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Special projects manager vs operations project manager

The differences between special projects managers and operations project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operations project manager has an average salary of $90,352, which is higher than the $90,221 average annual salary of a special projects manager.

The top three skills for a special projects manager include project management, logistics and financial statements. The most important skills for an operations project manager are project management, business operations, and risk management.

Special projects manager vs operations project manager overview

Special Projects ManagerOperations Project Manager
Yearly salary$90,221$90,352
Hourly rate$43.38$43.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs114,925210,582
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4744
Years of experience-6

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.

What does an operations project manager do?

An operations project manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the project team, ensuring that the operations meet the clients' standards and internal regulations with maximum productivity and efficiency. Operations project managers manage the department's budget and allocate materials and resources accurately, maintaining a record of expenses and costs forecasting. They coordinate with the clients, discussing project adjustments or additional tasks as needed, and lead project execution and deliverables by determining the team's needs and concerns, and enforcing strategic procedures.

Special projects manager vs operations project manager salary

Special projects managers and operations project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Projects ManagerOperations Project Manager
Average salary$90,221$90,352
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $122,000Between $66,000 And $122,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyGoogleMeta
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between special projects manager and operations project manager education

There are a few differences between a special projects manager and an operations project manager in terms of educational background:

Special Projects ManagerOperations Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Special projects manager vs operations project manager demographics

Here are the differences between special projects managers' and operations project managers' demographics:

Special Projects ManagerOperations Project Manager
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 61.1% Female, 38.9%Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between special projects manager and operations project manager duties and responsibilities

Special projects manager example 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.
  • Show more

Operations project manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage resource allocation to help maximize ROI and focus on the division's strategy.
  • Manage operational programs that include the introduction and preparation for the manufacture of new products, design enhancements and OEM deviations.
  • Manage elaborate software implementation projects relate to national convenience store/gas station point of sale (POS) technology.
  • Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
  • Reduce emergency department length of stay: participants reduce time to admit patients by 90 minutes.
  • Assist with providing best practices for the PMO base on previous positions that include PMO set up and interaction.
  • Show more

Special projects manager vs operations project manager skills

Common special projects manager skills
  • Project Management, 19%
  • Logistics, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 5%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • HR, 4%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
Common operations project manager skills
  • Project Management, 20%
  • Business Operations, 6%
  • Risk Management, 5%
  • Process Improvement, 4%
  • Business Process, 4%
  • Provide Management, 4%

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