Becoming a Project Coordinator
If you’re a motivated go getter, with an eye for detail and a head for big picture thinking then you might make a good project coordinator!
But what, exactly, is a project coordinator? Where do they work? What do they do and what kind of skills and qualifications do you need to become a project coordinator?
What is a project coordinator?
A project coordinator works for the organisation’s project team under a project manager. They help to keep everything running to the timeline and within the proposed budget.
What does a project coordinator do?
Project coordinators work closely with the project manager to make sure everything is completed on time and within budget. They generally manage smaller tasks within the larger project scope and complete a lot of administrative tasks in their role.
They can be charged with developing and then monitoring the timeline and creating progress reports. They make sure all team members working on the project are meeting timelines. They also oversee contracts, financial files, bookkeeping and invoices.
Where do project coordinators work?
Project coordinators work in all different kinds of industries. They can work in technology, academia, financial institutions, construction, healthcare, the public and private sectors and many more. Most project coordinators start their career doing something else and then transition into this role.
Because they usually start with experience somewhere else, they will then stay within that industry and bring their experience and specialised understanding to the new role. However, that’s not to suggest they can’t move on from that industry once they are working as a project coordinator, with that experience they can move into any industry.
How much do project coordinators make?
According to indeed.com, project coordinators make an average yearly salary of $88,997. However, the salary range can go up or down depending on the industry.
What kind of skills do you need to be a project coordinator?
Project coordinators need all kinds of skills to excel in their role, but let’s take a look at some of the most important ones below.
Time management
Project coordinators need to develop and manage the timelines for a project. It’s their responsibility to check in with team members and keep everyone to their projected deadlines, ensuring the project runs efficiently.
Project coordinators need excellent time management skills both to monitor the timelines of projects and manage their competing tasks and priorities in the day to day scope of the role.
Organisational skills
With so many tasks to undertake in project management; from timelines, to reporting to invoicing and administration, it’s very important that project coordinators have great organisational skills. They need to be able to keep all filing in order and create and manage organisational systems to make their reporting process easier.
Communication skills
Project coordinators need excellent communication skills. They have to be a go between from management to department heads to team members and outside contractors. They need to be able to provide good, clear communication on timelines, expectations, tasks and outcomes. So verbal and written communication skills are essential for project coordinators.
Collaboration skills
Project coordinators need to go between different members of different teams and staff on the project team setting up deadlines, checking progress and giving updates. So, they need to have excellent collaboration skills in order to work across different areas of the company and work towards the best outcome for the project.
Attention to detail
A project coordinator needs to have exceptional attention to detail. In this role you are dealing with all the smaller tasks that make up the bigger picture, so a fastidious nature can help.
Being able to maintain focus and bring all the finer details together will make for a better overall project.
How do you become a project coordinator?
There are many different paths to becoming a project coordinator. Some people get into this profession from gaining work experience, others follow the university path. Another path to this career is by completing the Certificate IV in Project Management. The course takes anywhere from six months to twelve months to complete depending on the delivery mode.
This course can be completed through a self-paced, trainer supported program. This means you can start anytime, and study from anywhere in Australia. Because this course is taught through self-paced study there are no scheduled classes, meaning you can fit your study in around any other work or life commitments.
In this course you’ll learn how to:
- Apply project scope management techniques
- Apply project time management techniques
- Apply project quality management techniques
- Apply project cost management techniques
- Apply project risk management techniques
- Apply project life cycle management processes
- Coordinate business resources
- Develop personal work priorities
- Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs;
You can learn more about the course here.
Final Thoughts
If you’re great at organisation and keeping to deadlines, with an eye for detail and a head for figures, then being a project coordinator might be the right career move for you!
To learn more about getting into this exciting career you can check out the course here, or get in touch with one of our friendly course advisors. They would love to help you find the best course for your career!