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What does a project management specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Bethany Swindell
What does a project management specialist do

A project management specialist is an individual who manages an entire project and serves as a point of contact for a client or customer. Project management specialists must provide detailed cost analysis and timetable reports to keep projects on schedule and budget. They must ask for frequent updates from all staff assigned so that they can identify potential problems that may keep projects from being completed on time. Project management specialists must also prepare progress reports of projects and create presentations for senior management.

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Project management specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real project management specialist resumes:

  • Plan and manage all development and production activities for the company s new cardiac rhythmic management (CRM) extrusion line.
  • Manage user authorization in SharePoint.
  • Manage change management activation and stabilization activities for ERP project within all sites.
  • Manage a team responsible for designing service-orient application architecture, standards and best practices guidelines, security and data access frameworks.
  • Update, create stories, and modify VDS tasks in JIRA.
  • Facilitate project meetings, including setting the agenda, meeting logistics and documentation of meetings.
  • Use JIRA as a ticketing system to view task, uploads and document task orient process.
  • Act as group project lead to clarify and improve ISO ClaimSearch web base reporting to match mainframe options.
  • Process estimates and complete service on facility systems including HVAC, refrigeration, doors, and fire protection.
  • Review minutes from weekly technical meetings to keep PMs alert about technical issues that might impact their projects.
  • Develop the components using Java API to interface with LDAP server and retrieve user information and user functional groups.
  • Develop project flow-charting in Microsoft Visio.
  • Perform maintenance on windows and Microsoft applications.
  • Prepare and disseminate DoD correspondence in accordance with DoD guidelines.
  • Convert VBA base application training request database to Java application.

Project management specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Project Management Specialists are proficient in PMP, PowerPoint, and Status Reports. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Project Management Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PMP, 9%

    Re-validated PMI Project Management Professional Certification (PMP) for continuing education and service requirements - Completed 2016.

  • PowerPoint, 7%

    Develop and present PowerPoint presentations directed toward Information Technology Management.

  • Status Reports, 7%

    Delivered process and productivity improvement by directing Project Management to inventory products and reduce number of status reports.

  • Program Management, 6%

    Gather software and hardware requirements needs and facilitate procurement and implementation between senior management and other program/project management leaders.

  • Customer Service, 6%

    Devised documentation for revisions in Processes and Procedures for line organizations that resulted in greater customer service.

  • Project Management Tools, 5%

    Managed Learning Management System and developed project management tools, procedures, and training foundation courses with 2,000 classroom training hours.

Common skills that a project management specialist uses to do their job include "pmp," "powerpoint," and "status reports." You can find details on the most important project management specialist responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a project management specialist to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Project management specialists often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "verified applicable data standards for fda data model. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling project management specialist duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." According to a project management specialist resume, here's how project management specialists can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "serve as the communications ipt earned value management lead. "

Interpersonal skills. project management specialists are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to project management specialist responsibilities, because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." A project management specialist resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "provided customer service and interpersonal skills. "

Time-management skills. A big part of what project management specialists do relies on "time-management skills." You can see how essential it is to project management specialist responsibilities because "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical project management specialist tasks: "created and corrected study-specific fda regulated documents under very strict deadlines and difficult client needs. "

Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a project management specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what project management specialists relies on this skill, since "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." How this skill relates to project management specialist duties can be seen in an example from a project management specialist resume snippet: "acted as liaison between it and accounts payable, tax department, and logistics: resolved project issues. "

See the full list of project management specialist skills

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Compare different project management specialists

Project management specialist vs. Securities consultant

A securities consultant is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the company's premises, including enforcing protection for all the employees and company assets. Securities consultants also handle the confidentiality and stability of data network systems to prevent potential breaches and unauthorized access to information. They coordinate with the system analysts to design programs and databases as part of technical solutions to maximize productivity and increase efficiency. A securities consultant writes incident reports, recommend strategic techniques, and research threat risks that may put the company in jeopardy.

If we compare the average project management specialist annual salary with that of a securities consultant, we find that securities consultants typically earn a $10,888 higher salary than project management specialists make annually.Even though project management specialists and securities consultants are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, dod, and iso in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between project management specialists and securities consultant. For instance, project management specialist responsibilities require skills such as "pmp," "powerpoint," "status reports," and "program management." Whereas a securities consultant is skilled in "cloud security," "java," "application security," and "security management." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Securities consultants really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $99,249. Comparatively, project management specialists tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $88,963.The education levels that securities consultants earn slightly differ from project management specialists. In particular, securities consultants are 7.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a project management specialist. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Project management specialist vs. Project officer

A project officer provides vital support to a project by monitoring deadlines for each project task and closely monitors the project schedule. They work with the project manager and other team members to reach the project target. They can work in almost every field of industry, such as construction, communications, education, and even sales. They can also do administrative tasks, including arranging team meetings, file project documents to the database, and technological skills, and they report directly to the Project Manager to assess project progress and to discuss future steps.

Project officer positions earn lower pay than project management specialist roles. They earn a $21,913 lower salary than project management specialists per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both project management specialists and project officers have skills such as "powerpoint," "status reports," and "sharepoint. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real project management specialist resumes. While project management specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "pmp," "program management," "customer service," and "project management tools," project officers use skills like "technical assistance," "press releases," "project proposals," and "logistical support."

On average, project officers earn a lower salary than project management specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, project officers earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $60,687. Whereas project management specialists have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $88,963.In general, project officers achieve similar levels of education than project management specialists. They're 2.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for project management specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Bethany SwindellBethany Swindell LinkedIn profile

Visiting Instructor, Arkansas Tech University

In the homeland security field, emerging technologies present new opportunities yet insert risks. Balancing cybersecurity with civil liberties, privacy, and ethical impacts on national security is an ongoing struggle. UAVs are my research interest, and the continually evolving drone technology presents many opportunities for the field.

Project management specialist vs. Project leader

A project leader is responsible for supervising the team and managing the distribution of tasks to ensure the project's success with the highest efficiency and accuracy. Duties of a project leader include motivating the team, managing the team's needs and concerns, providing effective strategies to improve the team's performance, creating reports, monitoring the team's progress, and maintaining the coordination between team members. A project leader should have exceptional leadership skills to handle the team's operation and identify areas of improvement to deliver excellent results.

On average, project leaders earn higher salaries than project management specialists, with a $17,355 difference per year.By looking over several project management specialists and project leaders resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "status reports," "sharepoint," and "project scope." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from project management specialist resumes include skills like "pmp," "powerpoint," "program management," and "customer service," whereas a project leader is more likely to list skills in "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "c++," and "c #. "

Project leaders earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $118,370. Project management specialists earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $88,963.Most project leaders achieve a similar degree level compared to project management specialists. For example, they're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Project management specialist vs. Senior analyst/project manager

A senior analyst project manager's main job is to track the milestones of their company's important projects. They also manage the clients' databases. They are responsible for distributing databases to the sales representatives. They also help in automating their company.

Senior analyst/project managers tend to earn a higher pay than project management specialists by an average of $32,092 per year.According to resumes from project management specialists and senior analyst/project managers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "status reports," "sharepoint," and "project scope. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between project management specialists and senior analyst/project managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a project management specialist might have more use for skills like "pmp," "powerpoint," "program management," and "customer service." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior analyst/project managers require skills like "crm," "business processes," "sql server," and "data warehouse. "

In general, senior analyst/project managers earn the most working in the retail industry, with an average salary of $115,212. The highest-paying industry for a project management specialist is the finance industry.senior analyst/project managers reach similar levels of education compared to project management specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 1.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of project management specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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