Project Coordinator and Project Manager are both relatively entry-level positions in the PM hierarchy. However, the duties of both roles differ fundamentally from one another. It is crucial that you are aware of these distinctions if you want to become a project manager and are currently looking for a new job.
Project Coordinator
Typical Roles and Responsibilities
- Provides project management support during project planning and execution.
- Helps to define tasks and creates project schedules, team work plans and other project documents.
- Identifies issues affecting work progress and recommends solutions.
- Communicates schedule variances & potential scope changes in status reports
- Performs cost/benefit analysis and other analysis for project or program
PM Tools, Templates and Methodologies
- Demonstrates basic understanding of project management processes by using corporate-supplied project management tools and templates
- Knows and uses project management and development methodologies as appropriate to the project
Project Estimation
- Provides project-level estimates with assistance
Project Communication
- Interfaces with internal project team members and management teams
- Communicates project implications internally
- Communicates and presents project status to project team, management, and customer with assistance
- Completes templates to standards with assistance
- Prepares written status reports for client review with assistance
- Fosters open communication
- Demonstrates strong listening skills
Documentation Skills
- Completes templates to standards
- Assists project management personnel with status report preparation and distribution
Communication Skills
- With assistance and direction, clearly and broadly communicates project information
- Clearly communicates and presents project status and project metrics to project team, management, and customer
- Fosters open communication
- Demonstrates strong listening skills
- Ability to interface with external and internal project team members and management
Scope
- Assists with scope completion and communications
General and Technical Skills
- Able to understand client's needs and assist project teams
Experience
Project Manager
Typical Roles and Responsibilities
- All the above from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Manages all aspects of intermediate projects throughout the project lifecycle including project scope, schedule, resources, quality, costs and change.
- Translates project requirements into project objectives and tasks, managing task assignment to project resources and reporting on and managing project scope throughout the project lifecycle
- Develops detailed project schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports
- Defines, assembles, and manages project team to ensure project objectives are met
- Manages and contributes to the effectiveness of a team that integrates multiple functions/ disciplines (matrix organization)
- Manages team direction and project outcome
- Sets and manages client expectations, managing and escalating issues and changes when appropriate
- Interfaces with all areas affected by the project, including end users, services organizations, vendors and implementation partners
- Conducts project meetings and is responsible for tracking and analysis of all project aspects
- Measures progress toward goals & revises project objectives and documents applying change control procedures
- Reviews project deliverables for accuracy and provides assistance and mentoring to others
- Proactively apprises management of issues effecting project status and offers solutions to solve the issues
- Identifies complex problems with multiple variables & risks
- Generates alternatives and implements solutions with assistance
PM Tools, Templates and Methodologies
- Everything from the Project Coordinator role plus,
- Demonstrates basic understanding of project management processes by using corporate-supplied project management tools and templates
- Knows and uses project management and development methodologies as appropriate to the project.
Project Estimation
- Everything from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Develops detailed project schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports
Project Communication
- Everything from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Interfaces with both internal and external project team members and management teams
- Clearly and broadly communicates project implications both internally and externally
- Clearly communicates and presents project status to project team, management, and customer
- Completes templates to standards
- Prepares written status reports for client review
- Fosters open communication
- Demonstrates strong listening skills
Documentation Skills
- Everything from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Completes templates to standards
- Prepares written status reports for client review
Communication Skills
- Everything from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Clearly and broadly communicates project implications
- Clearly communicates and presents project status to project team, management, and customer
- Fosters open communication
- Demonstrates strong listening skills
- Ability to interface with internal and external project team and management
- Presents to project team, management, and customer
Scope
- Everything from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Translate project requirements into project objectives and tasks, managing task assignment to project resources and reporting on and managing project scope throughout the project life
- Actively participates and contributes to the effectiveness of a team that integrates multiple functions / disciplines (matrix organization)
- Influences team direction and project outcome
General and Technical Skills
- Everything from Project Coordinator role plus,
- Technical background to be able to understand client's needs and manage project team to successfully meet those needs.
- Technical background in the proposed project solution
- Ability to understand and lead technical resources
Experience
- Certification or degree desired
- 1-3 years