What does a lead project manager do?

1 Roles of a lead project manager

A lead project manager has four main roles: project leader, program manager, portfolio manager, and project management office (PMO) leader. As a project leader, they ensure that the project objectives, scope, schedule, budget, and quality are met. As a program manager, they coordinate the interdependencies, benefits, and alignment of the projects within a program. As a portfolio manager, they prioritize, select, and monitor the projects that support the strategic goals of the organization. As a PMO leader, they establish and enforce the standards, processes, and tools for project management.

2 Skills of a lead project manager

A lead project manager needs a combination of technical, business, and leadership skills. Technical skills include project management methodologies, tools, and techniques, such as agile, waterfall, Gantt charts, risk matrices, and change management. Business skills include strategic thinking, financial analysis, business case development, and stakeholder management. Leadership skills include communication, collaboration, motivation, problem-solving, and decision-making. A lead project manager also needs to be adaptable, flexible, and resilient to deal with the challenges and uncertainties of multiple projects.

3 Differences from other project management roles

A lead project manager is different from other project management roles in terms of the scope, complexity, and level of authority. A lead project manager oversees multiple projects that are interrelated or share common resources, while a project manager focuses on one project at a time. A lead project manager deals with more complex and dynamic situations that require higher-level planning, coordination, and integration, while a project manager handles more specific and detailed tasks and deliverables. A lead project manager has more authority and influence over the project teams, stakeholders, and resources, while a project manager has to follow the direction and guidance of the lead project manager or the sponsor.

5 Challenges of being a lead project manager

Being a lead project manager can also be demanding and stressful for several reasons. First, you can face more pressure and responsibility for the performance and outcomes of the projects. You can be held accountable for the scope, schedule, budget, and quality of the projects, as well as the satisfaction and expectations of the stakeholders. Second, you can encounter more conflicts and issues among the project teams, stakeholders, and resources. You can have to deal with competing priorities, interests, and demands, as well as manage the changes and risks that affect the projects. Third, you can have to balance and juggle multiple tasks and roles. You can have to switch between different levels of planning, execution, and monitoring, as well as different styles of communication, collaboration, and leadership.

6 How to become a lead project manager

If you want to become a lead project manager, you need to prepare yourself with the right education, experience, and certification. Education-wise, you need to have a bachelor's degree or higher in project management or a related field. You also need to have a solid foundation in project management concepts, principles, and practices. Experience-wise, you need to have at least five years of project management experience, preferably in leading complex and large-scale projects. You also need to have a proven track record of delivering successful projects and managing project teams, stakeholders, and resources. Certification-wise, you need to obtain a recognized project management certification, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) or the Program Management Professional (PgMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI). You also need to maintain your certification by earning professional development units (PDUs) and following the code of ethics and professional conduct.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?