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Career Path: How to Become a Technical Program Manager

When companies undertake complex technical programs to better their products and services, they have a reliable Technical Program Manager who oversees the program from creation and initiation to completion. Technical Program Management is set to grow by 15% by 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it an excellent time for interested candidates to take the next step. This is an excellent career choice for those who thrive on technology and bringing new advancements to their organization, as well as for those who enjoy maintaining client relationships and guiding tea...more

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Career Path: How to Become a Technical Program Manager

When companies undertake complex technical programs to better their products and services, they have a reliable Technical Program Manager who oversees the program from creation and initiation to completion. Technical Program Management is set to grow by 15% by 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it an excellent time for interested candidates to take the next step. This is an excellent career choice for those who thrive on technology and bringing new advancements to their organization, as well as for those who enjoy maintaining client relationships and guiding teams to success.

Getting Through the Door

Gaining an entry-level position as a Technical Program Manager takes a mix of experience and education. Employers will be expecting their Technical Program Manager to have excellent IT skills as well as management experience, with the ratio of these two spheres varying depending on the company. Some things a hiring manager may look for when looking to employ a new Technical Program Manager includes:

  • An aptitude for software development.
  • A degree in a relevant field.
  • Demonstrated experience with overseeing teams on a project basis.
  • An understanding of common business practices.
  • A willingness to cater to clients as needed.

These are just a few examples of what employers may expect from an entry-level Technical Program Manager. Having a portfolio on hand that details your professional experiences with technical projects and any leadership training you have received will be beneficial for the hiring process.

Degrees and Experience

Technical Program Managers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, business administration, management or a like-field. Some have taken management and related courses through online programs and have received certification to this end.

Many employers looking to employ a Technical Program Manager may value experience over education in some instances. Have you worked in a technical position before, like as a systems administrator or software developer? Did you ever have a job as a team lead or manager in a field that put you in charge of several employees while guiding them towards completing assigned projects? These are the types of experiences that will make a hiring manager sit up and take notice.

Working as a Junior Level Technical Program Manager

Junior-level Technical Program Managers have proven themselves capable of guiding a technical team as they submit successful technical projects. Daily, Technical Program Managers receive a new project from their management and oversee it from initiation to submission. When technical issues arise, they must think fast and implement a solution that doesn’t waste time or drain resources. Technical Program Managers also look for ways to be more technically savvy, putting into place new and better software that will streamline services. They document all aspects of their work and present their progress and that of their team to executives, stakeholders and clients. As junior Technical Program Manager, responsibilities have likely increased, including guiding more teams, attending more meetings with other managers and directors and being expected to use your technical skills more readily.

Moving up the Ranks

…as a Technical Program Manager is a matter of proving yourself indispensable to your organization. This can be achieved a number of ways, including by displaying your technical mastery when there is a glitch your tech team encounters. Troubleshooting and correcting weaknesses in technical systems before they cause a major disruption is a great example of this. Being a consummate team-player is another way to stand out. Yes, it is your job as Technical Program Manager to oversee those working on technical projects but going above and beyond to lend a hand or an ear to struggling colleagues can prove your interpersonal skills are unmatched. By showing your desire to keep business operations running smoothly, through your technical and interpersonal prowess, a Technical Program Manager can easily move forward in their career.

Advance Your Career: How to Become a Senior Technical Program Manager

Reaching a senior level of your Technical Program Manager career takes time and perseverance. As they tread the road to senior-status, most Technical Program Managers have not only proven their indispensability in the manners listed above but have taken it upon themselves to deepen their knowledge base in the field. Attaining a senior position means the Technical Program Manager has gained a fluency with their responsibilities, with many of their typical tasks becoming second nature. Beyond that, they have made the effort to understand the roles of those around them, have taken the time to further their own skills away from the job site and have assessed their career options by examining similar occupations. More on these ahead.

Study the Core Fields

It is beneficial for a Technical Program Manager to understand the core fields related to their role to gain a deeper understanding of their responsibilities. In Technical Program Management, these important field include the agile methodology, a commonly-utilized process that streamlines technical operations by prizing the software developer and their relationship to the user; relationship building, as Technical Program Managers need to establish and maintain relationships with technology vendors, clients and stakeholders, so having a knack for the art of conversation in a business setting is a must; and cross-functionality, the ability to work with several different teams that take different roads to meet organizational goals. It is necessary to work cross-functionally as Technical Program Manager, as you must liaise with and assist several different teams.

Invest in Yourself

Technical Program Managers who make an extra effort to invest in their skillset are sure to make occupational advancements. This can be done by attending seminars and conferences relating to Technical Program Management, or a related subsector, like advances in computer programming or the future of business management. Many Technical Program Managers also like to get ahead by attaining additional diplomas and certifications through online courses, giving them a greater breadth of knowledge in their field without detracting time from their work duties. Networking and meeting colleagues who work in technical or business fields are a great way to stay apprised of industry trends as well as learn about potential job openings in different companies. Employers who notice their Technical Program Manager is making additional strides to improve their knowledge base is sure to advance further in their career.

Don’t Stop at Technical Program Management

Define your duties and goals by studying the work of those around you. From program managers to software engineering leads, having a better understanding of what your colleagues do and what their goals are in terms of participating to the organization will help you see your own responsibilities and aspirations clearer.

Technical Program Manager Job Description

Technical Program Managers are responsible for guiding and monitoring technical projects from inception to submission. They ensure teams are following their assigned duties, are working within a stated budget and will complete goals within the correct timeframe. Technical Program Managers document all aspects of the program and present their findings to the necessary parties, typically executives, clients and stakeholders.

Technical Program Managers must be skilled communicators and keep their technical skills sharp in order to quickly handle any glitches and bugs that occur. Keeping their eye on technical advancements and implementing better technical solutions will keep Technical Program Managers in-demand in their profession.

WHAT WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH

  • Managing all aspects of our technical projects, including initiation, forecasting, budgeting and scheduling.
  • Identifying and correcting gaps in our technical system.
  • Having a keen eye for emerging business and IT trends.
  • Regularly liaising with clients, vendors and stakeholders and nurturing these relationships.
  • Documenting and presenting program progress to program managers and company executives.

WE LOOK FOR

  • Experience leading teams to success.
  • An understanding of software testing methodologies, technical architecture development and product deployment strategies.
  • The ability to alter communications approaches depending on the audience.

THESE WOULD ALSO BE NICE

  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Being highly-organized
  • Thriving under pressure
  • Capable of handling several projects at once
  • A visionary who can map out every stage of a project while keeping their eye on the big picture.

Senior Technical Program Manager Career Paths: Where to Go from Here

Achieving the senior level of your Technical Program Management career is an exciting and rewarding feat. While some senior Technical Program Managers are happy to stay where they are and enjoy more years of Technical Program Management, others see it as a chance to move on to a new career altogether.

When this is the case, many Technical Program Managers decide to take on a new job that allows them to use their acquired skills in a new way. Most often they may make a lateral move towards being a senior product manager, who devises and guides a product from its inception to its release and manages the teams working on its various aspects; or a director of program management in computer software, who is responsible for analyzing software needs for the organization and planning team responsibilities.

Senior Technical Program Managers who maintain this position will continue to guide the technical leaders of the future and delight in the advancements in technology and business management they will likely encounter.

Top industries hiring Technical Program Managers

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