What does a project officer do?
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 responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project officer resumes:
- Lead project to create a PMO data warehouse for analysts to track, validate, analyze and manage day-to-day portfolio activities.
- Manage repository of SharePoint site to update and monitor inventory.
- Lead multiple projects, including developing a SharePoint information portal.
- Manage quality assurance checks for FDA and internal audits which result in no documentation/information error and successful completion of the audits.
- Review and provide analysis statements on RFP and subsequent contractor responses to RFP.
- Design and implement an algorithm to crawl over LinkedIn API and merge them using python program.
- Execute python program to send an alert in the form of images and videos through email.
- Develop scopes of work, prepare requests for proposals (RFP's), and assist in trade procurement.
- Developed/Enhance PMO documents and processes.
- Fabricate and design complex products using SolidWorks and 3D printing technology.
- Design and linear static analysis of projectile impact test fixture using Solidworks and Hypermesh-Nastran.
- Design a light variant of Linux and perform kernel minimization that runs on embed platform consuming bare minimum system requirements.
- Compose and balance departmental grants, tabulate and process payroll distribution, manage and maintain office routine during supervisor's absence.
- Draw schematics in autocad of electric installations.
Project officer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Project Officers are proficient in Project Management, Technical Assistance, and Press Releases. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Project Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 18%
Developed several project management handbooks that included monitoring and evaluation guides, financial management based on USAID requirements, and reporting.
- Technical Assistance, 9%
Provided administrative and technical assistance in the GPH-MC activities, including the implementation of its activities/projects.
- Press Releases, 7%
Interfaced with local/national media outlets, wrote press releases, and coordinated print media to publicize show.
- Project Proposals, 7%
Prepared project proposals for civil society organizations to start micro-finance and livelihood projects.
- Logistical Support, 6%
Manage program funds, engineering, installation, testing and acceptance, and logistical support for this upgrade.
- Financial Reports, 6%
Analyzed financial reports for project and maintenance budgeting and provided quantitative results.
Common skills that a project officer uses to do their job include "project management," "technical assistance," and "press releases." You can find details on the most important project officer responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a project officer to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what project officers do because "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Additionally, a project officer resume shows how project officers use interpersonal skills: "detail-oriented possessing excellent interpersonal, organizational and communicational skills"
Organizational skills. Many project officer duties rely on organizational skills. "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently.," so a project officer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways project officer responsibilities rely on organizational skills: "managed the organizational development technical assistance projects for health organizations and municipalities in latin america and africa. "
Writing skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of project officers is writing skills. This skill is critical to many everyday project officer duties, as "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assisted in writing company press releases. "
The three companies that hire the most project officers are:
- New Jersey Economic Development Authority28 project officers jobs
- Abt Associates6 project officers jobs
- Columbia University in the City of New York5 project officers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable project officer resume templates
Build a professional project officer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your project officer resume.
Compare different project officers
Project officer vs. Call center manager
Call center managers specialize in overseeing call center operations and agents' performances, ensuring that customers are satisfied. Aside from this, they are mostly involved in hiring and training new agents, shaping them into productive workforce members. As managers, they must lead by setting targets, encouraging agents, and devising strategies to meet them, even providing support when issues are difficult to resolve. Furthermore, call center managers must implement and adhere to all policies and regulations of the company.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between project officers and call center manager. For instance, project officer responsibilities require skills such as "project management," "technical assistance," "press releases," and "project proposals." Whereas a call center manager is skilled in "strong customer service," "customer satisfaction," "call center management," and "process improvement." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Call center managers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $38,934. In contrast, project officers make the biggest average salary, $60,687, in the health care industry.On average, call center managers reach lower levels of education than project officers. Call center managers are 14.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Project officer vs. Management associate
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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, project officer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "technical assistance," "press releases," "project proposals," and "logistical support." Meanwhile, a management associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "portfolio," "patients," and "strong analytical." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, management associates earn a higher salary than project officers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, management associates earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $93,348. Whereas project officers have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $60,687.management associates earn lower levels of education than project officers in general. They're 9.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project officer vs. Associate director
An associate director oversees the daily activities and business operations within a particular area. They are primarily responsible for devising strategies that aim for growth in profit and customer satisfaction, implementing policies and standards, evaluate the workforce, providing support to various departments, and setting goals in terms of budget and sales. Furthermore, they must regularly report progress to the director and coordinate with managers and supervisors in the joint effort to reach the vision and mission of the company.
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 officer resumes include skills like "project proposals," "logistical support," "financial reports," and "dod," whereas an associate director is more likely to list skills in "patients," "healthcare," "oversight," and "portfolio. "
Associate directors make a very good living in the pharmaceutical industry with an average annual salary of $143,618. On the other hand, project officers are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $60,687.When it comes to education, associate directors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to project officers. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Project officer vs. Program manager
A program manager is responsible for monitoring the project's progress, improving and developing new strategies, and coordinate various projects across the organization to ensure the success of the business objective. Program managers also manage the program's expenses, ensuring that the projects adhere to the budget goals without compromising the quality and accuracy of the result. A program manager should regularly connect with the different teams of every project under the program to keep track of the processes and procedures for the timely delivery of the product.
Types of project officer
Updated January 8, 2025
