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Strategic project manager vs operations project manager

The differences between strategic project managers and operations project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a strategic project manager has an average salary of $105,238, which is higher than the $90,352 average annual salary of an operations project manager.

The top three skills for a strategic project manager include project management, strategic projects and project scope. The most important skills for an operations project manager are project management, business operations, and risk management.

Strategic project manager vs operations project manager overview

Strategic Project ManagerOperations Project Manager
Yearly salary$105,238$90,352
Hourly rate$50.60$43.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs199,245210,582
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4744
Years of experience-6

What does a strategic project manager do?

A strategic project manager is responsible for developing efficient project management methods to achieve the highest customer satisfaction and gain more revenue resources for the business. Strategic project managers analyze the current market trends, perform data and statistical analysis, and generate opportunities to close more business partnerships. They also coordinate with the marketing and sales team to identify effective marketing strategies to increase the brand's image in various market platforms and enhance sales performance. A strategic project manager handles company accounts and regularly connects with the client for project updates.

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.

Strategic project manager vs operations project manager salary

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

Strategic Project ManagerOperations Project Manager
Average salary$105,238$90,352
Salary rangeBetween $73,000 And $151,000Between $66,000 And $122,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonConnecticut
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company IncMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between strategic project manager and operations project manager education

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

Strategic Project ManagerOperations Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Strategic project manager vs operations project manager demographics

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

Strategic Project ManagerOperations Project Manager
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 55.9% Female, 44.1%Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3%
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, 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 strategic project manager and operations project manager duties and responsibilities

Strategic project manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage HVAC, electrical and plumbing.
  • Manage 8 proposal developers responding to approximately 300 RFP's per year.
  • Manage rollouts of CRM enhancements using effective implementation planning, change mgmt and training.
  • Help VZB's competitive advantage by adopting technologies and methods that can reduce costs, increase ROI, and increase uptime.
  • Streamline and centralize usage of project management tools to manage dependencies and transparent delivery milestones for highly complex SaaS platforms
  • Create processes to ensure the integrity of information disseminate to portfolio and risk management systems.
  • 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.
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Strategic project manager vs operations project manager skills

Common strategic project manager skills
  • Project Management, 25%
  • Strategic Projects, 7%
  • Project Scope, 6%
  • Portfolio, 5%
  • Strong Project Management, 4%
  • Process Improvement, 3%
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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