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Are you searching for a technical program manager job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a technical program manager. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a technical program manager.

 

Who is a Technical Program Manager?

Technical program managers are business experts who oversee the creation and implementation of a company’s programs, products, and services. They are in charge of managing every aspect of a project, from establishing its specifications to assessing the result. They divide a program into smaller, more manageable initiatives, and they all receive end-to-end supervision. To identify who is accountable for what elements, they collaborate with team and department leaders. After that, they keep an eye on employees and cooperate with team leaders to complete the task efficiently. Their duties also include establishing budgets and timetables and ensuring that workers adhere to them by completing their jobs on time. Stakeholders’ consultation is common for a technical program manager. These stakeholders include clients, investors, and governmental organizations.

For some programs, cross-industry cooperation is necessary. In such a situation, the Technical Program Manager will consult with executives from other companies involved in the program or project. The Technical Program Manager’s day-to-day tasks are varied and numerous small tasks. They first specify the parameters and goals of a program. Then, they give instructions to staff to accomplish several significant, highly technical projects that will comprise a program. They also need to be well-versed in every piece of technology that the staff uses. They usually divide tasks into manageable chunks and allocate tasks to teams. To assure proper completion of the task at hand, they also look into even the slightest details.

Most technical program managers manage numerous projects concurrently. Additionally, the Technical Program Manager communicates with several groups of people. They communicate with team leaders and technical staff by drawing on their experience with technology. Then they explain crucial concepts to stakeholders who are not technically savvy. Their efforts ensure that programs are completed and satisfy the needs of all parties.

To deliver IT programs and initiatives on time and within budget, a technical program manager offers leadership and knowledge. He oversees the overall program’s planning and administration, makes sure that deliverables are performed accurately and on schedule, and organizes and manages projects. The technical program manager provides the technical assistance needed to support the strategic goals and vision of an organization. He is a leader in the IT department and is responsible for the accomplishment of technical projects that have an impact on the entire company. Large, intricate technical programs are managed by a technical program manager. These extensive initiatives usually involve several parallel projects that address software development, the installation of IT infrastructure systems, business process engineering, and the functional capabilities of a company.

The technical program manager oversees planning, management, financial management, governance, and the program management office during the program. The technical program manager is supported in delivering the IT solution by the program management office, which is made up of various organizational resources and functions. The technical program manager oversees the program management office and appoints the employees and resources needed to carry out the program.

Technical program managers are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in management, business administration, computer science, or a related subject. Some employers could accept previous employment in place of a formal degree. Employers place a high value on candidates who have a combination of education and experience. The training of new technical program managers is done in the workplace. They become acquainted with the staff, business objectives, ongoing initiatives, and current activities during this period. Depending on the employer, the training process can run up to two weeks.

A technical program manager needs to be aware of a program’s overarching objective and all the special elements that must come together for it to function. Excellent organizing abilities and originality are required. Between high management, employee teams, and outside interests, they act as a go-between. They must effectively communicate ideas and crucial information to various audiences without losing their audience’s attention or confusing them. They must therefore have excellent communication skills. They must also be able to translate complex or highly technical topics into simpler ones. All technological issues must be understood. It’s necessary for this job that you can handle projects and people well. Leadership and delegating abilities are crucial. You must possess excellent leadership qualities and a wealth of technical program management expertise in a relevant industry to be successful as a technical program manager. The best technical program managers combine their technological know-how with business acumen to foster product innovation.

 

Technical Program Manager Job Description

What is a technical program manager job description? A technical program manager job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a technical program manager in an organization. Below are the technical program manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a technical program manager 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 a technical program manager include the following:

