Digital Project Manager: Career Path and Salary

The prospect of picking up any brick-and-mortar store and giving it a sensational ecommerce makeover has made the fairly recent position digital project manager one of the most exciting works out there. With no overly established scripts to the field, the position is open to the most inventive and creative minds out there—never mind if they do not have the technical skills of a coding maestro. Successful project implementations invite more enticing pay offers and the possibility of handling digital project manager remote work, making it one of the career paths that deserve your careful consideration.

In this article, we present some of the most crucial information that you need about the career path of a digital project manager. With this, you can decide if this is one that matches your short- and long-term professional plans. Once you’ve made up your mind to pursue this line of work, you should be able to expand what you need to know about the position. This would then help you successfully field any digital project manager interview questions that would certainly greet you one time or another.

A digital project manager is a technology specialist focused on bringing businesses in the digital world. A bakeshop is just a bakeshop without a digital project manager. With a digital project manager, a bakeshop becomes a bakeshop that is online, limitless and open to the world. It places itself in the same level as ecommerce establishments that are mushrooming all over the place, helped by some of the most sophisticated ecommerce platforms out there.

Digital project managers are some of the best innovators ready to transform the world. In a report by Entrepreneur, Asian economies are leading the digital transformation race. American and European companies are taking the cue and digital project managers frontline the development.

A digital project manager career path is in the now and many are interested. But what does it mean to even be one? What does it take to be one? How much does it pay? Where can the digital manager career path lead you?

The digital project management field is a fairly new industry. It was born out of a deep need to achieve business goals by leveraging the power of technology, creating a number of project management roles along the way. Today, you don’t have a child saying, “When I grow up, I want to be a digital project manager.” Being fairly new, its role has yet to be fully understood by all. Forward-looking companies are now opening slots for digital project managers not because it happens to be the current fad but because they truly understand that it is vital.

What is a digital project manager?

Understanding the position entails that one has a full understanding of the role of a project manager first. A project manager plans for the execution of a business goal. By planning, it means that a project manager prepares the schedule, budget, and timeline of a particular business endeavor. Project managers are foot soldiers and they make things happen. If a building needs to be painted, project managers contact painters, contractors, designers, and the accounting department to make it happen.

The role takes on an entirely different dynamic when you add the word digital. Here you have to mind the different types of digital projects involved. A digital project manager does all the aforementioned project manager works with all the technological twists added. The world is now online and running on zeroes and ones. A digital project manager career path involves establishing the presence of a business in the digital arena. Along with that, maintenance and administration are involved. There are ultimately two jobs that a digital project manager takes on:

1. Creation of an online presence for the business – primarily marketing work.
2. Maintain the business presence – administrative in nature.

What does it take to be a digital project manager?

Anybody can be a digital project manager. Unlike being a doctor or a lawyer, one does not need a specific career preparation for one to be a digital project manager. Depending on the nature of the business that a digital project manager takes on, one essentially just needs a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, a bachelor’s degree is not even necessary as long as the individual understands the framework, scope, tasks, and skills involved to set up a particular business project in a specific industry.

On the marketing end, one needs to have more than a superficial understanding of the digital climate. Given that the task of a digital project manager is to bring the business online, one needs to be fully equipped with relevant marketing skills and knowledge to create an online presence. As the world is ever evolving, we are at a special time in history where everything is geared to be digital. We are in the Information Age—if a company is doing business and it has no digital representation, it will be left behind. The digital project manager role was created to prevent this from happening.

When it comes to administration, understanding the importance of internal and external connectivity is the very core of a digital project manager’s role. Hence, a deep sense of organization is key. A digital project manager needs to have a full vision of everything that’s going on. Like an octopus, he or she needs to have access to not just one but eight (or more, even) tentacles. A digital project manager can be considered as a person who serves as a hub that connects all collaborators in a task or project. It is a leadership role that requires solid patience, grit, and obsession with details.

