Career in Project Management: Next Steps After Certification and Experience

As I was filling out my IPMA certification renewal application, one question prompted deeper reflection: it asked about the training and development activities I've pursued over the past five years and how they've enhanced my profile and career in project management.

There is indeed a golden path of managing increasingly complex projects and progressing toward program and portfolio management, as highlighted in a recent blog post by Antonio Nieto Rodriguez. But it didn't fit with what I did, consciously or not. So, are there other options around?

Of course! Career development in project management shouldn't be confined to this route alone. After spending years managing projects and obtaining relevant certifications, project managers often seek new challenges and career advancements. There are multiple paths to consider, and it's not merely a choice between traditional and agile project management - a modern project manager must be adept in both methodologies.

Whether you aspire to move up the management ladder, deepen your expertise, or explore horizontal career shifts, there are several paths to consider. Here, we explore three main categories for career advancement: the management path, the expert path, and horizontal development.

Management Path

Program and Portfolio Management

I just mentioned it: once you've sharpened your skills in managing individual projects, transitioning to program or portfolio management is a natural next step.

• Program Management: This involves overseeing multiple related projects, ensuring they align with the organization's strategic goals. Program managers focus on coordinating project teams, managing dependencies, and achieving benefits that individual projects might not deliver alone.
• Portfolio Management: This role requires managing a collection of projects and programs, prioritizing them based on strategic objectives and resource availability. Portfolio managers balance the allocation of resources to maximize the organization's ROI.

The prerequisite is that your organization must have other skilled project managers to tackle these projects, who you will be responsible for, even indirectly.

Head of Project Management Practice

Becoming the head of project management practice within your organization is another significant step up. This position involves:

• Standardizing Practices: Establishing and maintaining project management standards, methodologies, and best practices across the organization.
• Mentoring and Training: Supporting and developing project managers within the team, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to succeed.

Leadership Positions (C-Level, Entrepreneurship)

For those with entrepreneurial spirits or aspirations for executive leadership, consider these options:

• C-Level Positions: Roles like Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Operations Officer (COO) allow you to influence the strategic direction of the company, focusing on operational excellence and strategic project alignment.
• Founder / CEO: Utilize your project management skills to launch your own business. Your experience in planning, executing, and delivering projects will be invaluable in navigating the complexities of a startup environment.

Project managers have a proven track record of engaging with diverse teams, negotiating with stakeholders, and fostering collaboration, which are critical for building a cohesive company culture and driving organizational success.

The ability to manage cross-functional teams and lead through influence rather than authority equips them to inspire and motivate employees, align them with the company’s vision, and navigate the challenges of scaling a business, which make project managers highly effective in entrepreneurial ventures and executive roles.

Expert Path

Methodology Expertise

Specializing in specific project management methodologies can set you apart as an expert. Even if they often are just keywords in a job description, they can open doors to managing projects that require specific regulatory knowledge.

• Traditional project management methodologies like PMP and IPMA provide a robust foundation and universal best practices applicable across industries.
• Specific methodologies such as SAFe and Disciplined Agile add specialized approaches for managing large-scale agile projects and process-driven environments, respectively, enhancing flexibility, control, and efficiency.
• Project governance models like PRINCE2, HERMES and PM2 provide best practices and effective management of project work in (mostly) public sector organizations.

Developing expertise in one or more of these methodologies not only enhances your skillset but also makes you a versatile asset capable of adapting to the unique needs of various projects, industries and geographies.

Coach or Consultant in Project Management

Leveraging your experience and certification to become a coach or consultant can be a fulfilling path.

• Coaching: As a project management coach, you’ll work with individuals or teams to enhance their project management capabilities, offering guidance and support to help them achieve their goals.
• Consulting: Project management consultants are in high demand to help organizations improve their project management processes, implement new methodologies, and train their teams. This role often involves traveling, diverse project environments, and problem-solving on a larger scale.

These roles usually come with broad knowledge and experience with project methodologies and tools, as well as solid soft skills.

Horizontal Development

Going Back to Core Business Functions

Returning to core business functions allows project managers to apply their skills in new contexts.

• Software Developer, Data Scientist, Service Manager, Product Owner (and many others): These roles benefit from the structured thinking and process orientation that project managers bring. By shifting into these positions, you can directly influence the development, delivery and support of products or services.

This is not an uncommon development, and it is often linked to a desire to go past the end of a project and make real use of what the project has delivered. The knowledge acquired during the project in terms of context, relationships, culture, etc. is an additional motivation for both the project manager and the target organization.

Management of Change & Organizational Development

Managing Change and Transformation is a natural extension of project management skills. Project managers possess a unique combination of structured planning, stakeholder engagement, risk management, systemic thinking, and continuous improvement skills.

These competencies make them well-suited for roles in Management of Change and Organizational Development, where they can leverage their experience to drive effective change and foster long-term organizational growth.

• Change Manager: Focus on helping organizations navigate through significant transformations. This involves planning, implementing, and monitoring changes to ensure they are smoothly and effectively executed. The primary goal is to ensure smooth transitions with minimal disruption, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, communication, and training.
• Organizational Development: Oversee large-scale change initiatives, such as digital transformations or organizational restructures. This role requires strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and a deep understanding of both project management and business operations. The main objectives include fostering a more adaptive, innovative, and resilient organizational culture, building organizational capacities, and driving holistic development across all aspects of the organization.

In conclusion, a career in project management offers diverse paths for advancement. Whether you aim to climb the management ladder, become an industry expert, or explore new business functions, your project management skills and experience provide a strong foundation for success.

By identifying the path that aligns with your interests and goals, you can continue to grow and make a significant impact in your field.