How to hire a director, product & project management

How to hire a director, product & project management, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director, product & project management hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director, product & project management job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director, product & project management
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your director, product & project management job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a director, product & project management for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   A director, product & project management's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, directors, product & project management from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of directors, product & project management.

   Type of Director, Product & Project Management	Description	Hourly rate
   Director, Product & Project Management	Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.	$45-85
   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... Show more	$32-92
   Planning Director	Planning Directors are members of the executive team or the top management of a company. They oversee the company's plans and the strategies involved in reaching company goals... Show more	$43-92

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Architecture
   • Product Development
   • Project Management
   • Product Management
   • Web Content
   • Product Strategy
   • Product Launch
   • Product Lifecycle
   • Product Line
   • Software Development
   • Product Roadmap
   • Portfolio
   • Financial Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage horizontal UX prototyping resource needs, implementing effective collaborative expectations and cross-product timeline allocation strategies.
   • Review design and perform QA testing of deliver products.
   • Perform QA testing, and direct internal alpha testing and customer beta testing.
   • Redesign core SaaS product to add industry-leading functionality and enterprise platform.
   • Develop detailed cloud products opportunity analysis, XaaS service matrix, value proposition, build/buy/partner analysis, and financial business case.
   • Manage horizontal UX prototyping resource needs, implementing effective collaborative expectations and cross-product timeline allocation strategies.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director, product & project management job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director, product & project management can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors, product & project management' average salary in kansas is 40% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors, product & project management 47% less than senior-level directors, product & project management.
   • Certifications. A director, product & project management with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director, product & project management's salary.

   Average director, product & project management salary

   $129,963yearly

   $62.48 hourly rate

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   Entry-level director, product & project management salary

   $94,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

4. Writing a director, product & project management job description

   A director, product & project management job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a director, product & project management job description:

   Director, product & project management job description example

   James River Insurance is an excess and surplus lines segment of James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and operates on an approved non-admitted basis in 50 states and Washington, DC. Since 2003, James River has provided thousands of commercial property and casualty customers with innovative and creative solutions for particular insurance needs.

   At James River Insurance, we are committed to providing a stable and rewarding work environment supported by our Core Values and Guiding Principles: Integrity, Accountability, Innovation, Customer Service, Communication, and Teamwork. We are proud of our recent national recognition as a 2022 and 2021 Top Workplaces USA awards.

   James River Group Holdings, Ltd. is a Bermuda-based insurance holding company which owns and operates a group of specialty insurance and reinsurance companies. The Company operates in three specialty property-casualty insurance and reinsurance segments: Excess and Surplus Lines, Specialty Admitted Insurance and Casualty Reinsurance. The Company tends to focus on accounts associated with small or medium-sized businesses in each of its segments. Each of the Company's regulated insurance subsidiaries are rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.

   Job Summary

   The Director, Product & Project Management is responsible for leading the Project Management Office (PMO) for IT Shared Services. This role will manage the performance and development of a staff of managers and analysts.

   Duties and Responsibilities

   • Continuously exhibit and uphold Core Values of Integrity, Accountability, Communication and Teamwork, Innovation and Customer Service

   • Plan and execute the functional strategy for the PMO including planning of and managing to operational budget

   • Stay abreast of current technology trends and capabilities shaping functional area and incorporate findings into recommendations and strategic planning

   • Develop team and functional goals and objectives

   • Oversee all projects within functional area and ensure they meet all established KPI’s

   • Identify and propose specific strategies, initiatives, and remedies necessary to align functional area with corporate objectives

   • Direct and manage a high performing team of both managers and individual contributors

   • Proactively manage team efforts to achieve overall goals

   • Partner with internal stakeholders (divisions, shared services, departments) to design an agile team structure balancing existing standards and processes while meeting the strategic needs of the business

   • Evaluate business processes and implement solutions

   • Develop project plans and monitor performance

   • Manage vendor relationships including offshore partners

   • Manage medium to large scale IT projects and initiatives

   • Partner with business segments and vendors to articulate product development strategy and provide solutions that meet business and IT needs

   • Act as liaison between IT and business service providers

   • Improve processes to optimize performance and value over time

   • Work closely with business analysts, development manager, and business users to ensure successful product delivery

   • Review system architecture and design for new applications and databases

   • Work with SVP/CIO to review and recommend new technology that will help create value for the company/business

   • Adhere to all IT and SOX Controls

   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

   • Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, influence, and mentor staff

   • Ability to set clear expectations, effectively monitor progress, provide constructive feedback and guidance, and hold staff accountable

   • Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

   • Strong knowledge of the P&C insurance industry

   • Strong knowledge of business applications and business processes

   • Knowledge of SQL databases and Transact query language

   • Knowledge of the System Development Life Cycle

   • Knowledge of SCRUM/agile development and testing methodology

   • Knowledge of IT Controls and SOX Compliance

   • Research, analysis and problem-solving skills

   • Ability to exercise sound judgement in making critical and complex decisions

   • Ability to build effective relationships with business partners and influence decisions

   • Ability to convey technical process information in a clear and concise manner

   • Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects effectively

   • Ability to identify and make process and procedure improvement recommendations

   • Ability to develop an operational plan that aligns with and supports the overall business goals

   • Strategic thinker with creative problem-solving abilities

   • Continuous learning style

   • Active listening skills

   • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

   • Ability to travel occasionally, including overnight travel

   Experience and Education

   • High School Diploma required

   • Bachelor’s Degree in related field (IT, IS, Computer Science) preferred, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience

   • Advanced Degree in related field (IT, IS, Computer Science) preferred

   • Minimum of ten years of experience in IT project management required

   • Minimum of five years of people management experience (supervision, mentor, lead) required

   • Minimum of five years of experience in the insurance or financial services industries required

   • Certifications (PMP, SCRUM Master) preferred

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right director, product & project management for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with directors, product & project management they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit directors, product & project management who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director, product & project management job on Zippia to find and attract quality director, product & project management candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting directors, product & project management requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director, product & project management

   Once you have selected a candidate for the director, product & project management position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new director, product & project management. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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