Project manager
Plan and organise people and resources so a project achieves its aims on time and on budget.
About the job
Salary (before tax)
Entry
£29,000
Experienced
£75,000
In this job, new workers in Scotland start around £29,000 per year. Experienced workers can earn up to £75,000.
Source:
National Careers ServiceA day in the life – Project manager
What it's like
You'll plan and organise people and resources so a project achieves its aims.
You’ll get everyone working well together and to finish the project on time and on budget. You’ll spot potential problems that might come up and work out how to solve them.
You could work in almost any industry on many different types of project. You could oversee the introduction of a new computer system, a large building development or a mission to space!
You could oversee the introduction of a new computer system and be aware of potential cyber security risks. You’ll need to have an understanding of secure coding practices, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. You’d take steps to protect against malware by developing a cyber security plan and responding to security incidents.
Whatever the project, you’d need to have relevant technical knowledge.
Your tasks might include:
finding out what the client or company wants to achieve
agreeing timescales, costs and resources needed
creating a detailed plan and scheduling for each stage of the project
selecting and leading a project team
negotiating with contractors and suppliers for materials and services
making sure each stage progresses according to the plan
reporting regularly on progress to senior managers and the client
managing risks to avoid delays
Part of your work would involve using particular project management methods such as 'PRINCE2' (Projects in Controlled Environments) or 'agile' to break down the project into stages and check its progress.
You'll also use specialised software to help with scheduling, costing, and risk analysis.
Hours
You'll work standard office hours Monday to Friday, although this can vary according to the industry. You might need to work longer to meet deadlines.
Travel
You might spend some of your time travelling for meetings and to visit contractors and suppliers. If working on building projects, you'd visit construction sites on a regular basis. Some jobs may involve overnight stays away from home.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From April 2024 to April 2025.
- project management
- project delivery
- systems development life cycle
- project implementation
- milestones (project management)
- project risk management
- project performance
- electrical measurements
- focused improvement
- link control protocol
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- motivating others
- coaching
- time management
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- compromising
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
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