Project manager
Plan and organise people and resources so a project achieves its aims on time and on budget.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£558
Entry level
£1,442
Experienced
Monthly
£2,417
Entry level
£6,250
Experienced
Yearly
£29,000
Entry level
£75,000
Experienced
25,100
people are currently employed
High growth
1,300 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
A day in the life — project manager
What it's like
You'd plan and organise people and resources so a project achieves its aims.
You’d get everyone working well together and to finish the project on time and on budget. You’d spot potential problems that might come up and work out how to solve them.
You could work in almost any industry on many different types of project. You could oversee the introduction of a new computer system, a large building development or a mission to space!
Whatever the project, you’d need to have relevant technical knowledge.
What you might do
find out what the client or company wants to achieve
agree timescales, costs and resources needed
create a detailed plan and schedule for each stage of the project
select and lead a project team
negotiate with contractors and suppliers for materials and services
make sure each stage progresses according to the plan
report regularly on progress to senior managers and the client
manage risks to avoid delays
Part of your work would involve using particular project management methods such as 'PRINCE2' (Projects in Controlled Environments) or 'agile'. to break down the project into stages and check its progress.
You'd also use specialised software to help with scheduling, costing, and risk analysis.
Hours
Travel
Explore more information about this job
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Transport Financial services Digital technologies
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking responsibility
- motivating others
- coaching
- time management
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- compromising
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Accounting
Business Management
Economics
Statistics
Foundation Apprenticeship: Business Skills
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You'd need a degree (SCQF level 9/10). Some entrants hold postgraduate level qualifications (SCQF level 11).
To enter a business or management degree, you need either:
Nationals and three to five Highers
a relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND)
Postgraduate level qualifications in Project Management (SCQF level 11) are available following a degree.
A Business Management degree or a degree relevant to the industry you are applying is helpful. For example, in Construction, Engineering, Finance, IT or Manufacturing.
Skills and experience in project management and using related ICT such as 'PRINCE2' software, and specialist project management software like Microsoft Project and Workbench.
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