Things can get easily overwhelming considering the multiple tasks and stakeholders involved, but these also make the job exciting. A testament to this fact is the advent of different project management programs that address this situation. A skilled digital project manager considers that a spreadsheet organizer could be enough. An intelligent digital project manager has to pick from a list of project management tools if he has to achieve the impact that he envisions.

How much does it pay?

On the matter of digital project manager salary, one can earn from $59,000.00 to as much as $134,000.00 annually. According to Glassdoor.com, the range varies depending on the industries involved from region to region. Regardless of varying digital project manager salary from different industries, it is still considered a high paying job. This is so because it is a leadership role. Digital project managers spend time to collaborate with all business stakeholders for an effective and maintained online presence. They are point persons with high accountability. Their acts and skills can make or break a company’s business target.

Where can the digital manager career path lead you?

If you have a full understanding of digital transformation, you have what it takes to be a digital project manager where much career growth is involved. The role is seen as crucial to tackling the reported $9 billion dollar loss due to poor performance and lag in productivity. Company business goals just really need to be met and this is through meeting deadlines and finishing projects effectively. The more projects that are delivered on time, the more projects will be assigned and the bigger these will be.

From a digital project manager, one can become a senior digital project manager. A senior digital project manager will then be a program manager and can then take on executive roles right after. It’s interesting to note that it is an evolving role. Given that technological development takes place every day, this career path is as dynamic and is set to evolve as well.

What are the common challenges in digital project management?

Digital project managers face several unique challenges as they balance the demands of fast-paced, tech-focused projects. Here are some of the most common issues:

• Rapid Technological Changes: Keeping up with the latest tools, software updates, and best practices is essential as technology and digital landscapes evolve quickly. Managers must be agile and adaptable to integrate these changes seamlessly.
• Balancing Multiple Stakeholder Expectations: Digital projects often involve diverse teams, including developers, designers, marketers, and clients. Managing varied expectations and aligning everyone’s vision requires strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Resource Allocation and Budget Constraints: Managing limited resources, budgets, and tight deadlines is a significant challenge. Digital project managers must optimize resources while delivering quality outcomes, often within restricted budgets.
• Data Security and Compliance: In digital projects, especially those involving personal or sensitive data, ensuring data protection and compliance with regulations (such as GDPR) is critical. Failure to do so can lead to significant risks and penalties.
• Ensuring Effective Team Collaboration: Remote and hybrid work setups have made collaboration more complex. Managers must leverage tools and establish protocols to maintain strong, cohesive team dynamics and productivity across locations.

Current Trends in the Industry

All is good and easy on paper but the workload of a digital project manager can be daunting and fast-paced. This has been largely mitigated by the rise of various collaboration tools. As much as a digital project manager can come up with snazzy spreadsheet tricks, things can get too overwhelming when it comes to monitoring work. As it is, collaboration and monitoring do not involve a few individuals—they are multi-departmental, and all stakeholders are involved.

Personnel monitoring is also one way and not shared with everyone. A digital project manager is tasked to make good decisions every single time with very limited information. These main roadblocks are easily dealt with by a good project management software with capabilities previously found only in exclusive business intelligence solutions.

A good project management software easily presents active tasks, the status of each and all the workers involved. Status updates and all relevant documents are placed in one hub accessible to all. Accountability is boosted since lag areas are easily seen and inaction is exposed.

An example of a handy project management software is Wrike. Apart from providing fluid organizing functions, it also monitors and provides a real-time update on the amount of time that a task is to be accomplished. Upon completion of a task, the amount of time it took to finish is automatically reported. It can then be evaluated and used in making more effective schedules and timelines in the future. It’s also the currently preferred project management program because Wrike pricing is flexible and comes in multiple packages depending on a company’s needs. Wrike features are perfectly in tune with the role of a digital project manager, that’s why it’s highly placed among the top project management tools out there.

Should you want to investigate the platform firsthand, you can easily do so when you sign up for Wrike free trial here.

