
  • Revenue Forecasting
  • Project Scope
  • Client Relationships
  • Product Development
  • Ongoing Development
  • PMS
  • Lifecycle Management
  • Infrastructure
  • Project Execution
  • Project Portfolio
  • Scrum
  • KPIs
  • Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Project Management
  • Sigma
  • Status Reports
  • Project Budget
  • Cash Flow
  • Business Process
  • Digital Marketing
  • Strong Project Management
  • Strong Work Ethic
  • SharePoint
  • PMI
  • Portfolio Management
  • Rehabilitation
  • Vendor Management
  • R
  • CRM
  • Lean Six Sigma
  • FDA

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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