How to Become a Project Coordinator

Becoming a project coordinator can open doors to a career in project management. Sometimes called “junior project managers,” coordinators share comparable skills and duties. They serve as crucial intermediaries between project managers, team members, and other stakeholders, playing a key role in maintaining project alignment and timeline adherence.

In business terms, a “project” refers to a specific task or initiative separate from regular operations, such as introducing a new product, launching a website, or rolling out an internal initiative. Organizations across various industries require individuals who can adeptly navigate projects from start to finish. This is where project coordinators can play a vital role.

Project coordinators are responsible for a wide range of project management-related tasks, such as:

• Managing budgets, schedules, and records.
• Facilitating information flow among teams.
• Monitoring project progress across teams and contributors.
• Scheduling and attending meetings.
• Preparing meeting materials and distributing meeting notes.
• Following up on action items with relevant parties.

The University of Oregon CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, can help you gain the knowledge and experience needed to get started in the industry as a project coordinator. The 10-week online course introduces learners to foundational, in-demand skills through hands-on activities. Create a project plan, work with Agile project management, and manage a budget, resources, and risks.

If you’re ready to launch your career as a project coordinator, it’s important to understand the educational pathways available. In this article, we’ll go over potential career prospects for certified project coordinators, helping you assess whether pursuing a project management certificate program aligns with your goals.

What Is a Project Coordinator?

A project coordinator is a mid-level project management role that involves ensuring the smooth execution of assigned tasks and maintaining communication between different project stakeholders. Project coordinators typically report to a project manager. Rather than overseeing an entire project from start to finish, coordinators often focus on specific project phases, elements, or teams.

Project coordinator responsibilities can vary, but you may be tasked with:

• Completing administrative work for senior project managers, such as delegating and coordinating tasks.
• Overseeing smaller or lower-stakes projects, including developing, evaluating, and executing project strategies.
• Gathering data and statistics and forecasting issues to develop project-related reports.
• Managing the project schedule, including tracking deadlines and coordinating meetings.

With increasing experience, you can expect to take on more responsibilities, eventually gaining the ability to independently oversee an entire project to completion. Your career progression may lead to a transition from a project coordinator to a project manager role, where you assume broader oversight and leadership responsibilities within project management.

The University of Oregon CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, curriculum can get you up to speed on skills like those listed above. By the end of the program, you should be able to plan, scope, and create a project plan, manage key stakeholders, and apply an Agile project management methodology. You’ll also get the experience you need to earn a Jira Software Essentials Associate Certification.

Project Coordinator vs. Project Manager

So, what sets a project manager apart from a project coordinator? Here’s a quick breakdown of how the roles compare:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), project management specialists reported a median annual wage of $95,370 in 2023. This is slightly lower than the annual mean wages for project management specialists in Oregon, which was reported at $96,880 in 2023. 

What’s more, the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan area reported the seventh-highest concentration of jobs for project management specialists in the same year. Annual mean wages in this region were significantly higher than the national average, reported to the BLS at $100,160. It’s important to note that, compared with a project manager, a project coordinator salary may be slightly less due to the difference in expectations and responsibilities.

Curious how the project coordinator job differs from product management? While a project coordinator oversees an entire project from start to finish, a product manager is responsible for a product’s success throughout its entire lifecycle.

Project Coordinator Skills and Qualities

The Project Management Training Institute (PMTI) lists the following essential skills for successful project coordinating:

• Communication: Project coordinators collaborate with teammates, stakeholders, and clients and must communicate project updates clearly for all to understand.
• Organization: Project coordinators keep tasks, resources, and timelines organized, and prioritize accordingly to ensure projects are completed on time.
• Collaboration: Project coordinators work with a variety of teams and stakeholders, from program managers and business analysts to those providing administrative support.
• Time management: Project coordinators should be able to handle multiple responsibilities at once, making time management a critical skill for long-term success.
• Problem solving: Project coordinators may be required to identify roadblocks and develop creative solutions to keep projects on track.
• Technical skills: Project coordinators often rely on project management software, such as Jira or Asana, to help with project planning and management.

Earning a relevant certification in project management can help demonstrate to employers that you meet the standards set forth by independent organizations such as PMTI.

