What Is a Senior Project Manager?

What Is a Senior Project Manager?

A senior project manager is often thought of as a more experienced project manager. They are entrusted with larger and more complex projects and may be put in charge of several projects at once. The exact job description and requirements will vary from company to company. A senior project manager may have additional responsibilities relating to the management of projects, project managers, and the organization as a whole. 

Project responsibilities may include:

• Being the escalation point: Senior project managers may be a key point of contact for stakeholders on projects that belong to junior staff. This provides an escalation path for issues the project manager cannot resolve on their own. 
• Saving struggling projects: When a project gets too far off track, a senior project manager may support the project manager or take over the project.
• Interviewing and hiring: Senior project managers may assist with interviewing and hiring new project staff.
• Training and managing: In some organizations, project managers report directly to senior project managers.
• Mentoring and coaching: Senior project managers are often expected to coach and mentor junior staff.
• Acting as a role model: People in this role may be expected to be a role model for junior members of the team.
• Big-picture support: A senior project manager may be expected to help with program management and other PMO duties.
• Championing progress: Senior project managers may act as champions of learning, process improvement, and project management within the company.

Further Reading:

• Top-Down and Bottom-Up Project Management
• Project Management Basics
• Getting a Master's Degree in Project Management
• Top 5 Reasons for Project Failure and How to Avert Disaster
• The Ultimate Guide to Project Management