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Senior program operations manager vs program/project manager

The differences between senior program operations managers and program/project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior program operations manager has an average salary of $120,350, which is higher than the $101,850 average annual salary of a program/project manager.

The top three skills for a senior program operations manager include metrics, project management and program management. The most important skills for a program/project manager are project management, program management, and PMP.

Senior program operations manager vs program/project manager overview

Senior Program Operations ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Yearly salary$120,350$101,850
Hourly rate$57.86$48.97
Growth rate6%16%
Number of jobs317,536243,017
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4447
Years of experience6-

What does a senior program operations manager do?

A senior operations manager is responsible for managing and overseeing a few high-level duties related to human resources (HR). Your duties typically include analyzing and improving organizational processes, working to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality, and providing leadership to overall staff. Additionally, you will be responsible for assisting HR with hiring when needed, promoting a company culture that encourages high morale and top performance, and overseeing the planning, auditing, and budgeting activities. As a senior operations manager, you are also expected to work closely with the board of directors to plan for short- and long-term goals.

What does a program/project manager do?

The program manager and project manager are two important positions within a company that are thought to be similar. However, program managers direct diverse projects and programs while project managers head the team who is responsible for ensuring a project is completed on time and within budget. Program managers are responsible for the conveyance of the company goals and generally act as a customer interface that helps clients get their desired update and change of a project. Project managers, on the other hand, focus on the project's schedule, scope, and resources needed to complete it on time.

Senior program operations manager vs program/project manager salary

Senior program operations managers and program/project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Program Operations ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Average salary$120,350$101,850
Salary rangeBetween $90,000 And $160,000Between $74,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyRivianMeta
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between senior program operations manager and program/project manager education

There are a few differences between a senior program operations manager and a program/project manager in terms of educational background:

Senior Program Operations ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior program operations manager vs program/project manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior program operations managers' and program/project managers' demographics:

Senior Program Operations ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 62.0% Female, 38.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between senior program operations manager and program/project manager duties and responsibilities

Senior program operations manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
  • Develop tools, policies, procedures for the PMO.
  • Own PMO and change management responsibly throughout project lifecycles.
  • Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
  • Direct enhancement to incorporate MERS approval and notification for all litigation documents, to include requirements and UAT.

Program/project manager example responsibilities.

  • Plan and manage infrastructure installations and enterprise hardware and software upgrades of classify systems while balancing resources to manage troubleshooting/maintenance actions.
  • Facilitate daily scrum meetings and collaborate with product owners to prioritize and manage backlog.
  • Utilize SharePoint, the company's document repository engine to manage access and documentation reviews.
  • Manage, monitors and measures project portfolio status, recommending corrective action as necessary and communicate portfolio status to their management.
  • Promote to positions base on demonstrate skills in business analysis, project management, portfolio management and customer relationship management.
  • Provide program and project management support for applications and infrastructure systems monitoring as well as enhancements and maintenance of existing systems.
  • Show more

Senior program operations manager vs program/project manager skills

Common senior program operations manager skills
  • Metrics, 12%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Program Management, 9%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • SR, 6%
  • Logistics, 4%
Common program/project manager skills
  • Project Management, 18%
  • Program Management, 7%
  • PMP, 6%
  • Status Reports, 5%
  • Infrastructure, 4%
  • Portfolio, 4%

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