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Management associate vs director of project management

The differences between management associates and directors of project management can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a director of project management has an average salary of $126,958, which is higher than the $83,566 average annual salary of a management associate.

The top three skills for a management associate include customer service, portfolio and risk management. The most important skills for a director of project management are oversight, risk management, and resource management.

Management associate vs director of project management overview

Management AssociateDirector Of Project Management
Yearly salary$83,566$126,958
Hourly rate$40.18$61.04
Growth rate17%16%
Number of jobs84,397200,498
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

What does a management associate do?

A management associate is responsible for assisting the management operations, supporting administrative and clerical tasks, and coordinating with other departments for project support to meet the organization's objectives and profitability goals. Management associates often respond to clients' inquiries and concerns on behalf of the executives, documenting their needs, and immediately escalating high-level complaints to appropriate personnel. They also meet with suppliers and other third-party vendors, negotiating contracts for business needs. A management associate must have excellent communication, be organized, and have time-management skills to perform duties in a fast-paced environment.

What does a director of project management do?

Project management directors are the ones who develop and direct the strategic planning of different projects. The directors oversee the coordination of resources and personnel necessary for project completion. Typically, the directors require certification for project management. They develop a methodology for standardized project management in a balanced matrix organization. The directors should be equipped with skills in process improvement, customer service, infrastructure, portfolio management, and strategic initiatives. They should also have skills in communication, attention to detail, and leadership.

Management associate vs director of project management salary

Management associates and directors of project management have different pay scales, as shown below.

Management AssociateDirector Of Project Management
Average salary$83,566$126,958
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $136,000Between $85,000 And $187,000
Highest paying CityWestport, CTFoster City, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyThe CitadelMeta
Best paying industryFinanceReal Estate

Differences between management associate and director of project management education

There are a few differences between a management associate and a director of project management in terms of educational background:

Management AssociateDirector Of Project Management
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Management associate vs director of project management demographics

Here are the differences between management associates' and directors of project management' demographics:

Management AssociateDirector Of Project Management
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 47.9% Female, 52.1%Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between management associate and director of project management duties and responsibilities

Management associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage A/R, A/P, capital assets, and security deposits.
  • Manage the rehabilitation of homes and lead abatement of existing homes.
  • Value add services through managing partnerships with functional business teams to support client ROI.
  • Manage and execute the entire SDLC search for a single core products processing vendor.
  • Manage CAPA, document control, internal audit, complaint handling and training programs.
  • Lead team of PMs to deliver fast-pace web site dev projects to drive revenue and market share.
  • Show more

Director of project management example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage RFP processes to procure third party products and services.
  • Manage & facilitate agile scrum masters, project managers and business analysts including providing direction, guidance and training.
  • Develop and lead divisional IP application strategy and review process to improve patent return on investment and alignment with product strategies.
  • Direct logistics and manufacturing process at Baltimore depot and revamp of product line to achieve desire mission-readiness capability.
  • Streamline and centralize usage of project management tools to manage dependencies and transparent delivery milestones for highly complex SaaS platforms
  • Lead scrum team through multiple development sprints for overall product improvement base on customer feedback and market research.
  • Show more

Management associate vs director of project management skills

Common management associate skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Portfolio, 7%
  • Risk Management, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Strong Analytical, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
Common director of project management skills
  • Oversight, 9%
  • Risk Management, 6%
  • Resource Management, 5%
  • Business Objectives, 5%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%

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