Group Project Manager Responsibilities

A project manager is a person who is responsible for a particular project. During the course of the project, the project manager plays a variety of roles such as motivator, risk manager, negotiator, problem solver, budget manager, business liaison and also becomes the cheerleader of the team when morale is down. The group project manager initiates, plans and executes the project. Here we will take a look at some important group project manager responsibilities and skills.

Key Group Project Manager Responsibilities

Prepare the project schedule, inform the team members of the same and ensure that the work progresses as per the given schedule.
Ensure that the expenses stay within the budget.
Prepare financial and status reports for the seniors and clients to review.
Keep in constant touch with the design and manufacturing teams and ensure that the deliverables are accurate.
Co-ordinate with all the vendors and give feedback on their service.
Prepare accurate financial estimates for future projects and also prepare the monthly budget forecasts.
Request data on the accounting and financial practices to ensure that the expenses do not exceed the budget.
Streamline the procedures and processes.
Ensure that the team members are meeting their individual goals so that the overall team goals are achieved.
Monitor the involvement of the stakeholder(s).
The group project manager also has to keep an eye on the risks involved.
Cost estimation, resource allocation, quality control, defining the scope of the project, risk mitigation, etc., are some of the important responsibilities of the group project manager.
Hiring of the necessary individuals and sub-contractors.
Perform the final inspection and prepare the report of the project.
Even when the project goals are nearing completion, the manager has to keep in constant touch with both the team members and the stakeholders in case the latter has any additional requirements.
The planning parameters also have to be monitored.
Co-ordinate with the stakeholders and ensure compliance to the standard methods.
Ensure that the quality of the highest standard is maintained throughout the project.
Participate in all the meetings and co-ordinate and communicate with the different departments for the project.

Essential Skills and Abilities

Strong leadership skills. To keep a team of people on track and on time is a task that can be done only by a skilled leader.
Good technical skills. The group project manager must know about the technical aspects as well if he/she wants to have the respect of his/her team-members. The team-members will also not try to fool the manager when they know he/she has good technical knowledge.
Good communication skills. A project manager has to interact with a variety of people like team members, stakeholders, vendors, superiors, etc. Being able to communicate clearly and effectively is, hence an important skill for a project manager.
Excellent presentation skills. The project manager is the link between his/her organization and customer. Reporting, convincing and winning over the customer will have to be done at some point of time and this is where your communication skills will come to your rescue.
People skills. You do not have to like every person you meet, but you may have to work with someone you dislike. Personal feelings and prejudices should not hamper work. Regardless of personal feelings, a group project manager should maintain good relations with each member of the team and also with the client/stakeholder.
Advanced knowledge of the tools and techniques used in monitoring, controlling, reviewing and planning of projects.
Being skilled in customer service, problem solving and quick decision making is also required in a good group project manager.
Knowledge of conflict management, financial management, resource planning, contracting, risk management, etc., is also necessary.
Time management is another important skill for a project manager to have
Confidence. A leader should always project confidence even though he/she may not be feeling the same inside. Confidence is infectious and it inspires the others in the team to do their best.

Educational Qualifications

The formal education requirements depend on the industry, employer and the type of project.
Ideally, a group project manager must have a college degree or diploma and at least five to seven years of experience in a project management capacity.
Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma Black Belt, etc., will give you an edge over the other candidates.
You should also be well-versed with project-management software like Microsoft Project.
To improve your qualifications, you can also opt for the internationally recognized PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner course.

Potential Employers

Group project managers are employed by firms and organizations in the fields of construction, architecture and computer technology.
Financial institutions, design companies and production industries are also some more potential employers for a project manager.
The government also employs certified project managers as doing so increases the success rate of the project.

Salary Details

Project managers who are working in the profit-sharing programs can expect to get an additional increase in wage.
Thus, the total average package comes to around $60,000 to $160,000.

Career Prospects

Project management has various different levels. You start off as a project manager, start handling bigger projects after a while and once you prove yourself, you can be promoted to group manager and then even group director.
The scope for growth is pretty good in this field, and it is an in-demand profession.
Group project managers, especially those with technical backgrounds, are in high demand.

Project management is the perfect field for people who enjoy a good challenge. Ensure that you are aware of the group project manager responsibilities before you apply for the post.