Why should you be a Project Manager?
The role of Project Manager is essential in most industries yet many people are unsure of what the job entails. Project managers have diverse and plentiful responsibilities. Not only are you accountable for ensuring that the service your company is delivering is completed on time - and to the client’s satisfaction - but you also need to liaise between different elements of the business to ensure every project that you’re managing goes smoothly.
Project Management can be an extremely rewarding career, with great progression opportunities and the chance to push yourself in ways that help you develop, both in and out of work. Interest in Project Management is high - just take a look at these Project Management statistics to understand how valuable this career path is. Project Management is critical to business performance and success, and it's not just the managers themselves that contribute to the success of this function, either. There’s a whole host of professionals who help make Project Management run smoothly.
We spoke to Danielle, a Programme Manager at ICON, and she gave us some deeper insight into this part of the business.
What are the top skills needed to be a Project Manager?
As a Project Manager, your responsibilities list includes:
- Controlling the project’s timeline
- Long-term risk analysis
- Forging relationships with clients
- Presenting to senior leaders
- Managing reports
- Budget analysis
Therefore, a Project Manager job requires someone who is detail-oriented, able to manage many tasks over a length of time and deliver output at the end. Keep in mind that this job is not a short-term undertaking. You need to keep patients at the forefront of your mind and be able to keep your team motivated- especially if, like me, you have numerous people working for you around the world. his role suits people who love to interact with others and take pride in their organisational skills!"
What training do you need to become a Project Manager?
"In order to become a Project Manager, you need to know the basic skills required for managing and delivering a project on time. It’s not hard to learn, but you need to be dedicated. You should really seek out opportunities to learn how to be a Project Manager, for instance, by doing a Project Management Professionals Certification.
You can undertake training within the company, but a lot of it is down to you seeking out Project Managers that you admire, asking them for mentoring and asking to shadow them, which I what I did. Here’s what it truly means to be a brilliant Project Manager."
What made you want to work in Project Management?
"My educational background is in science – I have a B.S. in Animal and Poultry Sciences and an M.P.H in Epidemiology. I started in the field as a Clinical Research Associate, and I really liked the science and the detail involved in that, but when I saw a Project Management role come up, I knew I had to go into it.
I really liked how Project Managers got to see the bigger picture and oversaw the delivery of a project from a financial and scheduling standpoint. The job combines both operations and science, which is a good fit for me: I like the idea that at the end of the day, you’re delivering a product that helps the patient, and using your scientific knowledge to help people."
Progressing to Programme Manager
What are the top skills needed to be a Project Manager?
As a Project Manager, your responsibilities list includes:
- Controlling the project’s timeline
- Long-term risk analysis
- Forging relationships with clients
- Presenting to senior leaders
- Managing reports
- Budget analysis
Therefore, a Project Manager job requires someone who is detail-oriented, able to manage many tasks over a length of time and deliver output at the end. Keep in mind that this job is not a short-term undertaking. You need to keep patients at the forefront of your mind and be able to keep your team motivated- especially if, like me, you have numerous people working for you around the world. his role suits people who love to interact with others and take pride in their organisational skills!"
What training do you need to become a Project Manager?
What are the top skills needed to be a Project Manager?
As a Project Manager, your responsibilities list includes:
- Controlling the project’s timeline
- Long-term risk analysis
- Forging relationships with clients
- Presenting to senior leaders
- Managing reports
- Budget analysis
Therefore, a Project Manager job requires someone who is detail-oriented, able to manage many tasks over a length of time and deliver output at the end. Keep in mind that this job is not a short-term undertaking. You need to keep patients at the forefront of your mind and be able to keep your team motivated- especially if, like me, you have numerous people working for you around the world. his role suits people who love to interact with others and take pride in their organisational skills!"
"In order to become a Project Manager, you need to know the basic skills required for managing and delivering a project on time. It’s not hard to learn, but you need to be dedicated. You should really seek out opportunities to learn how to be a Project Manager, for instance, by doing a Project Management Professionals Certification.
You can undertake training within the company, but a lot of it is down to you seeking out Project Managers that you admire, asking them for mentoring and asking to shadow them, which I what I did. Here’s what it truly means to be a brilliant Project Manager."
What made you want to work in Project Management?
"My educational background is in science – I have a B.S. in Animal and Poultry Sciences and
I really liked how Project Managers got to see the bigger picture and oversaw the delivery of a project from a financial and scheduling standpoint. The job combines both operations and science, which is a good fit for me: I like the idea that at the end of the day, you’re delivering a product that helps the
"I’m now a Programme Manager, which means that I’m responsible for managing and overseeing Project Managers, rather than the projects that they’re working on. Programme Managers have shown an aptitude for managing projects and a clear understanding of promoting leadership in a team."
Day-to-day responsibilities of a Programme Manager
"I have a lot of different Project Managers working underneath me, each managing many projects. As a result, I spend my time checking in with them, meeting with them to ensure that all projects are delivered on time and to a high standard.
When projects fail, 39% of the time it’s down to a change in organisation prioritising while changes in the project objectives are accountable for 37% of failed projects. This is where Project Managers and Programme Managers come in. They collectively keep projects on track and ensure that all involved parties have interests that are aligned with the project’s key milestones. Quite honestly, Project Managers are very far down on the list of jobs likely to be automated.
I also do a lot of work with my clients to make sure that they’re happy, and I liaise with upper management at my client and ICON to ensure they have all the information and updates that they need regarding the projects in my portfolio.I travel to see my clients in face-to-face meetings as
What do you like about working at ICON?
