Agile Project Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an agile project manager. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an agile project manager.
Who is an Agile Project Manager?
Agile project managers are responsible for overseeing the development of software applications and other digital products. They work with a team of developers, designers, and other specialists to ensure that projects stay on schedule and on time.
Agile project managers take an iterative approach to project management. This means they break large projects down into smaller parts and deliverables so that teams can complete them in short cycles. These cycles allow teams to react quickly to changes or new information as it becomes available.
Like traditional project managers, Agile project managers are ultimately responsible for the successful completion of a project. However, the point of divergence comes from the Agile values, which define the Agile project management style.
According to the Agile Manifesto, the four core values of Agile are:
- People and interaction are more important than processes and tools: Technology comes and goes, but it’s people who drive the project forward. For all their technological sophistication, tools and methods cannot adapt to changing circumstances the way people can.
- Functional software is more important than complete documentation: Well-written software manuals are good and play a useful role. Good documentation makes things easier to understand. However, software that works well is infinitely better. It’s good to have both, but if you have to choose, always choose good software over a good copy.
- Collaborate with clients instead of negotiating a contract: Involve your customers in the development process, understand their needs, get their feedback, and you’ll have a better chance of getting the final product perfect. It’s better to work with clients than to negotiate with them. It’s less stressful and saves time.
- Respond to change instead of following a plan: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” Traditional project management views change as a costly obstacle. Agile assumes that change is inevitable and allows it at any stage of the project. Change is not an obstacle but an opportunity.
Agile Project Manager Job Description
Below are the agile project manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an Agile Project Manager include the following:
- Managing the budget for each sprint or release cycle, ensuring that it does not exceed the available budget.
- Leading the team in developing the product backlog, including features and requirements.
- Assessing project risks, making decisions to mitigate them, and communicating those decisions to stakeholders.
- Communicating with the client throughout the project to ensure they are aware of the project status and any potential risks
- Coordinating the work of multiple departments or teams, including developers, designers, testers, etc.
- Ensuring projects stay on track by monitoring task completion and providing feedback to developers as needed.
- Communicating effectively with customers or other stakeholders regarding project goals and progress.
- Managing the project schedule and identifying potential risks or issues that could affect the project schedule or cost.
- Providing guidance and training to team members on agile development best practices, such as Scrum or Kanban methodologies.
- Coaching and mentoring other Scrum masters on the team.
- Acting as the Scrum master for the team.
- Working with the QA lead and testing team to ensure thorough testing of modules/applications/interfaces.
- Playing a role in performance management by providing personal feedback to senior team members.
- Developing and managing project schedules and resources using Agile methodology for projects of various sizes.
- Monitoring the performance of cross-functional teams, vendors, and company resources.
- Actively developing and managing project plans specifying objectives, strategy, and schedule, as well as risk identification, contingency plans, and allocation of available resources.
- Facilitating open communication between teams, and cross-functional units within the organization to identify dependencies between development teams and identify risks early and often.
Qualifications
An Agile Project Manager should have the following qualifications:
Education
Most employers require agile project managers to have a bachelor’s degree in project management, business administration, or a related field. Some employers may hire candidates with an associate’s degree or related field with proven experience.
Many project managers choose to pursue a master’s degree in project management to advance their careers or increase their earning potential. A master’s in project management is typically completed in two years and includes coursework and a major project.
Training And Experience
Agile project managers typically receive on-the-job training. This training may include learning the company’s specific software, processes, and procedures. It may also include working as a “shadow” for an experienced project manager until they feel comfortable enough to perform tasks independently.
Certification and Licenses
Agile project managers can be certified by the Project Management Institute to demonstrate their knowledge and experience.
Essential Skills
- Organization
Organization is the ability to keep track of multiple tasks and responsibilities. As an agile project manager, you may be leading multiple projects at once, each with its own goals, deadlines, resources, and other details. Strong organizational skills will help you stay on top of all your projects and ensure that everyone involved has what they need when they need it. It will also allow you to be more efficient in your work, keeping track of past processes so you can repeat them if necessary.
- Communication
Communication is a critical skill for any project manager, as it allows you to effectively communicate information to the team and clients. Agile project managers often use communication skills when explaining the Agile work process or describing how they expect certain tasks to be completed. Good communication can also help the project manager collaborate with others involved in the project, allowing them to share ideas and explain potential problems.
- Agile methodologies
Agile methodologies are a set of rules and procedures that define how teams work together to complete projects. Agile project managers use their knowledge of Agile methodologies to help them plan, execute and evaluate their projects more effectively. Examples of common Agile methodologies are Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming.
