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Senior project director vs director, special projects

The differences between senior project directors and directors, special projects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a director, special projects has an average salary of $129,916, which is higher than the $99,266 average annual salary of a senior project director.

The top three skills for a senior project director include project management, business operations and product development. The most important skills for a director, special projects are project management, website content, and financial statements.

Senior project director vs director, special projects overview

Senior Project DirectorDirector, Special Projects
Yearly salary$99,266$129,916
Hourly rate$47.72$62.46
Growth rate-6%
Number of jobs86,77945,103
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

What does a senior project director do?

A senior project director spearheads and oversees projects in a company, aiming for smooth workflow and significant results. Their responsibilities typically include setting goals, establishing guidelines and timelines, managing staff, coordinating managers, liaising with external business partners, and monitoring the progress of all operations, resolving issues should any arise. They must also produce progress reports and present them to the executives. Moreover, as a senior project director, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while promoting the company's policies and regulations.

What does a director, special projects do?

The primary responsibility of a director of special projects is to ensure the successful conclusion of construction-related projects. Special project directors lead, organize, and perform corporate projects outside their duties. They utilize project management, business process management, and change management disciplines for timely and cost-effective initiatives delivery. It is part of their responsibilities to collaborate with business leaders and entrepreneurs to perform corporate programs and initiatives. They also manage process enhancements and various special programs.

Senior project director vs director, special projects salary

Senior project directors and directors, special projects have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Project DirectorDirector, Special Projects
Average salary$99,266$129,916
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $146,000Between $91,000 And $185,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaRhode Island
Best paying companyAmazonPalo Alto Networks
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between senior project director and director, special projects education

There are a few differences between a senior project director and a director, special projects in terms of educational background:

Senior Project DirectorDirector, Special Projects
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior project director vs director, special projects demographics

Here are the differences between senior project directors' and directors, special projects' demographics:

Senior Project DirectorDirector, Special Projects
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 58.5% Female, 41.5%Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between senior project director and director, special projects duties and responsibilities

Senior project director example responsibilities.

  • Lead the team through the technical and commercial evaluation of bids and selection of the LSTK EPC contractor.
  • Manage a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative consumer insights studies in the automotive, healthcare, and consumer products industries.
  • Manage content enter into Salesforce.
  • Manage multiple research databases, perform data entry and conduct cost-effectiveness statistical analysis using SPSS.
  • Manage qualitative projects from study design through analysis for consumer package goods, business-to-business, healthcare and pharmaceutical research projects.
  • Develop and maintain SharePoint InfoPath forms.
  • Show more

Director, special projects example responsibilities.

  • Manage and design worldwide testing on all ERP interface programs.
  • Create a coordinate university social media committee quadrupling engagement during campaigns and achieving a national twitter trend during commencement.
  • Replace RV/Marina management and increase occupancy to require revenue model for proper ROI.
  • Analyze, develop and implement successful marketing strategies to maximize ROI associate with business acquisition and retention.
  • Administer volunteer program which include volunteer recruiting, training, oversight of service qualifications and annual awards program.
  • Draft first agency state sustainability plan, provide oversight of environmental matters for the agency and monitor compliance actions.
  • Show more

Senior project director vs director, special projects skills

Common senior project director skills
  • Project Management, 24%
  • Business Operations, 17%
  • Product Development, 12%
  • Client Satisfaction, 6%
  • Strategic Direction, 5%
  • Business Development, 5%
Common director, special projects skills
  • Project Management, 14%
  • Website Content, 10%
  • Financial Statements, 6%
  • Strategic Plan, 5%
  • Strategic Direction, 4%
  • Oversight, 4%

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