• Establish project requirements, which should include establishing timelines and budgets, determining the resources needed to finish the project, and supervising its execution.
• Communicate with clients or consumers to learn about their needs, give them project updates, and address any issues or concerns.
• Monitor each project’s development and keep in touch with key players to guarantee that deadlines are reached.
• Participate in product development projects with ideas.
• Plan and oversee the phases of product development.
• Work together with software architects and system engineers.
• Inform top managers of your progress with product development.
• Make sure that the products are delivered on schedule and a tight budget.
• Oversee the launching and integrating of products.
• Discover the cause of technical problems and fix them.
• Measure the performance of the product and help with modifications.
• Keep track of procedures and make sure they adhere to industry standards.
• Observe developments in product technology.
• Organize teams of engineers, programmers, designers, and other technicians to make sure that projects are completed on time and according to specifications
• Consider the viability, potential impact, and cost-effectiveness of project proposals while evaluating them.
• Manage budgets and cultivate relationships with vendors to acquire the greatest price for services or materials.
• Aid in the appointment of people to project teams.
• Make sure that new products or services from projects are delivered at the appropriate level of quality, on schedule, and within budget by the programme strategy and the programme governance mechanisms.
• Make sure that common resources and expertise are distributed among the many projects of the program.
• Organize program contributions from outside sources.
• Maintain communication with all parties involved.
• Advise management on technological matters, such as creating new technologies or enhancing the effectiveness of existing procedures
• Create and maintain strategic plans for the technological requirements of an organization, including recognizing areas for improvement.
• Use visual tools like charts or diagrams to convey technical knowledge to people who are not technically savvy.
• Create and oversee technical initiatives, including investigating issues and making recommendations.
• Take part in customer meetings to determine their needs and develop solutions.
• Examine project proposals from other departments to make sure they support corporate objectives and are technically possible.
• Establish standards for project management techniques including recognizing potential risks and coming up with strategies of attack to deal with them.
• Cooperate with other organizational areas to make sure that all work is finished on time.
• Organize the interfaces and dependencies across projects.
• Control risks to ensure the program’s success.
• Work on the transition to the new position in conjunction with the business change manager or an appropriate replacement.
• Start supplemental activities and other management measures if there are program gaps or problems.
• Make modifications to current products or procedures to increase effectiveness or efficiency.
• Organize and direct teams to create or enhance new products or services.
• Identify project-related hazards and create backup strategies to deal with them.

 

Qualifications

• Degree in computer sciences, information technology, software engineering, technology management, business management, or related discipline.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in technical program management or a similar role.
• Knowledge of the full life-cycle of product development.
• Experience in product development and planning.
• Ability to work together with IT engineers.
• Willingness to report to senior managers at all times.
• Thorough software product engineering, deployment, and integration experience.
• Must be able to evaluate product performance metrics.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve product performance issues.
• Proficiency in coding and programming languages such as Python and JavaScript.
• Must be updated with advancements in the field of technical product development.
• Communication and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership and management skills.

 

Essential Skills

• Communication skills: Communication skill is the capacity to effectively convey knowledge orally, in writing, or through other means. Communication with a range of stakeholders, such as other managers, engineers, clients, and other employees, may fall within your purview as a technical program manager. You can better answer inquiries and transmit information by using effective communication.
• Technical skills: Technical program managers can supervise the creation of goods for a business using their technical expertise and training. This might call for in-depth familiarity with the technological prowess of a business and specific technical information like code. Even while your company might not require you to conduct actual coding tasks, having this expertise can still be useful for supporting your teams and accurately planning for new initiatives.
• Project management skills: The capacity to supervise a product or service’s development is known as project management skills. Although you might not be in charge of a product’s manufacturing as a technical program manager, you might be in charge of how it is developed. The management of the project team, the timeframe, and the budget are possible examples of this.
• SDLC skills: Developers follow a set of processes known as the software development life cycle (SDLC) while producing new software. You might be in charge of the development of software as a technical program manager, therefore you’ll need to be familiar with its construction. Understanding the various stages of the software development life cycle will help you manage projects well and make sure they are finished on schedule and within your projected budget.
• Technical writing skills: Technical program managers produce and revise project proposals, reports, and other papers that detail intricate procedures using their technical writing skills. These documents frequently provide comprehensive information on the actions necessary to finish a project or meet an organization’s objectives. Effective communication with your team and clients can be facilitated by your ability to write clearly and succinctly.
• Organizational skills: Having organizational skills is being able to manage several duties and obligations. You might handle numerous projects simultaneously as a program manager, each with its own set of objectives, milestones, resources, and due dates. You can efficiently manage your workload and make sure that every component of a project is moving along as planned when you have strong organizing abilities. Additionally, it enables you to assign tasks to team members and provide them with detailed instructions on how to carry out such tasks.
• Risk management skills: Technical program managers frequently plan for potential hazards and take appropriate action while managing their projects. The decision to move forward with product development may involve determining whether a particular risk is worthwhile. For technical programs, this might include the possibility that a product bug or feature will have an impact on sales or whether allocating more resources to a program will result in a budget overrun.
• Problem-solving skills: A technical program manager’s ability to detect and address problems that arise during a product’s development. You can be in charge of locating and resolving problems that appear throughout a product’s development as a technical program manager. Finding answers to technical issues like how to solve a software program’s bug or how to improve a product’s efficiency may fall under this category.
• Business skills: Being business minded is necessary to comprehend a project’s or company’s financial ramifications. Technical program managers who have a business sense can help them make decisions about the resources needed to complete projects. It can also help you understand a project’s potential earnings and financial impact.
• Leadership capabilities: The foundation of a program manager’s ability to manage a team is their leadership skills. The success of your team’s work is your responsibility as the program manager, thus you must be able to encourage and motivate your team to collaborate effectively and finish projects on schedule. You can effectively manage resources and assign tasks by using leadership skills.

