Project Manager Jobs

Management Sector

Project managers can hold a range of important positions in the natural energy industry.

As a whole, these managerial positions involve supervising and organizing the various elements of natural energy operations. Industrial production managers, for example, direct and coordinate production activities required to produce manufactured goods, such as wind turbines and solar panels. Engineering managers, on the other hand, are responsible for coordinating the design and development of machinery and other products.

For all of these management positions, there are many aspects to the job. Project managers must coordinate manpower, directly and assigning employees in different tasks. They must also keep track of materials and operating timetables, and deal with any problems that may arise when they overseeing the day-to-day running of operations, be it a manufacturing plant or a power plan. While part of their time is spent in an office, filling out reports and other forms, project managers must also spend time in the field. A construction manager must constantly be on-site to ensure that construction is running smoothly and according to plan, an industrial manager must make regular tours of the production factory which he oversees, and an engineering manager must check in with development and design teams while they work.

Educational and Training Requirements

For any project manager position, excellent interpersonal and communications skills are an essential part of the job. Whether you are an engineering manager or an industrial manager, you will be required to interact with superiors and to effectively directly your subordinates.

The ability to effectively communicate ideas and instructions to employees and to present progress reports to employers is an important aspect of the job. Organization skills are also a big plus. Project managers are in charge of keeping track of a lot of information and it is important to make note of developments as the project progresses, assign and coordinate employees’ tasks, and keep track of building supplies and machinery. Staying on top of all these different elements requires a lot of organization and keen attention to detail.

The educational and training requirements for project managers vary by specialty. Industrial production managers usually have a college degree in a field such as management, industrial technology or engineering, or business administration. In some cases industrial production managers earn their jobs after working their way up from general production positions. Certification is not required for industrial production managers however it can help with career advancement. Educational requirements tend to be more stringent for engineering managers. Usually a formal education in engineering or a similar field is required, and a master’s degree in a field like engineering management or business administration can also be valuable. Work experience is also an essential requirement for engineering managers, most of whom have a background in science, math or engineering before becoming project managers.

Salary and Advancement Opportunities

Salaries in the project management field vary from one specialty to another. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an industrial production manager earns an average of $43.85 hourly, while an engineering manager earns an average of $57.97 per hour. According to Payscale.com, an industrial production manager with one to four years of experience earns an average of $45,000 to $64,640 per year, compared to an average of $54,371 to $88,113 with 10 to 19 years of experience. A manufacturing engineering manager is estimated to earn an average of $61,417 to $82,221 per year with one to four years of experience, which increases to an average of $80,628 to $105,979 per year with 10 to 19 years of experience. In general, individuals with more advanced degrees and greater amounts of work experience will be eligible to advance more quickly in the field.