- Sprint Planning
Agile project managers use sprint planning to create action plans for short-term projects. They can use this skill to develop a plan that includes the tasks, resources, and timelines needed to complete the project. Agile project managers with strong sprint planning skills can help their teams achieve their goals by creating effective plans.
- Leadership
Leadership is the ability to motivate and guide a team to achieve common goals. Agile project managers often have leadership skills because they oversee teams working in short cycles, which requires constant motivation and direction. Strong leaders can help their teams overcome challenges and succeed. Examples of leadership include giving clear instructions, delegating tasks effectively, and motivating employees with praise or other rewards.
- Risk management
Risk management is the ability to identify potential problems and develop strategies to overcome them. Agile project managers use risk management when planning their projects because they can anticipate obstacles that may arise and plan ways to overcome them. For example, if a team member is unavailable at some point in the project, the agile project manager can create contingency plans for that.
- Scrum
Agile project managers use the Scrum method to manage their projects. This involves dividing the project into sprints – periods during which the team completes certain tasks and prepares deliverables. Agile project managers also use the scrum method when working with teams that practice agile development methods. They help these teams create backlogs, or task lists, and track their progress using tools such as JIRA, VersionOne, or Trello.
- Motivation
Agile project managers often work in a fast-paced environment, so they must have strong motivational skills. They must be able to motivate their team members and encourage them to complete tasks promptly. A motivated team is more likely to work well and achieve project goals. Agile project managers must also stay motivated throughout the project.
- Retrospectives
Agile project managers use hindsight to analyze their projects and find ways to improve them. This is an important skill because it allows them to make the best use of their time, resources, and effort. For example, if a project manager notices that a team member is consistently completing tasks ahead of schedule, he or she may decide to change the project schedule so that everyone has the same amount of work.
- Building Trust
Agile project managers often work with a team of people to complete projects. They must be able to build trust with their colleagues so that everyone feels comfortable sharing information and working together. This makes team members feel more comfortable taking risks, which can lead to innovative solutions to problems. It also allows them to collaborate effectively on projects.
- Kanban
Kanban is a workflow visualization system that can help project managers track the progress of their teams. Agile project managers use kanban to visualize the progress of each task and ensure the correct order of tasks. For example, if a task requires the involvement of another department, the project manager can place a sticky note on the task with the name of the person who needs to complete it. This will allow the project manager to regularly check if the necessary information has been received.
How to Become an Agile Project Manager
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
Agile project managers often have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as business management or administration. Some companies may require you to have a technical degree in areas such as computer science, information technology, or related disciplines. You can also earn a degree and specialize in your field. In addition to a degree, you must have extensive experience in your field. You can also get a professional certification in agile project management.
- Pursue a postgraduate program
If you have a bachelor’s degree, but still need additional qualifications or experience to become an agile project manager, many organizations offer graduate programs. These are usually large organizations that specialize in agile project management or similar activities. This step involves getting a job with the organization and receiving project management training through mentoring programs, direct experience, or workshops. The training can last several years and provide you with the opportunity to gain additional qualifications as well as develop your soft and technical skills.
To enter a diploma program, it is important to have a graduate degree in a relevant discipline with honors or higher. Be sure to do your research beforehand, as requirements tend to vary from institution to institution. As part of the graduate program, your employer will pay your tuition for the duration of the program, typically as a junior agile project manager.
- Gain relevant work experience
Gaining work experience is usually essential for the agile project manager role, as it requires leadership and experience. You can gain this experience by working directly on agile project management in a graduate program or other similar work environment. Other roles you can explore are project support and administration. If you work in a particular industry where projects require in-depth knowledge, such as engineering, you can also become an agile project manager through seniority, experience, and proven relevant skills.
- Earn certifications
If you are an experienced project manager, you can obtain professional certifications that will allow you to work on mid to senior-level agile projects. There are several certifications you can obtain, including:
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
- AgilePM Foundation Certification
- PRINCE2 Agile Foundation Certification
- Develop your skills
Here are the skills you can develop to become an agile project manager:
- Time management
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
Where to Work as an Agile Project Manager
The work environment of an agile project manager tends to be fast-paced and constantly changing. They work with development, testing, and product ownership teams to ensure that software development projects are completed on time and within budget. They also work with other managers to ensure that all project goals are met. Because agile project managers must be able to adapt to changing circumstances, they must be able to work under pressure and make quick decisions. They must also be able to communicate effectively with all members of the development team as well as with other managers and stakeholders.
Agile Project Manager Salary Scale
The median annual salaries of an agile project manager in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are stated below:
- United States: $98,913
- Canada: $85,742
- United Kingdom: $64,988