What are the most common career paths in global delivery management?

1 Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing a specific project within the scope, budget, and timeline agreed with the client. A project manager coordinates the work of different teams, monitors the progress and quality of the deliverables, communicates with the stakeholders, and manages the risks and issues that may arise. To be a successful project manager, you need to have strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as a good understanding of the technical and business aspects of the project.

2 Delivery Manager

A delivery manager is responsible for overseeing the delivery of multiple projects or programs within a portfolio, account, or domain. A delivery manager ensures that the projects are aligned with the strategic objectives and expectations of the client, and that they are delivered in a consistent and efficient manner. A delivery manager also manages the resources, processes, and standards that support the delivery function, and provides guidance and mentorship to the project managers and teams. To be a successful delivery manager, you need to have a broad and deep knowledge of the IT services industry, as well as excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

3 Service Delivery Manager

A service delivery manager is responsible for ensuring that the IT services provided by an organization or a vendor meet the quality and performance levels agreed with the client. A service delivery manager monitors and reports on the service level agreements (SLAs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and customer satisfaction metrics, and implements improvement actions when needed. A service delivery manager also handles the service transition, change management, incident management, and escalation processes. To be a successful service delivery manager, you need to have a customer-centric mindset, as well as strong analytical, technical, and operational skills.

4 Solution Architect

A solution architect is responsible for designing and validating the technical solution for a project or a program, based on the requirements and specifications provided by the client. A solution architect defines the architecture, components, interfaces, and integration points of the solution, and ensures that they are aligned with the best practices and standards of the organization and the industry. A solution architect also evaluates the feasibility, risks, and costs of the solution, and provides technical guidance and support to the project teams and stakeholders. To be a successful solution architect, you need to have a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the technologies, platforms, and tools used in the IT services industry, as well as strong creative, analytical, and communication skills.

5 Business Analyst

A business analyst is responsible for eliciting, analyzing, and documenting the business requirements and specifications for a project or a program, based on the needs and expectations of the client. A business analyst acts as a bridge between the business and the technical teams, and ensures that the requirements are clear, complete, and consistent. A business analyst also validates and verifies the solution, and facilitates the testing and acceptance processes. To be a successful business analyst, you need to have a good understanding of the business domain and the IT services industry, as well as strong communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.

6 Quality Assurance Engineer

A quality assurance engineer is responsible for ensuring that the quality and reliability of the IT services delivered by an organization or a vendor meet the standards and expectations of the client. A quality assurance engineer plans, designs, and executes the testing activities for a project or a program, and identifies and reports any defects or issues that may affect the functionality, performance, or usability of the solution. A quality assurance engineer also implements and follows the quality assurance processes, methodologies, and tools that support the delivery function, and provides feedback and recommendations for improvement. To be a successful quality assurance engineer, you need to have a keen attention to detail, as well as strong technical, analytical, and communication skills.

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?