IT Careers in Project Management

The title ‘project manager’ is widely used in many industry sectors including IT. The objective of an IT project manager is to deliver IT projects on time, on budget and ensure they meet the agreed specification.

Typically IT project managers oversee the development and implementation of IT systems.

Duties of an IT Project Manager

An IT project managers duties typically include:

• Planning project stages and timescales
• Coordination of work effort
• Monitoring of progress ensuring costs, timescales and quality standards meet the specification
• Signing off and evaluating completed tasks

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Qualifications

To become an IT project manager most employers look for good quality relevant experience accompanied by a formal qualification in information systems or more preferably computing or project management.

There are various methods and tools that IT project managers use including

(PRojects IN Controlled Environments) or project management software. Knowledge of these tools is highly desirable but not essential to securing an

.

Skills and knowledge

In addition to relevant experience and formal qualifications employers also look for the following qualities in candidates:

• Excellent IT skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Budget management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to absorb complex information and assess requirements readily
• Strong leadership skills

Career opportunities

The skills possessed by project managers are transferable into many different environments and industry sectors. After several years of relevant experience many IT project managers are promoted to become senior project managers and assume a more strategic role. The position involves working with management teams, shaping project strategy, managing large-scale and high-risk projects, controlling overall costs and managing relationships with project partners.

There are also opportunities for IT project managers to become contractors. Although there is a lot of competition for contracts those that are successful in making the transition to become a contractor are able to earn considerably more then those in a similar permanent position. As an average daily rate an IT project manager contractor can earn £390 per day.

Continuing professional development is also an important factor in creating further career opportunities. With the right level of skills and knowledge an IT project manager can move into departmental management positions or into more strategic operations management roles.

Salary and benefits

• New entrants can expect to earn between £24,000 and £29,000 per year
• According to IT Jobs Watch the average salary for an IT project manager is £48,264
• Senior project managers can earn in excess of £55,000

Figures intended as a guidelines only