The project coordinator VS project manager play vital roles throughout the project life cycle. However, they have different responsibilities, skills, and educational qualifications. So, in this article, we’ll discuss the differences between project coordinators VS project managers.
Table of Contents
Who is the project coordinator
The project coordinator is an entry-level position in the project management field. Typically, the project coordinator helps ensure the company’s performance runs smoothly without delay. Therefore, it will help project managers to achieve desired project goals effectively.
Furthermore, the project coordinator is responsible for completing daily project tasks and works to coordinate the activities of other team members effectively. On the other hand, project coordinators closely work with project managers because they help manage their workloads and handle the project constraints that may affect the project schedule and resources.
Who is the project manager
A project manager is a person who provides leadership to the project coordinators and other team members in an organization or company. Furthermore, the project manager is responsible for managing the project life cycle, including initiating, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing.
Typically, project managers should manage project triple constraints, including cost/budget, schedule, and scope. That will help them maintain their project smoothly without any issues.
Project coordinator VS project manager
Project coordinators VS project managers perform similar tasks in the project management field, but coordinators perform their duties under the manager’s supervision. Many project coordinators become project managers after fulfilling the required experience, qualifications, and skills.
However, people in these two positions work together to ensure that companies or organizations can complete quality work on time and under budget effectively and efficiently.
Project managers may assign project tasks or activities to coordinators, but many coordinators will make essential decisions on their own. However, they get consulted when needed.
Project coordinator VS project manager – Responsibilities
Project coordinators responsibilities
The project coordinator should coordinate the project’s budget, schedule, challenges, and risks effectively and efficiently. They should be responsible for properly setting up day-to-day project activities and works as planned by project managers. Moreover, the project coordinators should ensure various divisions of the company are on the same page for a particular project.
The following are the common responsibilities of project coordinators.
- Project coordinators should keep track of and maintain project schedules, timetables, budgets, and expenses.
- Organizing project documents and actively engaging in stakeholder gatherings.
- Preparing necessary presentation materials that are essential for meetings
- Keeping significant choices and activities during the project meetings
- Project coordinators should ensure the project deadlines are achieved according to the project schedule.
- Project coordinators should provide administrative support when needed.
- Coordinate partnership activities with internal and external stakeholders that help achieve the goals and objectives of the project.
- Coordinate planning, development, and implementation of the project tasks or activities when necessary.
- Manage operations tasks or activities of the project, including record keeping, computer applications, grantor reporting, etc.
- Oversee the collection and company of details for reports, case studies, and other documentation related to the project.
Project managers responsibilities
Typically, project managers work with numerous stakeholders, contractors, and clients during the project life cycle. Furthermore, they should understand the client’s desired goals and outcomes and communicate with them when necessary. Moreover, project managers should maintain the project schedule, budget, resources, and scope by using the right tools, techniques, and methodologies according to the project’s needs and requirements. However, they should ensure the project’s quality and client satisfaction.
The following are the common responsibilities of the project manager.
- Coordinating with the various internal and external stakeholders to ensure that all members are on the same page regarding the project’s needs, requirements, deadlines, and schedule
- Conducting team meetings to identify and discuss project status, progress, and problems
- Ensure the quality of the project deliverables.
- Evaluating the results of the project and identifying its pros and cons components
- Track and control project schedule and associated costs to achieve completion of project within time and budget allocated
Read more: How to become a effective project manager
Project coordinator VS project manager – Educational qualifications
Project coordinator educational qualifications
To become a project coordinator, you will need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as project management or business administration. Furthermore, you will need corporate environment work experience of more than one or two years.
Typically, many companies expect these qualifications from their candidates. However, these requirements depend from company to company.
Project manager educational qualifications
To become a project manager, you will need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, such as project management or business administration. Furthermore, you will need a PMP ( project management professional ) certificate.
Work experience may be needed two to five years in the related field. Typically, many companies expect these qualifications from their candidates. However, these requirements depend from company to company.
Project coordinator VS project manager – Common skills
Project coordinator essential skills
- Multitasking skills
As a project coordinator, you have the ability to handle multitasking, such as phone calls, emails, project meetings, and more tasks.
That is not easy, but you can use tips and tricks to manage your various tasks effectively and efficiently. For instance, you can use sticky notes or Trello to handle your daily project tasks or activities without stress.
- Good communication skills
Every project coordinator should have good communication skills because you must work with managers, seniors, and team members and understand their messages. On the other hand, you should be a good listener.
- Ability to handle project management software
Project coordinators should be able to handle and work with project management software, such as Microsoft Teams, Asana, or Trello.
- Teamwork player
As a project coordinator, you should be a good team player to coordinate with them effectively and efficiently.
Project manager essential skills
- Having good leadership and interpersonal skills
Leadership and interpersonal skills are crucial for project managers because these skills will help professionals interact and build strong relationships with team members and stakeholders.
- Time management
As a project manager, you should have good time management skills to manage your work and team member’s activities. Furthermore, you need to meet project deadlines and deliver products or services on time without any delay.
- Strong communication skills
Communication is another crucial skill for project managers because they should spend 90% of their time communicating with their team members and stakeholders. On the other hand, the project’s success will depend on effective communication because, through that, you can understand the project’s progress and problems.
Furthermore, you can understand the needs and requirements of the team members, stakeholders, contractors, suppliers, etc.
- Budget handling skills
As a project manager, you should be confident in your calculations to drive a project forward and ensure profitability. Typically, project budgeting involves keeping track of all the expenses a project may encounter as it progresses.
- Conflict management skills
After starting a project, conflict can arise from anywhere at any time. Therefore, project managers should have good conflict management skills to avoid conflict and ensure project success.
- decision -making skills
As a project manager, you should have good decision-making skills to evaluate all available options and select the right one. That is the most crucial skill because your decisions will directly impact your project schedule, budget, and scope.
- Negotiation
Project managers should have negotiation skills to negotiate the project’s needs and requirements with team members, suppliers, vendors, clients, and stakeholders.
- Task management
Task management is another crucial skill to have for project managers. Therefore, they should track and manage all team member’s tasks or activities to ensure project success.
FAQ
Can a project coordinator become a project manager?
Of course, a project coordinator can become a project manager by fulfilling the required experience and qualifications.
Who is the higher project coordinator and project manager?
Both positions are essential and play vital roles in the project management field. However, project managers have more powers and authority than project coordinators.
Is project coordinator a stressful job?
That depends on your attitude, personality, and nature of the company structure. However, the project coordinator position can be stressful because you have to manage lots of daily activities and work with various people. If you have multitasking skills, it will help you manage your daily tasks effectively and efficiently.
Conclusion
The project coordinator VS project manager play vital roles throughout the project life cycle. However, they have different responsibilities, skills, and educational qualifications. On the other hand, they have similar responsibilities and skills, such as communication skills, the ability to work with project management software, and more. However, these differences may vary from company to company.
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