 

How to Become a Technical Program Manager

Step 1. Education

Many technical program managers have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or an area closely connected to technology. You can attempt to enroll in academic institutions that provide technical management degrees and IT programs. You can enroll in technical education focused on computer systems, coding, hardware, or programming during your studies. As an alternative, you could study for a bachelor’s degree in a similar subject like software engineering. You can become a technical program manager by pursuing further specializations in business or quality control management. Candidates with a comparable master’s degree, such as a Master of Business Administration, may be hired by some employers (MBA). Getting further education in the area of technical project management is advantageous. Through online courses, you can get additional certificates that will increase your understanding of the subject. An intense technical project manager course can give you a strong foundation in leadership and business management so you can grow in your profession if you want to obtain direct management experience. Being present at project management conferences or technical seminars is a terrific method to remain current on market trends.

Step 2. Training and work experience

Some companies may prefer experience to a degree when looking to hire a technical program manager. Being a systems administrator, software engineer, or help desk analyst might give you the foundational experience you need to advance to the position of the technical program manager. Working in positions that require managing a team or overseeing specific project components may also be beneficial to you. For managing software development teams, these management experiences are helpful. There may also be programs for internships that provide you with the chance to work and learn. Technical program managers frequently obtain on-the-job instruction. The company’s rules, practices, and the software and technology they employ may all be covered in this training. Learning about the customers of the business and how to communicate with them may be part of the training process.

Step 3. Certifications

When you have the necessary knowledge and practical experience, you can pursue project management certifications that will provide you with the credentials you need to function effectively as a technical program manager. These certificates are not required, but they can make you a more competitive applicant when you apply for jobs, increase your chances of being hired, and help you move to senior positions in your career. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) are some recommended certification programmes.

Step 4. Professional network

Finding out about potential employment openings can be facilitated by networking with and getting to know other professionals in the technical or business management fields. Attending workshops and seminars may potentially put you in touch with potential employers. They can view your attempts to increase your knowledge and abilities as a testament to your dedication and consider you for prospective opportunities. To express your interest and inquire about employment openings, you can use social media sites to contact hiring managers.

Step 5. Job applications

It’s a good idea to put together a solid Resume that you can modify for various job applications as you accumulate experience, certifications, and skills. Make sure to update your resume with the most recent career history and information before applying for any technical program manager positions. Include any recent educational accomplishments you’ve made, such as certifications or degrees. Additionally, you might mention any programs for continuing education you are enrolled in. To best demonstrate your skills and suitability for the position, highlight any accomplishments or projects you have worked on. If there are any opportunities at your current employer, you might consider applying for positions or contacting your boss. Prioritize employment opportunities that will let you use your technical expertise and grow your career.

 

Where to Work as a Technical Program Manager

Technical program managers are employed in a range of industries such as information technology (IT) firms, engineering firms, and manufacturing factories. Many technical program managers who work full time are typically found in an office environment. Sometimes, TPMs may be required to travel to meet with clients or project team members. To meet a given deadline, technical program managers usually work long hours, and extra time, during weekends and on holidays.

 

Technical Program Manager Salary Scale

Technical program managers’ salaries vary depending on various factors which include their level of education, skill set, years of experience, employer, and the size of the company. They may also earn extra compensation. The average technical program manager’s salary in the US is $136,500 per year. The salary scale is from $115,000 to $175,000 per year.

The average technical program manager’s salary in the UK is £67,500 per year. The salary scale is from £54,500 to £82,500 per year. The average technical program manager’s salary in Canada is $116,200 per year. The salary scale is from $110,500 to $150,200 per year.

A technical program manager in Nigeria earns around 4,412,000 NGN per year. The salary scale typically ranges from 2,098,000 NGN to 6,047,000 NGN per year. Technical Program Managers in India earn an average annual salary of ₹ 26.5 Lakhs. The salary ranges between ₹ 14.0 Lakhs to ₹ 45.0 Lakhs per year.

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