How to Become a Project Coordinator

Becoming a project coordinator can be a promising step toward working in project management. In fact, project coordinators are sometimes referred to as “junior project managers” because of their similar skills and responsibilities. Coordinators may serve as liaisons between project managers and team members, helping ensure that projects stay on track and on schedule.

Simply put, a “project” is any task or business activity that is distinct from ongoing operational activities, like developing a new piece of software, building a web app, or executing a marketing campaign. Organizations in every industry need skilled professionals who understand how to take a project from concept to completion. That’s where project coordinators come in.

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

• Budgeting, scheduling, organizing, record-keeping, and handling information flow between teams.
• Monitoring the overall project progress as it corresponds to individual teams and contributors.
• Scheduling and attending meetings between stakeholders, clients, and employees.
• Preparing presentation items for meetings and sharing meeting notes with stakeholders.
• Following up on action items with necessary parties.

Our Project Management Certificate Course can help you gain the knowledge and experience needed to get started in the industry as a project coordinator. Classes cover a wide range of relevant skills and activities, including creating a project plan, working with Agile project management, and managing budget, resources, and risks.

If you’re eager to kickstart your project coordinator career, keep reading to learn about the educational options available to you. We’ll also explain some of the potential career opportunities for certified project coordinators so you can determine whether a project management certificate program is right for you.

What Is a Project Coordinator?

A project coordinator is a mid-level project management role that may report to a project manager. Rather than taking a broad perspective on an entire project, a coordinator may be responsible for a particular project phase, element, or team. 

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.

As you gain experience, you may be given more responsibilities until you are able to oversee an entire project from start to finish without supervision. At that point, you may be able to transition from a project coordinator to a project manager role.

Our Project Management Certificate Course curriculum can get you up to speed on skills like those listed above. By the end of the program, you should be able to perform effective team management, manage tasks and allocate resources, create systems for monitoring project progress, and develop project reports for various stakeholders. 

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 2022. 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.
• 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.

You may also want to consider earning a relevant certification in project management. This can help demonstrate to employers that you meet the standards set forth by independent organizations such as PMTI.

Become a Project Coordinator in 4 Steps

There isn’t a strict path toward becoming a project coordinator, and while the role requirements will vary based on employer and industry, there are some basic steps you can take to maximize your career opportunities.

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

If you want to be a scrum master — or pursue any other project coordinator role — you need the right skills. Once you’ve gained the knowledge to understand the concepts and theories of project management, it’s time to put them into practice. While exploring project management programs, look for curricula that incorporate hands-on learning and real-world skill applications. 

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

Learners in our Project Management Certificate Course can build these skills through activities designed to emulate realistic industry scenarios. As you complete assignments and 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 you’ve completed your project management education, you may be able to secure an internship or entry-level project coordinator role. Keep in mind that some jobs may require candidates to have professional experience prior to applying.

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.

Step 4: Obtain Certifications

If you’re interested in starting a project coordinator career or advancing to a project management role, earning a certification can set you apart from other applicants during the job search. It can even help you negotiate a higher 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 know the steps to take toward becoming a project coordinator, you can determine your own educational path. Keep in mind that not all project management courses are created equal. That being said, here’s a sample of potential project coordinator curriculum topics and skills that might be covered:

Introductory Coursework

• Introduction to Project Management: Learn the six lifecycle stages of project management, differentiate between methodologies and corresponding tools, and create a project brief.
• Manage Stakeholders: Identify and manage stakeholders, build relationships, manage stakeholder expectations, and develop a strategy for assembling project stakeholders.
• Plan and Scope: Define project objectives, scope, and stakeholders; build an implementation approach; create a project roadmap; and host a project kickoff meeting.
• Create a Project Plan: Break town project tasks and estimate durations, visualize tasks and interdependencies, manage tasks, and report on projects.

Intermediate Coursework

• Agile Project Management: Identify key principles of Agile project management, manage software projects using Kanban and Scrum, and create an Agile project plan.
• Manage Budget, Cost, and Resources: Identify key components of a project budget, identify strategies for effective cost management and estimation, and define techniques to negotiate with vendors.
• Manage Risks: Identify potential risks and assess their impact and likelihood, develop risk response strategies and contingency plans, and monitor project risks.

Advanced Coursework

• Monitor Process and Control Quality: Establish the definition of “done” for a project, manage scope creep, establish project health metrics, create a system for monitoring project progress, and develop a project status report.
• Lead Teams and Resolve Conflicts: Identify effective team management best practices, renegotiate agreements based on changes, utilize leadership techniques, and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Evaluate Project Success: Facilitate a retrospective, close a project and evaluate its success, operationalize and transition process improvements, and develop a project closure report.

Advance Your Career With Project Coordinator Skills

Learning how to become a project coordinator can get you started on an exciting career path in project management. When it’s time to start the job search, you may be able to receive career advice, guidance, and tips from your project management course. If your program does offer career services support, take it! You could benefit from resume reviews, interview preparation, and even job referrals, depending on the program.

Project Coordinator Job Titles

When it’s time to start the job search, it’s important to understand what you’re actually searching for. While you may be up to speed on various project coordinator responsibilities, job listings and titles can be vastly different, even if they’re looking to fill the same project coordinator role. Here are some common project coordinator and project management titles to keep an eye out for:

• Project manager
• Project administrator
• Project leader
• Scrum master
• Project support officer
• Project scheduler

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

As you network with other industry professionals, don’t be afraid to seek mentorship from people whose careers you admire. Start a conversation on LinkedIn by offering to buy them a cup of coffee, or introduce yourself at an in-person event — just make sure to have your contact information ready to share!

It’s also important to invest in continued education. Today’s project coordinator approaches and tactics may not be relevant in a few years. Subscribe to newsletters, join professional groups, and keep up with industry trends so you can stay on top of your learning throughout your career. This can also help you negotiate a higher project coordinator salary whether you’re seeking a role with a new organization or staying with your current employer.

Start Your Project Coordinator Journey Today

Taking a project coordinator course is a great option 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, our Project Management Certificate Course 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 program curriculum and benefits, or schedule an appointment with our advisors today.