A Project manager and a program manager are two distinct roles within an organization. While both contribute to achieving organizational goals, both work with different mindsets, responsibilities, and skill sets.
A project manager is responsible for executing specific initiatives within defined timelines, budgets, and scopes. Their focus is on planning work, coordinating teams, managing risks, and ensuring deliverables are completed efficiently and on time.
A program manager, on the other hand, focuses on higher, strategic objectives. Their primary responsibility is to manage multiple related projects, interdependencies, and balance priorities, while ensuring they collectively align with long-term business objectives.
Understanding the difference between the two roles is crucial for organizations structuring their teams, as well as for professionals planning their careers in either project or program management.
In this article, we discuss program manager vs. project manager in detail, discussing their roles and responsibilities, differences with an example, and the tools they need to work together effectively in an organization.
Program manager vs project manager: Quick comparison
| Program Manager | Project Manager |
| 1. Oversee high-level objectives at the business level | 1. Oversee small-level objectives at the project level |
| 2. Create programs to achieve business goals | 2. Create projects to achieve program goals |
| 3. Responsible for long-term objectives | 3. Responsible for short-term deliverables |
| 4. Work is rarely time-bound | 4. Projects have specific start and due dates |
| 5. Focus on strategic initiatives | 5. Focus on tactical initiatives |
| 6. Engage with stakeholders and managers | 6. Handle team and report to the program manager |
Now, I will give you a brief overview of the responsibilities of project and program managers.
What is a project manager?
A project manager is a project management professional who oversees an individual project. The role of a project manager is to take program initiatives and break them down into tasks, define the cost, resources, budget, & time of the project, manage a team to execute the tasks in a project, and report to the program manager on progress.
Responsibilities of a project manager
A project manager works closely with a program manager to break the program initiatives into actionable projects and manage a team to execute project tasks. This will lead to the following set of key responsibilities for a project manager:
- Engage with a program manager to create projects that support program initiatives
- Defining the project cost, time, and resource requirements
- Creating a project plan, executing the plan, and tracking the progress
- Delegating the tasks, coordinating with the team, and handling team collaboration challenges
- Managing project risks, budget, and resources
- Providing tactical guidance to the team
- Ensuring project deliverables are delivered within budget and time
- Maintaining the strategic alignment between the project and program goals
- Reporting the progress to the project manager
- Project quality control and team performance management
You can learn more about the role and responsibilities of a project manager in this video:
What is a program manager?
A program manager is a project management professional overseeing a group of project projects. The role of a program manager is to create a program that supports strategic business initiatives, guides the team, and facilitates communication among cross-functional teams in a program.
Responsibilities of a program manager
A program manager takes the business initiatives and creates programs to achieve them. This will result in the following key responsibilities for a program manager:
- Engaging with C-level executives to develop a program that supports business objectives
- Deciding and planning the projects to be included in a program
- Defining and managing the program budget and resources
- Monitoring the progress of the program
- Risk management
- Strategic guidance to project managers
- Managing communication with stakeholders
- Auditing and quality control
- Aligning the project goals with the program goals
- Managing multiple interrelated projects and coordinating their interdependencies
What is the difference between a program manager and a project manager?
The main difference between a program manager and a project manager lies in their level of responsibility and focus.
A program manager operates at the strategic level, ensuring that all projects deliver business value. A project manager focuses on execution, making sure individual project deliverables are completed successfully.
Here are some key differences between a program manager and a project manager:
1. Scope of work
A project manager handles a single project with specific goals and deadlines.
On the other hand, a program manager oversees multiple related projects that work toward a larger business objective.
2. Focus area
Project managers focus on tasks, timelines, and deliverables.
Program managers focus on strategy, outcomes, and how projects align with business goals.
3. Timeline
Projects usually have a fixed start and end date.
Programs are long-term and take a long time deliver business value.
4. Responsibilities
Project managers manage teams, resources, and daily execution.
Program managers coordinate with project managers and manage dependencies and risks.
5. Decision-making
Project managers are responsible for making decisions for their projects.
Program managers make higher-level decisions that impact multiple projects and stakeholders.
Skills required for a project manager and project manager
Both project managers and program managers need a strong mix of leadership, communication, and planning skills to deliver successful outcomes. Here are some essential skills required for a program and project manager:
Key skills required for program managers
Here are the key skills required for program managers:
- Research and analysis: A program manager needs to make strategic decisions. They need decent research and analysis skills to gain knowledge and insights.
- Critical and analytical thinking: The role of a program manager is to create a program to fulfil business objectives. They should be able to analyze and evaluate data and think of all possible scenarios.
- Goal setting: A program manager needs to establish goals to achieve results. They should be able to set reasonable and measurable goals, deadlines, and metrics for success.
- Communication: A program manager needs to deal with different people daily. They should have good communication skills to share information with people in an effective way they can understand.
- Risk management: A program manager is responsible for budget and resource planning. They should have strong risk management skills to identify, mitigate, and manage risks.
- Time management: A program manager has to oversee a group of projects. They should have good time management skills to give attention to each project.
- Leadership: A program manager leads a group of project managers and strategies with stakeholders. They should have good leadership and decision-making skills.
