IT PROJECT

MANAGER JOBS

IN AUSTRALIA

To succeed as an IT Project Manager, you must have strong attention to detail and an ability to prioritise competing interests. Furthermore, an ability to lead a team and communicate with influence is of crucial importance, especially when dealing with stakeholders and vendors.  

Projects may be centred around transformation, business change or information technology. As a result, the people involved in a project may vary from task to task, making people management and leadership an essential skill.  

IT Project Managers bring together a range of technology experts which, depending on the project, may include Systems Analysts, Software Developers, Testers and User Experience Designers to ensure that the information technology needs of an organisation are met. When working on larger projects, or delivering major transformations, Business Analysts and Change Managers will be part of the project team.

Those working with transformation projects must be able to facilitate fundamental shifts in how business is conducted to cope with changes brought about by technology, global trends and stakeholder needs. More specifically, business change based Project Managers focus on the people affected by projects or other changes within an organisation. 
 
If there is one skill that all Project Managers must excel in it is communication. The ability to coordinate delivery teams, influence project sponsors and internal stakeholders, whilst also building a productive relationship with vendors makes exceptional communication skills vital.  
 
More role specific skills include an ability to manage project schedules, oversee sizeable budgets and identify and manage risks. An ability to identify suitable vendors and then manage their delivery is also a key attribute in a proven Project Management professional. 

We have found that familiarity with project management software is becoming increasingly desirable. Not only do they provide an additional medium of communication, but they also allow Project Managers to allocate tasks, share files, maintain schedules and generate reports. Microsoft Project, Jira, monday.com, Trello and Basecamp are among a long list of software being used in IT Project Manager jobs.  

The management of resources (financial, material and personnel) is another skillset that is considered valuable to be a successful Project Manager. Decisions on equipment, facilities and materials used to have a direct impact on the viability of a project. They also play a part in determining whether it is completed within budget constraints.

The same principles apply to personnel as it is the task of the Project Manager to motivate, develop and direct people so that they can produce a high output. The use of critical thinking to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternate solutions and conclusions is an additional skill that is not overlooked. 

Digital transformation is firmly on the agenda for most organisations – system integrations and migration, automation, new products and new software rollouts, to name but a few of the most common.

This means that demand for project managers is extremely high right now. So, what does this mean for you? It means that now is a great time to think about the next step in your career and start looking for an exciting new role. 

Generally within larger organisations with well-developed project delivery methods, an understanding of software development life cycle models as well as through knowledge of both Agile and traditional project management principles and practices will be expected from Project Managers.   
 
With people management making up a significant portion of a Project Manager’s role, having excellent leadership skills will get the attention of employers. This extends beyond being an effective communicator, to a manager that can drive a team to its maximum performance.  
 
Decision making is often the difference between achieving project goals and failing to deliver. This enhances the value of persons who are exceptional critical thinkers.

The ability to weigh the available options and consistently choose the best course of action decisively is seen as an invaluable asset by employers. Indecisiveness can put the brakes on a project and subsequently result in a failure to meet deadlines. 
 
The same applies with respect to strategy. Understanding the business goals and developing a clear plan to deliver a project is key to the success of a Project Manager. If you have experience in performing risk assessments and response strategies, be sure to make employers aware.  
 
When recruiting, employers also value technical skills such as project scheduling, financial modelling, and performance tracking. As a Project Manager, you should always be in control and completely aware of what you are doing. Be sure to mention any experience with respect to transformation projects relating to organisational restructuring, business processes or information systems. 
 
Those targeting IT based roles should be able to use information technology to define, support and deliver a strategic plan. In general, digital literacy will be looked at favourably as many of today’s changes are driven by technology.