Project managers need to be resourceful, organized leaders. In the information technology (IT) space, they must also have a deep-rooted understanding of software development. Let’s review what an IT project manager is, the skills and credentials to look for in top candidates, and how to prepare a job description and interview questions to hire your next IT project manager.
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What is an IT project manager?
IT project managers are responsible for planning, overseeing, and executing IT projects for an organization. This includes allocating the necessary resources, managing the IT team, budgeting for the project, and successfully meeting the project’s goals.
Common IT projects can range from:
- General software and app development
- Hardware installation and maintenance
- Web development
- Migrations from on-premise hardware to cloud-based software
- Network upgrades and configurations
- Business or project analytics
- Database management
- Infrastructure management
- Backup and recovery efforts
- Miscellaneous IT services
Oftentimes, IT project managers will work cross-departmentally alongside other teams such as support services, cybersecurity, legal services, and business leaders.
IT project manager roles and responsibilities
As the project lead, IT project managers are responsible for all stages of planning, executing, rolling out, monitoring, and completing a project. Although specific daily functions will depend on the project being managed, typical responsibilities for an IT project manager include:
- Project planning by setting feasible goals, milestones, and backup plans
- Overseeing the project deadlines, budgeting estimates, and status reports
- Managing project members, delegating responsibilities, and tracking team performance
- Coordinating production releases and roll-outs to the public
- Presenting project plans and updates to leadership
- Tracking project progress using management tools and alleviating any issues that arise
- Assessing possible risks and taking action to prevent them
Top Skills of an IT Project Manager
IT project managers need to possess a strong set of interpersonal, managerial, and technical skills in order to do their job effectively. Skills that help IT project managers be successful include:
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to delegate project tasks and share status updates with leadership
- Proficient technical skills, including a basic understanding of software development, IT systems, operating systems, network/infrastructure administration, and service desk support
- Leadership skills for managing daily team operations and setting proper expectations with business leadership
- Analytical problem-solving to assess issues that impact a project’s timeline or budget and implement necessary solutions
- Organizational and time-management skills to juggle competing project deadlines and keep all team members operating on time and on budget
- Resource planning and forecasting skills to anticipate upcoming resource needs and allocate them accordingly
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Qualifications and credentials of an IT project manager
To be considered for an IT project manager position, candidates should ideally have experience in information technology, computer science, engineering, or a related field. For a competitive edge, some candidates choose to pursue advanced degrees in business management or become certified project management professionals (PMP), CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+), or certified ScrumMasters.
Pay and Job Outlook
Most of the 780,000 project management specialists work in corporate office settings, but some travel and consult on client projects. Between 2021 and 2031, the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics forecasts a 7 percent growth in available positions leading to over 837,600 IT project managers. The median annual wage in May 2021 was $94,500, with individuals working in finance and insurance ($101,880), professional/technical services ($99,520), and manufacturing ($96,940) earning higher than average.
IT project manager job description
When drafting an IT project manager job description, be as specific as possible when describing the projects and teams they will oversee. If travel is an expected function of the job, you should explicitly note that. Since the types of technical projects can vary at organizations, it’s critical to call out any special skills or trainings that would benefit a candidate while managing a project. For example, an Agile engineering team may prefer an IT project manager with proficiency in Agile methodologies and training as a Scrum Master. A healthcare organization may seek out an IT project manager who is familiar with handling sensitive protected health information (PHI).
Commonly Asked IT Project Manager Interview Questions
When interviewing prospective IT project manager candidates, be sure to prepare questions that assess their people skills, technical knowledge, and leadership:
- Do you have prior experience leading an IT project? What was the project? Share how you approached the leadership position.
- What are your technical proficiencies? Do you have any certifications that would help you in the role of IT project manager?
- Share a time when a project you were managing got off schedule or over budget. What steps did you take to communicate the issue to leadership and mitigate it?
- How do you prioritize competing project tasks?
- How do you determine if an IT project was successful?
- What steps do you take to ensure clear, consistent communication across various teams supporting a project?
- Do you have experience working with a project management system? Which ones?
- Walk me through the steps you take to set up a project plan.
- How do you create a culture of collaboration in your project teams?
- What project tools do you like to use when overseeing a technical project?
- How would you deal with a team member missing deadlines or challenging your authority?
Ready to Hire Your Next IT Project Manager?
Hiring the right IT project manager is essential for the success of your entire project. Ensuring you understand the exact projects they will be working on is critical to ensuring you attract candidates with the right training, background, and qualifications. To set your project up for success, consider reaching out to our hiring experts at Insight Global.
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