Learners in the University of Oregon CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, can benefit from a curriculum that imparts these critical skills. This ensures that successful participants are well-versed in industry best practices across all tasks and phases involved in managing a project successfully.

Become a Project Coordinator in 4 Steps

Becoming a project coordinator doesn’t follow a rigid path, and the role’s requirements can vary depending on the employer and industry. However, there are general steps you can take to enhance your career prospects.

Step 1: Complete Your Education

Your project management education will depend on your starting point. Are you exploring undergraduate programs or postsecondary schooling? Do you already have a bachelor’s or advanced degree in a different topic? These are important factors to consider as you navigate your educational options. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you might expect from different program types based on credential:

• Project Management Bachelor’s Degree: Undergraduate studies in project management are typically part of a business or similar degree track. Earning your bachelor’s degree can take around four years to complete, with associated costs varying by institution.
• Project Management Master’s Degree: Learners pursuing a master’s degree in project management can develop key skills for effective leadership and communication. Earning an advanced degree can take anywhere from 12 to 36 months, depending on the program’s focus and timeline.
• Project Management Certificate: Earning a project management certification can be a great way for learners to gain in-demand skills regardless of their background. Many programs are designed for learners of all levels, and can be completed online in as little as 10 weeks.

Step 2: Build Necessary Skills

To excel as a scrum master or in any project coordinator role, it’s crucial to acquire the necessary skills. Once you’ve grasped foundational concepts and theories of project management, practical application becomes key. When you’re considering project management programs, prioritize those that integrate hands-on learning and opportunities for real-world skill development.

In addition to the soft skills listed above, project coordination requires a variety of hard skills, including:

• Project management methodologies, like Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall
• Project management software, like Jira, Wrike, and Asana
• Project planning, scheduling, and budgeting using tools like Gantt charts
• Project scoping, forecasting, and tracking via customized dashboards
• Managing risk, cost, and tasks using project management software

You can further set yourself apart and prepare for inevitable technological advances by learning how to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for project management, like Jira. These tools and platforms can help you save time by automating certain tasks or generating progress reports, allowing you to focus on activities that require your full attention or creativity.

Learners in the University of Oregon CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, can build these skills through projects designed to emulate realistic industry scenarios. As you complete these projects, you can add them to your portfolio and showcase your thought process through case studies. Your portfolio, paired with your project management certification, can make you an attractive candidate for employers.

Step 3: Gain Relevant Experience

After completing your project management education and building on the skills learned, you may be ready to secure an internship or entry-level project coordinator position. It’s important to note that certain roles may necessitate more prior professional experience from candidates than others. Be realistic about the roles you qualify for as you’re just starting out, keeping in mind that it’s a stepping stone toward more advanced project management titles.

One of the best ways to gain relevant project coordinating experience is by joining a community. There are many free networking groups and Slack channels dedicated to connecting businesses with skilled professionals. These communities may offer opportunities to work on small projects or lead an ad hoc team, as well as connect with industry experts who can answer questions or provide a recommendation.

Project management professionals in Oregon, including project coordinators, may find it helpful to join local organizations, such as the Project Management Institute of Portland, which host virtual and in-person events and discussions that allow you to stay up to date with industry developments and insights.

Step 4: Obtain Certifications

Aiming to kickstart your career as a project coordinator or progress into a project management role? Obtaining a certification can distinguish you from other candidates in the job market and enhance your ability to negotiate a more competitive salary.

Here are some of the project management certifications available:

• Project Management Professional (PMP): This certification is known as the industry gold standard. Successful completion of a PMP certification training course demonstrates your ability to perform the role of a project manager.
• Agile Certified Practitioner: This certification covers agile methodologies and demonstrates your ability to deliver a successful project through iterative development.
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM): This certification communicates that you have strong foundational knowledge and skills required for successful project management.
• Jira Software Essentials Certification: This certification validates your knowledge of key Jira software concepts. It demonstrates your ability to effectively work with teams.

Choosing a Project Management Course

Now that you’re familiar with the steps toward becoming a project manager, you can chart your own educational journey. As you begin browsing, remember that project management courses can vary in quality and content; some may focus on project management fundamentals, while others might cater to more advanced topics for aspiring senior project managers. 

