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Strategic project manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Elisa Chan,

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical strategic project manager skills. We ranked the top skills for strategic project managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 25.4% of strategic project manager resumes contained project management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a strategic project manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 strategic project manager skills for your resume and career

1. Project Management

Here's how strategic project managers use project management:

Provided day-to-day project management, budgeting and business planning, client and associate relationship management, and direction/guidance for team members.
Lead project management efforts to support division-wide operations and administration including program management and chief of staff functions.

2. Strategic Projects

Here's how strategic project managers use strategic projects:

Managed multiple strategic projects to quantifiable objectives commensurate with business, strategic and E-commerce objectives.
Manage other strategic projects internal to Catapult Systems.

3. Project Scope

Here's how strategic project managers use project scope:

Assisted in effectively communicating project scope and schedule to 30+ students.
Define project scope, goals and deliverables that support project goals in collaboration with stakeholders.

4. Portfolio

Here's how strategic project managers use portfolio:

Worked with technology partners to design data aggregation and portfolio accounting software.
Analyzed project portfolio, ensuring work aligned to strategic decisions.

5. Strong Project Management

Here's how strategic project managers use strong project management:

Used strong Project Management skills; designed and managed projects from inception to completion for the local and international dairy industries.
Combined with strong project management skills, I consistently delivered strategic Operations projects on a timely and cost effective manner.

6. Process Improvement

Here's how strategic project managers use process improvement:

Managed strategic project for corporate-wide initiatives involving mergers & acquisitions, change management, process improvement, and branch administration.
Lead and facilitated complex process improvement efforts while mentoring others in continuous improvement tools and techniques.

7. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how strategic project managers use continuous improvement:

Developed service strategies, service offerings, and implemented continuous improvement.
Defined the framework for status reporting and governance of a newly created continuous improvement program.

8. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how strategic project managers use business development:

Facilitated the business development activities for the Instruments division.
Lead in goal setting and performance measurements for the business development and business transient teams of Marriott sales offices.

9. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how strategic project managers use sigma:

Led Six Sigma Black Belt project targeted at addressing customer complaints.
Serve in leading project teams by establishing process evaluation activities to achieve continuous improvement through Lean philosophy and Six Sigma Methodology.

10. Data Analysis

Here's how strategic project managers use data analysis:

Performed operations, market and historic data analysis to support and validate budget number projections for all domestic and international teams.
Performed intelligence and data analysis in order to highlight trends, draw conclusions and support planning and strategy decisions.

11. Financial Analysis

Here's how strategic project managers use financial analysis:

Key point person for all responses from Suppliers, and developed selection criteria that included financial analysis and Quality KPI metrics.
Provided substantial financial analysis and negotiations support for new multi-million dollar facilities management contracts.

12. Risk Management

Risk management is the method of recognizing, evaluating, and managing risks to an organization's resources and profits. Financial insecurity, regulatory liability, strategic management mistakes, incidents, and natural hazards are just some of the challenges or dangers that could arise. For digitalized businesses, IT security vulnerabilities and data-related threats, as well as risk management techniques to mitigate them, have become top priorities.

Here's how strategic project managers use risk management:

Develop strategy for the compilation and executive management review of Quality Risk Management program
Implemented a Risk Management process to actively identify and mitigate project risks.

13. Project Documentation

Here's how strategic project managers use project documentation:

Scheduled and conducted project meetings with client, contractors and consultants, and disseminated project documentation (i.e.
Maintained project documentation, coordinated internal resources and external vendors, and provided customer service support to district and school personnel.

14. Lean Six Sigma

Here's how strategic project managers use lean six sigma:

Collaborate leverage Lean Six Sigma knowledge to identify, prioritize and implement continuous improvement projects within Servicing.
Led Lean Six Sigma rapid improvement event that optimized business communications and manpower resources.

15. Management Initiatives

Here's how strategic project managers use management initiatives:

Coached and empower employees to drive Fannie Mae's change management initiatives.

What skills help Strategic Project Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on strategic project manager resumes?

Elisa Chan

Assistant Professor of Marketing, New York Institute of Technology

In my opinion, the fundamental skills required for marketing jobs haven't really changed. What changed is where or how these skills are applied. So my response to this question might sound cliche, but I strongly believe that it is true. Strong statistics and marketing analytics ability to show that you are able to make data-driven decisions. Interpersonal skills to show that you can respectfully and effectively interact with others, which are indicative of how you will manage work relationship as well as that with clients and customers.

What strategic project manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College

Gap years are interesting to me. There is a difference between someone who has ample monetary resources and voluntarily decides to take a "gap" year to travel the world, as opposed to someone who involuntarily takes a "gap" year because they legitimately cannot find a job.
For students who opt not enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, I would recommend that they utilize this time in a strategic fashion, primarily expanding their network, increasing their skills related to data analytics/analysis, and reading or researching within the broader business field as well as their particular field of interest. Expanding your network is always beneficial because of the value employers place on referrals. If students do not know where to start, I would recommend they join their applicable professional organization and begin attending events (virtual events can still help build relationships).
While specific job duties may differ, the ability to understand and utilize data is in high demand in virtually every job role. Having comfort with data-both quantitative and qualitative--can be a highly beneficial skill that many in the job market may not have to offer.
I also recommend continued reading and researching, as whenever you do enter the workforce you want to know what is going on. I am never surprised, but always disappointed when I ask my students if they heard the latest job numbers or if they saw a recent news article. It is hard to articulate your value to an organization's problems if you are unaware of what they are. Stay current.
Interestingly, I would not recommend that someone enroll in a graduate program simply to take up time. If you just love school, have a clear focus, or had already planned to enroll in graduate school prior to COVID, then proceed. However, if you are unsure about your interests or future career goals, enrolling in a graduate program may be a large investment of time and money that may not result in securing a job of interest upon completion.

What type of skills will young strategic project managers need?

Robert Mcnab Ph.D.

Professor of Economics, Old Dominion University

Young graduates must be able to effectively communicate as they enter the workforce. Analytical skills are continuing to increase in importance also and graduates who are unable or unwilling to develop these skills will quickly fall behind their peers. If you are unable to work with data and cannot communicate the results of your analysis, then your value to future employers is diminished. Graduates need to realize that they must continue to learn after graduation, not only to improve their existing skills but to adapt to the demands of a changing workplace.

What soft skills should all strategic project managers possess?

Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.

Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Economics Department, University of Kansas

Working and collaborating in groups, presenting to different audiences, writing technical reports, grant applications and researching new topics are all essential soft skills. Much of today's world relies on data, so collecting, summarizing, organizing and presenting data is also an important soft skill that is becoming quite fundamental.

Do you want to know more?

List of strategic project manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a strategic project manager resume and required skills for a strategic project manager to have include:

Project Management
Strategic Projects
Project Scope
Portfolio
Strong Project Management
Process Improvement
Continuous Improvement
Business Development
Sigma
Data Analysis
Financial Analysis
Risk Management
Project Documentation
Lean Six Sigma
Management Initiatives

Customer Satisfaction
PMO
Strategic Plan
Business Strategies
Executive Leadership
Product Development
KPI
Performance Metrics
CRM
Business Process
Strategic Direction
R
Strategic Sourcing
Global Sourcing
PMI

Strategic Analysis
SQL
Executive Management
Emerging Technologies
ROI
Microsoft Project
Project Charter
Business Cases
ERP
Corporate Strategy
Logistics
Cost Savings
RFP
Management System

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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