A strong job description makes all the difference when recruiting. After all, the success of a business relies on the people that run it. If you take the time to really work your job posting out, you can attract a talented and capable group of candidates to choose from. This is especially important when filling the program manager job. This leadership position is also responsible for how efficient other employees are, so a hardworking individual will really make the investment of hiring worth it. How can you ensure your job description is effective? The following program manager job description should give you an idea of what a strong job description looks like. Before you begin writing your own, take a look and study these suggestions.
Program Manager Job Summary
Seeking program manager to oversee project activities and manage working teams. As a leadership position, strong communication and organizational skills are expected. Will be responsible for the successful operation and completion of different corporate projects and programs.
Program Manager Job Responsibilities and Duties
- Select and recruit new employees to fulfill required roles and fill production team.
- Orient, train, assign, and schedule crew members to ensure team is capable and dynamics are successful.
- Plan, review, and organize programs in pre-production stages.
- Contribute information to the success of projects; make suggestions and develop strategies.
- Gather and organize statistical information regarding finances, scheduling, and efficiency.
- Present findings to board and management team members.
- Update knowledge of production project to remain relevant in constantly changing field.
- Ensure success of numerous overlapping projects and programs.
- Set and reach objectives based on gathered information.
Program Manager Skills and Qualifications
- Master of Business in related field is preferred. Minimum of Bachelor degree is required.
- Three to five years of experience in production required.
- Leadership experience preferred.
- Excellent organizational, communication, management, and delegation skills.
Company Profile
American Manufacturing has been a major playing in the production industry since its founding in 2001. For more than a decade, we have been committed to innovation, while keeping community and environmental wellbeing in mind. We are proud to benefit our employees’ careers in manufacturing or business in general.
Writing a Job Description: Do’s and Don’ts
- This program manager job description sample should help you get started with writing your own, but the following suggestions will help you improve your posting and reach a truly successful level. Your job description will be unique, but these do’s and don’ts provide of universal rules you should follow.
- Don’t leave out a call to action section at the end of your job description. This short paragraph is often overlooked, but makes the difference between the best and worst postings. Encourage readers to submit an application and include submission guidelines.
- Do begin each bullet point in the requirements section with a strong action verb. It should be your goal to allow readers to envision themselves in the position. The way you do this is through active writing and vivid descriptions.
- Do your research. Before you begin writing, consult someone that is already in the program manager position to learn what daily tasks they face. Incorporate this information and how much time is spent on each task in your job description.
- Don’t break company policy regarding posting the salary information. Whether it is included or not, it is acceptable. The most important aspect is that your posting is consistent with the company policy.
- Don’t include any information haphazardly. Because space is so limited, each word should be included for a reason. Be completely intentional with each and every piece of information which you include.
- Do include information which sells the company. It is perfectly acceptable to make the business seem as appealing as possible. Take this opportunity to utilize the company profile to attract a certain kind of candidate. This will make for more excited applicants, but also create likeminded employees, which is beneficial to operation.
- Don’t write a job description that is too long. It should only take a few minutes to read all the way through.
Recruiting should always be viewed as an investment. While it does take time and money to hire new recruits, finding the perfect new recruit will pay for themselves, essentially increasing the return on investment. Take the time to do research to improve your investment.
Program Manager Job Responsibilities
Use the responsibilities section of your program manager job description to ensure that jobseekers clearly understand what you expect of them. This step is crucial to finding those candidates who most closely match your expectations and to encouraging them to apply. Share the description with immediate supervisors, so that you, the employee and the department heads agree on job duties. The program manager job responsibilities segment of a posting will be the weightiest.
You’ll find that a well-written job description reduces the amount of time you spend weeding out candidates who aren’t a good fit. When potential applicants read through the job responsibilities section, they often recognize whether they are under- or over-qualified for the position.
Format the tasks section with 6-8 bullet points. Start each point with action verbs that clarify the duties you expect employees to complete on a daily basis while in your employ, and write out additional projects that are currently on the schedule. The attention you devote to writing this job description will be well-paid in the quality of applications you receive.
Take a look at some good examples you could include in your program manager job description:
- Establish and accomplish human resource objectives through recruitment, orientation and training of employees
- Communicate job expectations and review employee performance
- Enforce company policies, discipline employees and discuss compensation actions
- Contribute to strategic plans and reviews
- Prepare and spearhead action plans to improve productivity and quality of customer service
Program Manager Job Specifications
You might fall into the common trap of underestimating the importance of the job qualifications and skills section of your program manager job description. However, as your understanding of this section deepens, you’re likely to recognize the value of carefully chosen specifications. Your listing of required and desirable skills should weed out those jobseekers without the right qualifications. As this happens naturally, you and your hiring staff won’t have to spend as much time reviewing candidates who aren’t a good match.
A good way to avoid spending valuable time reviewing unqualified jobseekers is to get a list of required and preferred qualifications and skills from the immediate supervisor of the potential employee. Discuss program manager job specifications with the hiring committee, and select the skills that will add the most value to the employee’s work. For example, employers from many industries expect employees to arrive on time. While you may expect your employees to be punctual, there are other hard and soft skills that would be more pertinent to the program manager position.
Consider some of the following ideas for the qualifications and skills section of your program manager job description:
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related subject, MBA preferred
- 5 or more years in business-related program management
- Superior knowledge of MS Office and program management software, such as Basecamp
- Excellent leadership, communication and organizational skills