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How to hire a special projects manager

Special projects manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring special projects managers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a special projects manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new special projects manager to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a special projects manager, step by step

To hire a special projects manager, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a special projects manager, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step special projects manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a special projects manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new special projects manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a special projects manager do?

A Special Projects Department is a vital part of the research and development branch in a company to design and create new products and services for customers to use. The special projects manager's responsibility is to request and allocate funds, personnel, and a specialist to the project. This person is also obligated to monitor and generate reports on the project's status and update the company management on the special project's daily status.

Learn more about the specifics of what a special projects manager does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a special projects manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A special projects manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, special projects managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of special projects managers.

    Type of Special Projects ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Special Projects Manager$31-58
    ManagerManagers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department... Show more$17-44
    Club ManagerA club manager is responsible for overseeing club operations, delegating tasks to the club staff, and ensuring that the team provides the highest customer service and satisfaction for the guests. Club managers inspect the stability of technical tools and equipment, including the adequacy of inventory and food and beverage stocks... Show more$12-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Project Management
    • Logistics
    • Financial Statements
    • Oversight
    • HR
    • Construction Projects
    • Business Development
    • R
    • POS
    • Process Improvement
    • HVAC
    • QA
    • Data Analysis
    • Facebook
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage special projects and crises to include TOYOTA PR/Congressional hearings.
    • Manage the integration of the acquired companies into ShawCor, the ERP implementation as well as the accounting system setup.
    • Administer software to automate and standardize engineering functions using Pro/E, AutoCad and ProductView.
    • Manage elaborate software implementation projects relate to national convenience store/gas station point of sale (POS) technology.
    • Supervise inventory control and payroll staff.
    • Integrate HVAC and fire suppression system.
    More special projects manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your special projects manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A special projects manager salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, special projects managers' average salary in mississippi is 35% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level special projects managers earn 46% less than senior-level special projects managers.
    • Certifications. A special projects manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a special projects manager's salary.

    Average special projects manager salary

    $90,221yearly

    $43.38 hourly rate

    Entry-level special projects manager salary
    $66,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025

    Average special projects manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$121,116$58
    2Washington$105,852$51
    3Massachusetts$102,441$49
    4New York$101,731$49
    5Connecticut$97,161$47
    6New Jersey$95,154$46
    7Delaware$91,529$44
    8North Carolina$90,220$43
    9Indiana$89,230$43
    10Oregon$89,192$43
    11District of Columbia$87,035$42
    12Maryland$84,574$41
    13Texas$84,176$40
    14Missouri$83,891$40
    15Minnesota$83,800$40
    16Illinois$83,317$40
    17Colorado$80,844$39
    18Ohio$80,771$39
    19Virginia$78,472$38
    20Pennsylvania$78,100$38

    Average special projects manager salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Google$132,452$63.68141
    2Cloudflare$125,940$60.552
    3Amazon$115,617$55.59498
    4Uber Technologies$113,733$54.682
    5East-West Center$111,642$53.67
    6Citi$110,779$53.263
    7Ross Stores$109,560$52.672
    8Sony Pictures$106,215$51.065
    9Littelfuse$100,774$48.45
    10TASER Self-Defense$99,963$48.0620
    11Sumaria Systems$97,425$46.843
    12Vizio$96,255$46.28
    13Liberty Mutual Insurance$95,809$46.067
    14Deloitte$94,143$45.26122
    15Patterson-UTI Energy$91,420$43.952
    16TXU Energy Retail Company$91,212$43.85
    17North Shore High School$90,686$43.60
    18Boston Public Schools$90,515$43.526
    19Intertek$90,100$43.3217
    20Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center$89,621$43.09
  4. Writing a special projects manager job description

    A special projects manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a special projects manager job description:

    Special projects manager job description example

    Revised Date: 8/16/22

    SUMMARY

    Support all departments in the CBO assist with special projects, analyzing denial reports, trend denial behavior, request charge review rules, claim edit rules, work targeted WQ’s, research payer requirements associated with denials, review existing workflows for improvement, etc. Will complete high level training in all departments to ensure there is a basic understanding of major processes and workflows. Work closely with Revenue Cycle Director, Operations Director, and AR Mangers.

    ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Complete basic training for all departments
    • Understand major workflows for all departments
    • Use reporting tools in EPIC to identify denial trends
    • Identify and request necessary charge review edits
    • Analyze existing workflows to see if there is room for improvement
    • Assist all departments with special projects upon request

    QUALIFICATIONS

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

    High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must be fluent in all Microsoft Office applications, excel, word, teams, share point etc.

    LANGUAGE SKILLS

    Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

    MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

    Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using who numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

    REASONING ABILITY

    Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to learn and comprehend basic insurance terminology and protocols to handle patient accounts.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

    WORK ENVIRONMENT

    The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

  5. Post your job

    To find special projects managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any special projects managers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level special projects managers with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your special projects manager job on Zippia to find and recruit special projects manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit special projects managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new special projects manager

    Once you have selected a candidate for the special projects manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new special projects manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a special projects manager?

Hiring a special projects manager comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting special projects managers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of special projects manager recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for special projects managers is $90,221 in the US. However, the cost of special projects manager hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a special projects manager for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $31 and $58 an hour.

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