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What is a project management lead and how to become one
A project management lead oversees a project from initiation to completion, ensuring that it is delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. They manage resources, identify risks, and communicate with stakeholders. A project management lead also creates project plans, defines objectives, and sets timelines. They work with teams to ensure consistent project goals and outcomes. Additionally, they provide guidance and support to team members, ensuring that everyone understands their responsibilities.
What general advice would you give to a project management lead?
Bethany Swindell
Visiting Instructor, Arkansas Tech University
Avg. Salary $85,117
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 11%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 11.99%
Black or African American 6.24%
Hispanic or Latino 8.82%
Unknown 4.70%
White 67.73%
Genderfemale 40.83%
male 59.17%
Age - 43American 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 - 43Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a project management lead?
Pros
High level of responsibility and accountability
Exposure to different industries and sectors
Competitive salary and benefits package
Challenging and dynamic work environment
High levels of job satisfaction
Cons
High levels of stress and pressure
Long hours and tight deadlines
Need to navigate complex stakeholder relationships
Difficulty in balancing project goals with organizational goals
Potential for burnout or lack of work-life balance
Project management lead career paths
Key steps to become a project management lead
Explore project management lead education requirements
Start to develop specific project management lead skills
Skills Percentages Project Management 12.36% Customer Service 9.67% Portfolio 6.15% Risk Management 5.53% Plumbing 4.51% Complete relevant project management lead training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New project management leads learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a project management lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real project management lead resumes.Research project management lead duties and responsibilities
- Manage system architecture design, software development and QA testing process.
- Direct and oversee multiple PMs and/or team leads on complex projects.
- Manage and maintain all financial responsibilities including receivables, payroll, taxation, budgeting, internal audit and compliance and bookkeeping.
- Plan, develop, and lead cross-functional project teams to develop and implement infrastructure solutions and product offerings using PMI methodology.
Get project management lead experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a project management lead. The most common roles before becoming a project management lead include project manager, project leader team lead and senior project manager.Prepare your project management lead resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your project management lead resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a project management lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable project management lead resume templates
Build a professional project management lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your project management lead resume.
Apply for project management lead jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a project management lead 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 project management lead job
Are you a project management lead?
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Average project management lead salary
The average project management lead salary in the United States is $85,117 per year or $41 per hour. Project management lead salaries range between $53,000 and $136,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do project management leads rate their job?
Project management lead reviews
Zero work life balance and very high project stress
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 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.
Project management lead FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
