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.
Senior project director responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior project director resumes:
- 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.
- Collaborate with departmental project managers as well as contracted partners to implement new process work flows that positively impact Medicare patients.
- Program management of the PMO Americas and integration of global initiatives and resource management.
- Employ PMO guidelines, ensuring timely implementations and accurate project status reporting to senior management.
- Carry out administrative / management functions on various HVAC projects including materials procurement, scheduling, manpower management and billings.
Senior project director skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Senior Project Directors are proficient in Project Management, Business Operations, and Product Development.
We break down the percentage of Senior Project Directors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 24%
Led project management function driving implementations of contract and grant projects through establishment of project management methodologies for clinical research company.
- Business Operations, 17%
Focused on providing uninterrupted business operations, blending waterfall and Agile methods.
- Product Development, 12%
Managed brand equity, customer experience, advertising and product development quantitative and qualitative projects from inception to report delivery.
- Client Satisfaction, 6%
Delivered time-sensitive requests with the goal of improving client satisfaction.
- Strategic Direction, 5%
Set strategic direction to 36 T/TA staff across eight states including managers, field staff, and administrative staff.
- Business Development, 5%
Conduct business development meetings, develop proposals, and implement internal processes to support effective knowledge management and information sharing.
"project management," "business operations," and "product development" are among the most common skills that senior project directors use at work. You can find even more senior project director responsibilities below, including:
The three companies that hire the most senior project directors are:
- CBRE Group187 senior project directors jobs
- Oracle93 senior project directors jobs
- HealthEdge52 senior project directors jobs
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Compare different senior project directors
Senior project director vs. Consultant/project manager
Consultants/project managers act as planners, leaders, and advisors in business enterprises. These professionals facilitate meetings and establish positive relationships with vendors, management, and clients. They make customer visits, maintain industry knowledge, procure third-party software and hardware, and deliver projects. It is also part of their duty to manage complex initiatives in an individual business unit or organization. Their skills include analytical, time and cost management, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and proficiency in project management software.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior project director are more likely to require skills like "business operations," "product development," "client satisfaction," and "strategic direction." On the other hand, a job as a consultant/project manager requires skills like "executive management," "manage project scope," "scrum," and "crm." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Consultant/project managers earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $107,463. On the other hand, senior project directors are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $103,467.On average, consultant/project managers reach similar levels of education than senior project directors. Consultant/project managers are 1.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior project director vs. Director, special projects
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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior project director responsibilities requires skills like "business operations," "client satisfaction," "proposal development," and "client relationships." But a director, special projects might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "website content," "financial statements," "oversight," and "hipaa."
Directors, special projects earn a higher average salary than senior project directors. But directors, special projects earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $130,125. Additionally, senior project directors earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $103,467 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Directors, special projects tend to reach similar levels of education than senior project directors. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior project director vs. Associate project manager
An Associate Project Manager helps the project manager in the successful implementation of the project. They ensure that projects are effectively planned and well-organized.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior project director resumes include skills like "business operations," "product development," "strategic direction," and "erp," whereas an associate project manager is more likely to list skills in "project documentation," "meeting minutes," "powerpoint," and "customer service. "
Associate project managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior project directors. Specifically, they're 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior project director vs. Assistant project manager
An assistant project manager is an individual who works directly under a project manager to support the planning and execution of projects. Associate project managers keep track of a project's progress and communicate with stakeholders about project needs and goals. They help procure materials and other essential items to meet project goals and avoid delays in completing a project. They are also responsible for resolving complex issues that arise in a project.
Types of senior project director
Updated January 8, 2025