Here’s a sample of potential curriculum topics and skills that may be covered in a project coordinator program:

Introductory Coursework

• Introduction to Project Management: Identify the role of project manager, define the six lifecycle stages and 10 knowledge areas of project management, and differentiate between Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid methodologies.
• Manage Stakeholders: Demonstrate an understanding of common accountability models, create a toolkit for managing stakeholder relationships, and utilize industry best practices, tools, and techniques for stakeholder engagement.
• Plan and Scope: Define project requirements and objectives, build an implementation approach that pulls from existing frameworks, and create a Gantt chart to serve as a high-level project roadmap.
• Create a Project Plan: Break down and visualize project tasks, their sequence, and interdependencies with a project schedule, and determine the project’s critical path.

Intermediate Coursework

• Agile Project Management: Identify they key principles of Agile project management, including Kanban and Scrum basics, determine use cases and considerations for technical projects, and start using Jira.
• Manage Budget, Cost, and Resources: Create a project budget considering various cost elements, identify strategies and tools for effective cost management, and define negotiation techniques.
• Manage Risks: Identify potential risks and assess their impact and likelihood, develop risk response strategies and contingency plans, and monitor and control project risks.

Advanced Coursework

• Monitor Process and Control Quality: Identify techniques and tools for tracking project progress, manage project changes and control scope creep, and create project documentation and a reporting plan.
• Lead Teams and Resolve Conflicts: Identify effective team management best practices, renegotiate agreements, utilize leadership techniques, and resolve conflicts while managing stakeholder expectations.
• Evaluate Project Success: Identify tools and best practices to evaluate projects and report on outcomes, facilitate a retrospective, and define strategies for transitioning project deliverables to operational teams.

Advance Your Career With Project Coordinator Skills

Embarking on a journey to become a project coordinator sets the stage for a dynamic career in project management. As you prepare to enter the job market, leveraging career services offered by your project management course can be invaluable. Here are some of the benefits offered to learners in the University of Oregon CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education:

• Resume and cover letter review and tips
• LinkedIn profile optimization
• Small group workshops
• Career coaching

This career advice and guidance is especially useful when it’s time to start your job search. By utilizing the support offered in the program, you can go into interviews with confidence, negotiate a competitive salary, and transform your career.

Project Coordinator Job Titles

Despite similar responsibilities, job titles for project coordinator and project manager roles can vary widely. That’s why it’s important to understand your own skills and abilities as they compare with the job listings you save as you begin your job search. 

Here are some common project coordinator and project management titles to keep an eye out for:

• Project coordinator
• Project leader
• Junior project manager
• Project administrator
• Scrum master
• Project scheduler
• Project support specialist
• Associate project manager

Keep in mind that project coordinators are needed for all types of work, from software development to construction projects. Depending on your background and certification, you may also be eligible for product management roles, such as associate product manager, product lead, or product director.

Career Advice for Aspiring Project Coordinators

Networking with industry peers is another way to boost your career growth. Don’t hesitate to seek mentorship from professionals whose career paths you admire. Initiating a conversation on LinkedIn, offering to meet for coffee, or introducing yourself at events are great ways to start. Make sure to have your contact information handy for seamless follow-up.

Continuing education is also crucial for any project coordination career. Stay updated with evolving approaches and industry trends by subscribing to newsletters, joining professional groups, and attending relevant events. Ongoing learning not only enhances your skills but also positions you to negotiate a higher salary, whether you’re pursuing opportunities with a new employer or advancing them within your own organization.

Not sure where to start? Conduct a quick Google search for “project management events in Oregon” — you may be surprised at just how many results turn up!

Start Your Project Coordinator Journey Today

Taking a project coordinator course presents an excellent career opportunity for tech-savvy learners who want to gain modern skills that can keep projects on track, on time, and on budget. Whether you’re looking to start a career or advance to becoming a project manager, the University of Oregon CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, can prepare you with the skills you need to succeed.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming a certified project coordination professional, we invite you to explore the UO CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, curriculum and benefits, or schedule an appointment with the advisors today.