Key skills required for a project manager
Here are essential skills every project manager should have:
- Task delegation: A project manager should be good at delegating. They should be able to evaluate individual strengths and weaknesses and delegate tasks accordingly for the best results.
- Flexibility and adaptability: A project manager may need to make tactical decisions to respond to dynamic challenges in achieving program initiatives. They should be flexible and adaptive to respond to changes.
- Time planning: It is the responsibility of the project manager to deliver the agreed deliverables on strict due dates. They should be good at planning, managing, and meeting project deadlines.
- Conflict management: A project manager should be good at conflict management because conflicts are bound to happen when a team works together. Project managers should have active listening, negotiation, and decision-making skills for conflict management.
- Project management: A project manager should be skilled in project management methodologies to plan projects better, execute the project plan, create workflows, track progress, create project reports, and manage risks, resources, and budgets to achieve business objectives.
- Communication: A project manager must communicate with stakeholders, program managers, and team members. They should understand people well and express what they want to convey.
- Problem-solving and decision-making: A project manager faces daily challenges related to projects, teams, and more. Solving a problem is a part of workplace dynamics and often requires making a decision. A manager should be good at problem-solving, analyzing situations, and making decisions.
Program and project manager certifications
Experiential learning plays a key role in the life of a program manager and a project manager, but certifications can help lay the foundation. Obtaining industry-leading certifications proves program and project managers’ knowledge, skills, and expertise. Let’s have a look at them.
Program manager certifications
The top three certifications for a program manager include:
1. Program Management Professional (PgMP)® by PMI
PgMP® certification verifies that the certificate holder has the advanced expertise and the real-world experience to manage multiple related projects and navigate complex activities to align results with organizational goals.
2. Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM)® by Scrum Alliance
CSM® certification verifies that a candidate has gained an understanding of the Scrum framework, team accountabilities, events, and artefacts. They know how to guide their team in applying Scrum.
3. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)®
PfMP® certification signifies your advanced competency in the coordinated management of one or more portfolios to achieve strategic objectives. Effective portfolio management allows you to implement strategic initiatives by bridging the gap between strategy and implementation.
Project manager certification
The top three certifications for a project manager include:
1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
CAPM® certification verifies that you have foundational knowledge and skills in project management. It evaluates your skills in predictive project management, agile principles, and business analysis.
2. PMP badge Project Management Professional (PMP)®
PMP® certification verifies that a candidate is skilled at managing people, processes, and professional projects. To obtain PMP certification, a project manager must meet certain requirements and then pass a 180-question exam.
3. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
PMI-ACP® certification validates that you are highly skilled in understanding and applying multiple agile approaches including Scrum, Lean, Kanban, and Test-Driven Development.
Read more: Top project management certifications to enroll in 2026
Program manager vs project manager salary comparison
Let’s discover the salaries of the two roles:
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a program manager in the United States is $119k per year.
The typical range falls between $92k to $156k per year.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a project manager in the United States is $105k per year.
The typical range falls between $80k to $138k per year.
However, the salary of a both varies widely depending on factors like area, certifications, industry, education, experience, and additional skills.
Tools that a project manager and a program manager will need
A program manager and a project manager have to manage many tasks in daily life. They need tools to perform tasks efficiently and make work life easy. The top tools a program manager and a project manager need include project management software, communication apps, document management systems, data analysis software, and a to-do list app.
One of the most important tools they need is a project management tool. Studies have also confirmed that 77% of high-performing teams use project management tools.
If you are not using any project management software to manage projects at your organization, it would be a great idea to use a tool to manage projects more efficiently and effectively.
You can start with ProofHub to manage all your projects, teamwork, and team communication from one place.
ProofHub streamlines project management for program and project managers by offering:
- Centralized platform: Manage tasks, discussions, files, and more in one place.
- Visualizations: Track progress with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendars.
- Seamless collaboration: Communicate with team members through discussions, chat, and feedback tools.
- Actionable insights: Gain valuable insights through detailed reports, customizable dashboards, and time tracking.
ProofHub is an easy-to-use, scalable, and feature-rich tool that helps you improve your productivity, stay on top of work management, and collaborate with the team.
FAQs
Can an individual be both a project manager and a program manager simultaneously?
Yes, in some companies, an individual can perform the role of both a project manager and a program manager based on the complexity of a project, project size, team size, resources, and company requirements.
Are project manager and program manager roles interrelated?
Project manager and program manager roles are closely interrelated, but they are not exactly the same. A program manager works closely with a team of project managers to achieve business objectives.
Can a project manager become a program manager?
Yes, a project manager can become a program manager. After gaining significant experience in the role of project manager, a project manager can be advanced to the program manager role. However, you can increase your chances of getting promoted to program manager by obtaining industry-standard certifications for a program manager.
Who is more senior program manager or project manager?
A program manager is higher in the hierarchy than a project manager. A project manager can become a program manager by adding extra skills to their portfolio and obtaining certificates for program managers.
In terms of decision-making, who holds more authority, a project manager or a program manager?
A program manager holds more authority than a project manager in decision-making as they are responsible for overseeing the higher level of objectives of multiple projects in a program.
Who earns more, the program or the project manager?
On average, a program manager makes more than a project manager. However, the salary depends on the experience, industry, and skills.
