What Is an Implementation Project Manager and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As an implementation project manager, you are an information technology (IT) manager that helps implement information systems into a business environment. Your responsibilities are to plan a schedule for implementation, define goals, and track progress towards those goals. You might recruit other IT workers during the process, acting as a liaison between them and senior management. Your other duties include staying within budget, sticking to pre-planned time frames, and overseeing your IT team. You work on one project at a time from start to completion. It is your responsibility to manage the expectations of external stakeholders while showing progress towards completion.

The qualifications you need for an implementation project manager job center around skills, training, and certification. You must possess excellent leadership abilities and organizational skills. Communications skills are also vital to the role. Previous experience in project or team management is generally a requirement. Training in information systems, especially their technical implementations, is an excellent start. You can choose to teach yourself, take courses in programs like Microsoft Project, or earn an IT-related degree. However, formal education is not always a necessity. Project Management Professional certification is something most employers expect. A Certified Associate in Project Management accreditation is also acceptable.

Job Summary

Our company is looking for an Implementation Project Manager to oversee the overhaul of our information technology systems. Your main goal is to help our employees transition to the new software and hardware we need. This is primarily a project planning position, so you will develop a timeline for installation and software implementation, and ensure staff is trained properly on new procedures. You are also responsible for researching vendors, finding the best source of new hardware and software within budgetary guidelines. Our perfect candidate has a bachelor's degree in IT or computer science and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess our current IT systems and needs
• Draft a timeline and budget for implementation
• Hire new IT professionals to work on the project
• Train our employees on the new software
• Help transfer data to the new systems
• Handle any technical issues employees have after the transition

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, computer science, or a related field
• PMP certification
• IT project management experience
• Experience with SaaS programs, such as CRM software, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Visio