What Is the Role of a Project Coordinator?
The completion of any major project requires advanced planning, budgeting, and coordination. For business organizations that juggle multiple large-scale projects at once, this coordination is needed even more urgently. To ensure major projects are completed in a timely manner, and with the necessary standards of excellence and attention to detail, oversight from a project coordinator is key.
For anyone who is gifted in organization, thrives working on a deadline, and enjoys checking off items on a to-do list, this organizational leadership role may be highly rewarding. One of the ways to prepare for success in this role is by pursuing formal education in organizational leadership or a related field.
What Is a Project Coordinator?
To complete any project, it’s important for teams to handle a wide range of administrative tasks. The role of the project coordinator is to complete these tasks, ensuring projects are accomplished on time, within budget, and in full alignment with any big-picture organizational goals and objectives.
Within most organizations, the coordinator will report directly to a project manager. The project manager may set the parameters for each big project, including the timeline and major milestones as well as the budget. The more granular and individual tasks are then passed off to the coordinator for completion.
Project Coordinator Job Description
The specific duties and responsibilities of the project coordinator may vary from one position to the next, but a basic job description may look something like this:
- Participating in project design and planning meetings, and proposing changes or improvements as appropriate
- Assessing project descriptions for potential challenges or friction points, and proposing solutions
- Managing team goals and schedules
- Coordinating team members to ensure progress is made toward the project’s milestones and ultimate completion
- Ordering supplies and materials needed for the project
- Keeping track of the project’s budget and expenses
- Training new staff members who are assigned to a particular project
Project Coordinator Salary and Job Outlook
Those who have an interest in this role will understandably want to learn more about salary expectations as well as long-term career prospects.
Salary Expectations
According to Payscale from September 2024, the annual median salary for a project coordinator is approximately $48,450. Various factors can affect this salary range, including years of experience, level of education, and geographic location. Those who desire a higher salary, or a broader range of responsibilities, may also be interested in advancing to the project manager role, a more senior position.
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have a separate entry for coordinators, but it does have a broader entry for project management specialists. According to BLS data, the field is projected to grow at a rate of 7% between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than the average for all professions.
How To Become a Project Coordinator
To achieve long-lasting success in this role, or to be well positioned for advancement in the project management vocation, it is crucial to obtain the right skills, education, and professional experience.
Educational Requirements
Most coordinator-level positions will require you to have an undergraduate degree in organizational leadership or a related field. This education can help foster some of the skills necessary for success across a range of professional settings.
Professional Experience
Coordinator-level roles may require job seekers to have two or three years of experience in an administrative role, proving their aptitude for organization, communication, time management, and budgeting.
Core Skills
There are a number of skills that are necessary for a project coordinator to thrive. Some of these skills include:
- Attention to detail
- Long-term planning
- Financial management
- Written and verbal communication
- Resource management
- Creative problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
Career Advancement
After gaining some experience in the project coordinator role, some professionals may be interested in pursuing the position of project manager. Some tips for achieving this higher-level leadership role include:
- Cultivating leadership skills, whether through asking for more responsibilities or even through obtaining a graduate-level degree
- Seeking project management certifications, like the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification
- Trying to obtain project management experience across a variety of departments or organizations, ideally spanning multiple industries
Help Organizations Thrive in a Project Coordinator Role
If you find satisfaction in a major project, a career in project coordination may be right for you. A degree program may be able to help you hone the right skills and knowledge to keep projects of many scales running smoothly.
If you want to look further into an undergraduate education, consider the online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. Our program provides students with the theoretical knowledge they need, along with exposure to vital skills like critical thinking and resource management. This flexible, customizable degree path can create a firm foundation for success as a project coordinator.
Find out more about this degree path today.
Sources
Indeed, Project Coordinator Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications
Indeed, Project Coordinator vs. Project Manager: What Are the Differences?
Investopedia, What Is Project Management and What Are the Types?
Payscale, Average Project Coordinator Salary
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Project Management Specialists
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