IT project manager
IT project managers plan and organise the work of a project team to deliver digital products and services on time and on budget.
Also known as: IT project lead, IT programme manager, IT consultant
- Starter salary£35,000 a year
- Experienced£60,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 39 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As an IT project manager, you could:
- assess project tasks and risks, and allocate work to team members
- use project management software to plan and monitor work
- manage a budget, timescales and resources
- report on progress, check quality and deal with changes or delays
- lead and motivate the project team
Working environment
You could work in an office or at a client's business.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- leadership skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- business management skills
- persistence and determination
- the ability to organise your time and workload
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
How to become a iT project manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- training with a professional body
University
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification in:
- computing
- information systems
- project management
- computer science
- business management
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You could do an apprenticeship, for example:
- Associate Project Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Digital Product Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Project Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
- Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
These apprenticeships can take between 2 and 4 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You may be able to start with an organisation as an assistant project manager if you've got experience of working in IT.
You could then do further training on the job and take on more management responsibilities.
Other routes
You could train with a professional body, like the Association for Project Management or the Project Management Institute , to help with your career development.
Career path and progression
With training and experience, you could:
- become a digital delivery manager or senior project manager
- specialise in an area such as cyber security or technical architecture
- become a programme leader, with responsibility for a whole department or service
- work as a freelance consultant
Career tips
It might help when looking for work if you have an understanding of agile project management methods .
Guides for this industry
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