"I like working at ICON because we’re a very accessible company: We have a culture that encourages us to speak freely with our colleagues and other members of management. We can ask questions and change processes in ways that make our work better for us: I can talk about science, operations and things that aren’t working with both my boss and Vice President. My manager is very involved in helping
Why would you recommend working as a Project Manager?
"Being a Project Manager is a full-time job. You can’t just drop it at the end of the day; instead, you need to be constantly on the ball to ensure projects are completed on time. It’s also really rewarding. Working in Project Management does impact people’s lives: I work in oncology, where you have the potential to prolong or save patients through the work that you do. For me, that sums up why a Project Manager job is important."
Why would you recommend working as a Project Manager?
"Being a Project Manager is a full-time job. You can’t just drop it at the end of the day; instead, you need to be constantly on the ball to ensure projects are completed on time. It’s also really rewarding. Working in Project Management does impact people’s lives: I work in oncology, where you have the potential to prolong or save patients through the work that you do. For me, that sums up why a Project Manager job is important."
Reach further with ICON
At ICON, we’re proud to connect the freshest talent from around the world to the best jobs in Project Management. Start the search now by browsing our available Project Management jobs.
As you gain experience as a clinical or non-clinical Project Manager, new doors will open for you in our organisation, including a rewarding career as a Senior Project Manager and Programmer Manager jobs like Danielle’s. Find out more about how ICON will invest in your learning and development today.
Related Content
Sign up for post alerts
ICON & You
The potential of together.
Careers that improve the lives of patients, our clients and each other. Are you ready to make a difference?
View jobsRelated jobs at ICON
Salary
Location
Ireland, Dublin
Department
Full Service - Development & Commercialisation Solutions
Location
Sofia
Dublin
Johannesburg
Edinburgh
London
Reading
Middelburg
Cambridgeshire
Northhamptonshire
Yorkshire
Warwickshire
Swansea
Livingston
Remote Working
Hybrid: Office/Remote
Business Area
ICON Full Service & Corporate Support
Job Categories
Project/ Program Management
Job Type
Permanent
Description
At ICON, it’s our people that set us apart.As a global provider of drug development solutions, our work is serious business. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while you do it. With our vision t
Reference
JR110220
Expiry date
01/01/0001
Author
Stephanie Broize-ArrieuAuthor
Stephanie Broize-ArrieuSalary
Location
US, Portland, OR
Department
Full Service - Development & Commercialisation Solutions
Location
Portland
Remote Working
Office Based
Business Area
ICON Full Service & Corporate Support
Job Categories
Clinical Project Management
Project Management
Job Type
Permanent
Description
At ICON, it’s our people that set us apart. Our diverse teams enable us to become a better partner to our customers and help us to fulfil our mission to advance and improve patients’ lives. Our ‘Own I
Reference
JR117438
Expiry date
01/01/0001
Author
Frank LampartAuthor
Frank LampartSalary
Location
Spain, Barcelona
Location
Sao Paulo
Bogota
Mexico City
Panama City
Lima
Sofia
Dublin
Limerick
Riga
Vilnius
Warsaw
Lisbon
Bucharest
Belgrade
Johannesburg
Barcelona
Madrid
Beijing
Osaka
Tokyo
Auckland
Taipei
Bangkok
Ankara
Bratislava
Nagoya
Tbilisi
Tunis
Swansea
Remote Working
Hybrid: Office/Remote
Business Area
ICON Full Service & Corporate Support
Job Categories
Clinical Project Management
Job Type
Permanent
Description
At ICON, it’s our people that set us apart. Our diverse teams enable us to become a better partner to our customers and help us to fulfil our mission to advance and improve patients’ lives. Our ‘Own
Reference
JR113521
Expiry date
01/01/0001
Author
Jenny DowningAuthor
Jenny DowningSalary
Location
US, New York, NY, Farmingdale
Department
Full Service - Development & Commercialisation Solutions
Location
Farmingdale
Raleigh
Blue Bell
Remote Working
Office Based
Business Area
ICON Full Service & Corporate Support
Job Categories
Clinical Project Management
Job Type
Permanent
Description
At ICON, it’s our people that set us apart. Our diverse teams enable us to become a better partner to our customers and help us to fulfil our mission to advance and improve patients’ lives. Our ‘Own
Reference
JR118152
Expiry date
01/01/0001
Author
Jeff ConnorAuthor
Jeff ConnorRelated stories
Teaser label
Inside ICONContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
Endometriosis Awareness: A Vital Cause In March, ICON, through its Networking Organization for Women (NOW) employee resource group, joined the global effort to raise awareness about endometriosis
Teaser label
IndustryContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
Introduction to Data Management in Clinical Trials In the field of clinical research, data management plays a crucial role in ensuring the success and accuracy of clinical trials. Clinical trials
Teaser label
IndustryContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/12/2024
Summary
Introduction to the Clinical Research Supply Chain The clinical research supply chain plays a crucial role in the successful execution of clinical trials. It encompasses a complex network of activ
Recently viewed jobs
A better career. A better world. A better you.
Our people are our greatest strength, are the core of our culture and the driving force behind our success. Throughout all levels of the company, our people have a drive to succeed and a passion that ensures what we do, we do well. We help you build exciting and rewarding careers, deliver results to help bring life-changing medicine and devices to market and maintain ICON’s success as an industry leader. See all locations Read more