What does a project associate do?
A project associate (PA) is an individual who ensures that the activities of a project are running smoothly and properly implemented. Project associates are required to provide administrative coordination support to assigned projects and maintain project pending lists and meeting agendas. They must review and process invoices from consultants, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure that they are according to the project's requirements. In collaboration with the senior project officer, project associates should also assist in tracking and documenting project deliverables.
Project associate responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project associate resumes:
- Lead project by managing project schedules, collating project data, creating project metrics and submitting periodic project status updates.
- Manage assets and ensure the deployments meet the agreed SLA.
- Lead enterprise wide (30k machines) multiple large scale business unit software integrations using the SDLC and ITIL standard.
- Manage creation of brochure distribution site including CSS layout and custom administration functionality.
- Communicate with end users and executive management and manage coordinated development and testing activities between mainframe and open systems programming teams.
- Code are written using HTML, CSS, PHP and SQL.
- Provide support during UAT and fix bugs.
- Develop an automate DB2 table loading process.
- Create menus with accordion effects using jQuery.
- Used JQuery to validate user controls and web forms.
- Introduce to AutoCAD software and hands-on experience in MATLAB.
- Design the API changes require for the survey change data load.
- Direct outside marketing and sales of turnkey roofing systems including PV applications.
- Apply knowledge and experience in MATLAB to develop the force calculation module.
- Document the job responsibilities & create employee on-boarding presentation in PowerPoint for the account.
Project associate skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Project Associates are proficient in Project Management, Data Collection, and PowerPoint. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Detail oriented, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Project Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 12%
Conduct project management and organization development activities using an array of adaptable tools for non-profit, government and private clients.
- Data Collection, 7%
Arrange and execute information interviews with various real estate brokers and land developers for data collection and analysis
- PowerPoint, 7%
Designed figures using scientific data and graphing software such as GraphPad Prism, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Data Analysis, 6%
Developed interview guide and managed inter-organizational database for qualitative data analysis.
- Data Entry, 5%
Perform data entry of regulatory documents and maintenance of site information into Sponsor's Trial Management System.
- Meeting Minutes, 5%
Developed meeting minutes for dissemination to meeting participants and project stakeholders for both subcontractor and client weekly project status meetings.
Common skills that a project associate uses to do their job include "project management," "data collection," and "powerpoint." You can find details on the most important project associate responsibilities below.
Creativity. The most essential soft skill for a project associate to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." Additionally, a project associate resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "managed inventory, maintained hr records and project-related databases. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform project associate duties is detail oriented. Project associates responsibilities require that "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." Project associates also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "detailed unit testing, code review, integration and system testing of commissions system. "
Analytical skills. project associates are also known for analytical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to project associate responsibilities, because "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." A project associate resume example shows how analytical skills is used in the workplace: "defect reporting and analysis in qc 10.0. "
Communication skills. project associate responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." This resume example shows what project associates do with communication skills on a typical day: "utilize sharepoint to retrieve and update study communications. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for project associate responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of project associates all the time, as "software developers must be able to work well with others who contribute to designing, developing, and programming successful software." An excerpt from a real project associate resume shows how this skill is central to what a project associate does: "required excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively apply project management principles. "
Problem-solving skills. While "problem-solving skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to project associate responsibilities. Much of what a project associate does relies on this skill, seeing as "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of project associates: "designed solutions using java factory and singleton design patterns. "
The three companies that hire the most project associates are:
- Deloitte18 project associates jobs
- Mathematica12 project associates jobs
- Noblis10 project associates jobs
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Compare different project associates
Project associate vs. Development team member
A development team member performs various support tasks to help complete projects according to client specifications and requirements. In the information technology industry, a development team member writes codes, creates programs, implements test systems, troubleshoots issues, performs repairs and upgrades, maintains records, and presents reports to managers. In some establishments, they may also have clerical duties such as handling calls and correspondence, preparing and processing documentation, organizing files, arranging schedules, and maintaining a transparent and open communication line with staff for an efficient workflow.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, project associate responsibilities require skills like "project management," "data collection," "powerpoint," and "data analysis." Meanwhile a typical development team member has skills in areas such as "pet," "customer service," "wine," and "web application." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Development team members earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $43,213. On the other hand, project associates are paid more in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $69,142.On average, development team members reach similar levels of education than project associates. Development team members are 2.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Project associate vs. Associate project manager
An Associate Project Manager helps the project manager in the successful implementation of the project. They ensure that projects are effectively planned and well-organized.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, project associate responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "data entry," "excellent interpersonal," "provides administrative support," and "lean six sigma." Meanwhile, an associate project manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "project documentation," "risk management," "customer service," and "project scope." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Associate project managers tend to reach similar levels of education than project associates. In fact, they're 2.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for project associates in the next 3-5 years?
Tammy Bosley Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator for Communication Studies, Lorain County Community College
Project associate vs. Manager, project management
The role of a project management manager involves the planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure of projects. Project managers oversee the scope of the entire project, the team, success or failure, and its resources. They facilitate productivity and commitment, remove obstacles, and motivate their team members. Their skills should include leadership, critical thinking, communication, negotiating, and risk management. They should also know about cost management, scheduling, and task management.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a project associate is likely to be skilled in "data collection," "powerpoint," "data analysis," and "data entry," while a typical manager, project management is skilled in "risk management," "portfolio," "customer service," and "process improvement."
Managers, project management earn the best pay in the pharmaceutical industry, where they command an average salary of $115,297. Project associates earn the highest pay from the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $69,142.managers, project management typically earn similar educational levels compared to project associates. Specifically, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project associate vs. Assistant project manager
An assistant project manager is an individual who works directly under a project manager to support the planning and execution of projects. Associate project managers keep track of a project's progress and communicate with stakeholders about project needs and goals. They help procure materials and other essential items to meet project goals and avoid delays in completing a project. They are also responsible for resolving complex issues that arise in a project.
Types of project associate
Updated January 8, 2025