As a project manager, you will most likely come face-to-face with a cutting-edge project management tool like Wrike.

Digital transformation is the way of the future. It involves non-stop collaboration and multiple interconnected tasks with different deadlines. It’s challenging the best talents in setting up and establishing a business in the digital world. The dynamic nature of a digital project manager’s role makes it a unique and exciting career path that a skilled tech-savvy individual with a genuine interest in people and problem-solving can explore. This career path is perfect for people who know the value of technology, time, and productivity. If organizing and monitoring make you tick, then the digital project manager career path is perfect for you.

Are you ready to be a digital project manager?

If after reading this you are convinced that you are a perfect fit for the position of a digital project manager, then start taking the road. Get your hands on the latest job market posting and let fly your résumé to the ones that pique your interest the most. Do your homework and find out more about the job and the companies that look for one.

If, however, you are up to more challenges in the digital world with your more technically proficient skills, then perhaps you should be aiming for an IT manager position instead. For that, we also have you covered about the skills you need to brush up to be a successful candidate for the position. The perks are no less, perhaps even better too. If you’re anxious about how to take that direction instead, you can check out the essential IT manager skills that you must have.

Either way, you will find that you will need a powerful project management software to handle the demands of such positions. Wrike, as mentioned, could be just that one that you need. Learn more about the position and the software when you sign up for Wrike free trial here.

Key Insights

• Multifaceted Skill Set: A digital project manager requires a combination of leadership, organizational skills, and a deep understanding of digital marketing and technology.
• Dynamic Role: The position involves creating and maintaining a business’s online presence, making it crucial for businesses to thrive in the digital age.
• High Earning Potential: Digital project managers can earn between $59,000 to $134,000 annually, reflecting the role’s significance and responsibilities.
• Career Growth: Starting as a digital project manager can lead to senior roles such as program manager and eventually executive positions.
• Technological Integration: The use of project management software like Wrike is essential for managing the complexities and collaboration involved in digital projects.

FAQ

1. What educational background is necessary to become a digital project manager? While a bachelor’s degree is generally recommended, the specific field of study can vary. More important is a strong understanding of digital technologies and marketing, as well as the ability to manage and coordinate various aspects of a project.
2. What are the primary responsibilities of a digital project manager? A digital project manager is responsible for creating and maintaining a business’s online presence, coordinating marketing efforts, ensuring efficient project execution, and managing all technological aspects related to the project.
3. How does the role of a digital project manager differ from a traditional project manager? The key difference lies in the focus on digital elements. A digital project manager deals with online marketing, digital platforms, and technology-based projects, whereas a traditional project manager may focus more on physical or non-digital projects.
4. What are the salary expectations for a digital project manager? Salaries for digital project managers can range from $59,000 to $134,000 annually, depending on the industry, location, and level of experience.
5. What career progression can a digital project manager expect? A digital project manager can advance to senior positions such as senior digital project manager, program manager, and potentially executive roles, depending on experience and performance.
6. What tools are essential for a digital project manager? Project management software like Wrike is crucial for managing tasks, collaboration, and project timelines effectively. These tools help streamline the process and improve productivity.
7. Why is the role of a digital project manager important for businesses today? In the Information Age, having a digital presence is vital for business success. Digital project managers ensure that businesses stay competitive by leveraging digital technologies and maintaining an effective online presence.
8. How can one start a career as a digital project manager? Begin by gaining a solid understanding of digital marketing and project management. Look for entry-level positions in related fields, build relevant skills, and consider certifications or training programs specific to digital project management.

By Stephanie Seymour

Stephanie Seymour is a senior business analyst and one of the crucial members of the FinancesOnline research team. She is a leading expert in the field of business intelligence and data science. She specializes in visual data discovery, cloud-based BI solutions, and big data analytics. She’s fascinated by how companies dealing with big data are increasingly embracing cloud business intelligence. In her software reviews, she always focuses on the aspects that let users share analytics and enhance findings with context.