Commonalities
Despite the differences in the jobs’ scope, soft skills are a common denominator between the roles. Leadership and communication skills especially are must-haves for both. That can sometimes pose a challenge for developers, software architects and other technology-centric professionals who want to move into a program manager’s job, suggests Witkop. To move from being a project manager to a program manager requires a change in perspective, says Fara Levine, director of Atlanta-based Jabian Consulting. “It means understanding the strategic and financial objectives of the company and aligning them with many different projects happening tangentially or not,” she says. Project management is largely a tactical role, while program management is concerned with risk, strategy and financial objectives. “You have to show you understand change management and the interdependency of all of your teams,” says Levine. If you’re looking to make the leap from project to program manager, it’s smart to work on getting a more well-rounded background. That means learning more about IT’s business side and involving yourself in projects that may be taking place outside of the department, in areas like accounting, sales, marketing and the C-suite. In terms of opportunity, there’s good news: Demand for program managers seems to be increasing, says Eli Halabu, managing director of Miami-based executive placement firm Ascendo Resources. Their salaries range from about $110,000 to $165,000. And unlike project managers, who often work as contractors, as “captains of the ship,” program managers are almost always full employees.Related Articles
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