WHAT DOES A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER DO?

Published: Oct 23, 2024 – The Development Project Manager oversees Agile (Kanban) software delivery practices, facilitating planning, retrospectives, and release planning to enhance team performance. This role includes removing barriers for the development team, clarifying software requirements, and ensuring reliable delivery. Additionally, the manager coaches on Agile best practices, resolves team dynamics, and coordinates risk responses while providing project reporting and analytics.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Development Project Manager

1. Development Project Manager Accountabilities

  • Consultant Selection: Assist in the selection of qualified and experienced consultants and contractors.
  • Project Participation: Participate in all project meetings with consultants and regulatory agencies.
  • Budgeting and Scheduling: Assist in the preparation of accurate project budgets and project schedules.
  • Design Coordination: Coordinate with and direct the design team and vendors to achieve timely completion of deliverables.
  • Contract Review: Take responsibility for reviewing plans and contracts.
  • Utility Coordination: Coordinate dry utility planning and design with respective companies.
  • Document Control: Maintain a comprehensive system of document control and tracking logs.
  • Approval Management: Work with the design consultants and the contractor to secure all approvals and permits required.
  • Bid Preparation: Assist in the preparation of bid invitations, review, and qualify bids.
  • Construction Monitoring: Monitor construction progress at regular intervals and review contractor’s applications for payment.
  • Vendor Coordination: Coordinate with contractors and vendors to ensure timely completion of the project.
  • Project Closeout: Manage the closeout of the project, including the final punch list, obtaining final lien releases and warranty documentation.

2. Development Project Manager Overview

  • Program Management: Manage a program comprising a complex portfolio of development and construction projects.
  • Scope Definition: Clearly define and document program scope, terms of delivery, and business objectives.
  • Team Organization: Organize and manage program teams consisting of various skill sets including architecture, engineering, consultants, and contractors.
  • Resource Validation: Validate appropriate resourcing to deliver program requirements.
  • Relationship Management: Manage internal and external relationships as they relate to programs, including roles, level of involvement, and expectations.
  • Resource Monitoring: Effectively monitor resource allocation, cost loading, and spend-out for the entire portfolio.
  • Expenditure Management: Manage portfolio expenditures against approved CAPEX.
  • Costing Validation: Validate scoping and costing efforts and ensure an achievable schedule for portfolio projects.
  • Risk Management: Manage risk by routinely identifying, assessing, and developing mitigation plans for events that could impact the success of the program.
  • Metric Development: Develop specific program metrics and milestone reporting that allow for full transparency and visibility.
  • Communication Planning: Develop and manage the execution of program communication plans which ensure that information related to progress and issues is effectively shared.
  • Accountability Practice: Practice accountability with regular reporting to internal teams and summary reporting for the leadership team.

3. Development Project Manager Additional Details

  • Scope Definition: Define the project’s scope and key milestones.
  • Project Kickoff: Ensure that projects are kicked off according to the Research and Development process.
  • Team Responsibility: Ensure that project team members are defined and understood.
  • Process Adherence: Ensure that the Research and Development processes are being followed rigorously throughout the project.
  • Progress Monitoring: Monitor the progress of multiple project streams and keep other team members and the project’s clients up to date and informed.
  • Information Management: Collate and manage all the information associated with a project and ensure clear communication flows to other members of the project team.
  • Relationship Building: Build key relationships with project partners.
  • Team Coordination: Oversee the cohesion of work and team, coordinating project staff, resource planning, and allocation.
  • Timeline Planning: Plan, schedule, and maintain project timelines.
  • Budget Management: Plan and meet budgetary objectives.
  • Performance Reporting: Report regularly to senior management and track project performance.
  • Project Evaluation: Carry out project evaluation and results measurement.

4. Development Project Manager General Responsibilities

  • Timeline Establishment: Establish timelines for each project by working with the PD team and sales to ensure key deliverables.
  • Timeline Updates: Update timelines for weekly status meetings with internal teams.
  • Activity Follow-Up: Follow up with various functional areas to ensure activities are delivered on time.
  • Sample Tracking: Track formula and packaging samples needed for testing by marketing and sales teams.
  • Sample Preparation: Help collect and prepare samples for clinical, claims, and safety testing.
  • Vendor Communication: Communicate with packaging vendors on timelines for line trials and pre-production samples.
  • Manufacturing Tracking: Track timelines from manufacturing lab partners.
  • Regulatory Assistance: Assist with collecting and creating regulatory documents for new launches.
  • Quality Follow-Up: Assist with follow-up with vendors on packaging quality issues.
  • Sample Library Management: Compile and organize the PD product/project sample library.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Communicate with the program teams, stakeholders, steering committees, and sponsors.

5. Development Project Manager Roles and Details

  • Agile Management: Design and manage Agile (Kanban) software delivery practices and events, including planning, retrospectives, estimation, and release planning.
  • Barrier Removal: Break down barriers for the development team, remove blockers, and enable team success.
  • Project Reporting: Create and manage project reporting and team analytics.
  • Collaboration: Work directly with the software development team and business leaders.
  • Commitment Assurance: Ensure commitments are met and software is delivered reliably and predictably.
  • Requirements Assistance: Assist in bringing detail or filling gaps for software requirements from business units.
  • Coaching: Coach the team and organization on best practices in agile software project delivery.
  • Team Dynamics: Exert influence within the team to resolve team dynamics issues and create high-performing teams.
  • Issue Escalation: Escalate issues and risks when appropriate and coordinate risk responses.
  • Meeting Facilitation: Facilitate team meetings, deliver well-organized presentations, and lead by example.
Relevant Information
What Does A Business Project Manager Do?