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What is an international project manager and how to become one
An international project manager leads a team of employees in developing, establishing, and maintaining international projects of their organization. Their main job duties are planning international projects, delegating tasks to their team members, allocating resources, and ensuring that all deadlines are met on time. They are also typically responsible for conducting risk analysis and cost estimation of international projects.
An international project manager also serves as a bridge for communication between executives, local project managers, and the people on their team. Hence, most of their time is generally spent coordinating with people and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
Many international project managers have a bachelor's or master's degree in business, project management, or another relevant field. They also have extensive experience in project management and a proven track record of bringing company projects to success, be it local or international. More than that, international project managers should display excellent skills in communication, collaboration, leadership, and people management.
Given that this role is a critical one for any organization, the compensation for an international project manager is high. On average, they earn around $81,000 a year or roughly $40 an hour.
What general advice would you give to an international project manager?
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College
Avg. Salary $87,674
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 8.81%
Black or African American 7.46%
Hispanic or Latino 12.48%
Unknown 4.69%
White 65.90%
Genderfemale 40.63%
male 59.37%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is simple
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
International project manager career paths
Key steps to become an international project manager
Explore international project manager education requirements
Start to develop specific international project manager skills
Skills Percentages Project Management 10.90% Client Facing 10.57% International Project 9.15% R 8.06% Logistics 4.98% Research international project manager duties and responsibilities
- Manage international integration of product localization with product management, development, QA, business, and member services.
- Perform problem resolution, cost recovery, manage inventory of network components, direct RFP process for procurement of telecommunications services.
- Assure that the integration of all applications meet stringent user requirements and QA testing while meeting tight project deadlines.
- Work closely with logistics and engineering team to coordinate equipment design/delivery methods due to Colombian road conditions.
Apply for international project manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an international project manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first international project manager job
Are you an international project manager?
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Average international project manager salary
The average international project manager salary in the United States is $87,674 per year or $42 per hour. International project manager salaries range between $63,000 and $121,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do international project managers rate their job?
International project manager reviews
I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project
Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.
I enjoy all aspects of my job. The lack of organization at my current location is stressful.
I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.
Without the right support from project sponsors, a project manager is doomed to failure. There is an enormous amount of responsibility on a project manager to deliver a product on time and on budget, though without proper authority or backing, it's basically wheel spinning.
Updated January 8, 2025
