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Hiring a Project Coordinator: Job Description, Salary, and More

White background. Light blue accent circle. Navy blue line graphic of a man working on multiple projects at once. Title: Hiring a Project Coordinator

A project coordinator is a junior-level leadership position within an organization. Usually, under the guidance of a project manager, these individuals drive a piece of the overall project. Project coordinators supervise their own teams, adhere to an allocated timeline and budget, and escalate issues when necessary. They understand how their responsibilities fit the larger picture and make decisions accordingly.

To get you started on finding a great project coordinator, we’ve compiled a few helpful tips for your search.

Why Hire a Project Coordinator?

If your organization’s goal is the wheel, your project coordinators are the spokes that facilitate forward progress. Hiring a project coordinator lets your leadership team focus on big-picture ideas and considerations for improving the company. Project coordinators deal with the nitty-gritty administrative details for their teams while also serving in a leadership role, offering their staff guidance and feedback.

How to Write a Project Coordinator Job Description

A project coordinator’s roles and responsibilities combine day-to-day details and supervision of a team. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, project coordinators manage the documentation, tracking, and reporting, allowing their team members to focus on their areas of expertise rather than administrative duties. They’re the backbone of your organization’s different initiatives.

It can feel challenging to capture the full scope of the position within your job description, but you might start with the following responsibilities:

  • Schedule and facilitate meetings with project stakeholders
  • Document and track team progress
  • Proactively report budgeting or deadline issues to the project manager
  • Create a positive, collaborative culture among the assigned team
  • Serve as the point person for the project
  • Manage project budget
  • Report on project milestones to the project manager
  • Dialogue with clients as needed

What Skills Does a Project Coordinator Need?

Successful project coordinators possess the hard and soft skills to effectively manage a group and keep the overall project on track. They excel at both technical details and team building. When developing your job description, feature the following skills:

  • Communication: Project coordinators communicate across multiple platforms, including in-person meetings, phone calls, chat software, email, and videoconferencing tools. They present updates to leadership, dialogue with clients, and motivate their team members. A direct yet positive communication style is essential.
  • Organization: From daily details to overall project goals, the project coordinator facilitates the project’s schedule and budget.
  • Problem-solving ability: No project or team is perfect, but the project coordinator proactively addresses potential issues and troubleshoots effectively. When necessary, they raise concerns to leadership.
  • Leadership: Project coordinators must have experience mentoring a team. They are comfortable taking the initiative and guiding others.

What Qualifications Should I Look for?

Project coordinators need some college coursework combined with at least three years of professional experience guiding a successful project from start to finish. While an associate’s degree could be enough, you should prioritize candidates with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preferably in a business-related discipline or your company’s field.

Project coordinators have a solid working knowledge of Microsoft and other essential office software tools. Professional certifications (such as Project Management Professional or PMP) are a plus but optional for the role.

How Much Should I Pay?

According to Glassdoor, the average annual pay for a project coordinator is $53,946.

However, salary varies greatly depending on a project coordinator’s years of professional experience and the company’s sector (whether government, education, or private business).

Project Coordinator Interview Questions

The interview portion of your candidate search will help you better understand the person’s communication style and personality. Here are a few questions:

  • Can you walk me through your basic steps for facilitating a project?
  • How would you handle a significant obstacle to your project’s timeline or budget?
  • What kind of leader are you? Can you give me an example?
  • How would you address two team members who struggled to work together?

Hire a Project Coordinator with Insight Global

Project coordinators are highly organized, effective communicators, and exceptional multi-taskers. Hiring project coordinators can be challenging, as this position demands a particular type of person, a big-picture thinker who doesn’t mind digging into the details.

Ready to find a great candidate? Contact us to get started.