table of contents
- Duties of the Agile Program Manager Job
- Agile program manager job requirements
- Agile Program Manager Skills
- Agile Program Manager desktop
- Agile Program Manager Trends
- How to Become an Agile Program Manager
- Progress prospects
- Sample job description
Agile program managers are responsible for managing the development of software applications and other digital products. They work with a team of developers, designers, QA specialists, etc. to ensure projects stay on track and meet deadlines.
Agile PMs use an iterative approach to managing projects, which means they break large projects down into smaller parts and deliverables. This allows them to provide regular updates to stakeholders on project progress.
Duties of the Agile Program Manager Job
Agile program managers often have a wide range of responsibilities, which may include:
- Provide technical support to other departments such as sales or customer service as needed.
- Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure they receive regular updates on project status.
- Attend scrums, standups, and other team meetings to provide status updates and answer questions about project decisions.
- Creating and managing user stories and acceptance criteria, including writing acceptance tests.
- Manage scope progress by identifying new features that can be added without adding additional time or cost to the project
- Review project plans created by managers or other stakeholders to ensure they are actionable
- Work with leadership to identify process improvement opportunities to reduce waste or inefficiency in workflows
- Identify risks that could affect project success and develop plans to mitigate those risks.
- Communicate changes to scope or requirements to staff and other stakeholders
Agile Program Manager Salary and Outlook
Salaries for agile program managers vary based on their level of education, years of experience, and company size and industry. They can also earn additional compensation in the form of a bonus.
- average annual salary:$125,000 ($60.1/hour)
- Annual salary of the richest 10%:$375,000 ($180.29/hour)
The employment of agile program managers is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.
The demand for agile project management will continue to increase as organizations look to improve their efficiency and productivity. Agile project management allows organizations to respond quickly to changes in the business environment, which is important in a competitive market.
Related: 20 Agile Program Manager Interview Questions and Answers
Agile program manager job requirements
There are a number of qualifications required to gain a position as an agile program manager. They include:
Education:Most employers require an agile program manager to have a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as computer science, information technology, management or business administration. Some employers may also require an agile program manager to have an MBA. An MBA is a two-year program that includes coursework and a fundamental research project.
Training experience:Agile program managers often receive on-the-job training in the form of an onboarding period at their new company. During this period, they get to know the company's culture, processes and procedures. They also learn about the software and tools they will use on a daily basis.
Certifications and licenses:Agile program managers can earn a variety of certifications that demonstrate their expertise in different aspects of an agile environment.
Agile Program Manager Skills
Agile program managers need the following skills to be successful:
Communication:Communication is the act of transferring information from one person to another. As an agile program manager, you use communication skills to convey information to your team, stakeholders and customers. You use communication skills to explain the purpose of your program, the goals you set and the methods you use to measure your program's success.
Leadership:Leadership skills can help you motivate your team and encourage them to work together to achieve goals. As an agile program manager, you may be responsible for leading a team of software developers or other professionals. Leadership can help you guide your team to success, and it can also help you develop your team's skills and abilities.
Project management:Project management skills are a necessary component of an agile program manager's skill set. As an agile program manager, you may be responsible for managing multiple projects at once, so strong project management skills are important. Project management skills can include planning, organizing and directing a project from start to finish.
Problem solving:Problem solving is the ability to identify and solve problems. As an agile program manager, you may be responsible for identifying and resolving any issues that arise during product development. This could include working with other team members to find solutions or finding ways to improve the current process.
Adaptability:Agile program managers must adapt to changing circumstances and challenges. Agile processes are designed to be flexible and allow for changes to the original plan. This can help a program manager be more effective as he can adjust his approach to a project as needed.
Agile Program Manager desktop
The agile program manager's work environment is constantly changing and evolving. As new software development methodologies and tools are created, the agile program manager must be able to adapt and change over time. This means that the agile program manager must be able to learn new things quickly and apply them to the work environment. The agile program manager must also be able to work with a variety of different people, as the team members they work with often have different backgrounds and experience levels. This can be challenging, but it's also one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.
Agile Program Manager Trends
Here are three trends influencing how agile program managers work. Agile program managers will need to stay current on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive edge in the workplace.
Agile teams need agile project managers
Agile teams need agile project managers to succeed. This is because agile projects are often very complex and require a lot of planning and coordination.
Agile project managers can manage this complexity by breaking the project down into smaller pieces and efficiently organizing and managing those pieces. They must also be able to communicate effectively with team members and be able to handle changes as they arise during the project.
More focus on collaboration
The trend towards greater focus on collaboration is being driven by the need for companies to be more efficient and productive. To achieve this objective, they resort to agile methodologies, which favor teamwork and communication.
As Agile becomes more popular, Agile program managers will need to be adept at collaborative working methods. This includes things like creating a culture of openness and transparency, as well as facilitating effective communication between team members.
Greater emphasis on quality assurance
As the world becomes increasingly digital, companies are realizing the importance of quality assurance (QA) on their products. This is creating an increase in demand for QA professionals, who can ensure that products are free of bugs and other defects before they are released to the public.
Agile program managers can capitalize on this trend by becoming proficient in QA testing. By doing so, they can help their companies produce high-quality products that will keep customers happy and attract repeat business.
How to Become an Agile Program Manager
An agile program manager has a unique skill set that makes him ideal for this role. They need to be able to see the big picture and understand how all the pieces of a project fit together. They must also be able to work with teams from different departments, so they must have excellent communication skills.
An agile program manager must also be able to think creatively about solutions to problems. They need to be able to generate new ideas and find ways to improve processes. And finally, they need to be able to manage their time effectively so they can stay on top of everything that needs to get done.
Progress prospects
The best way to advance your career as an Agile Program Manager is to continually improve your skills and knowledge. Keep up to date with the latest agile methods and tools, and look for opportunities to share your experience with others. As you gain experience, you will be able to take on larger and more complex projects. You may also have the opportunity to take on a leadership role such as an Agile Coach or Scrum Master.
Sample Agile Program Manager job description
At [CompanyX], we are looking for a trained and experienced agile program manager to lead and oversee all aspects of our agile software development process. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of agile principles and practices, as well as experience working in an agile environment. He or she will be responsible for managing our Agile team, ensuring that all sprints are completed on time and within budget. Additionally, the Agile Program Manager will be responsible for tracking progress and communicating status updates to stakeholders.
Duties and responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact and lead all agile program management activities
- Oversee multiple concurrent agile projects, programs and portfolios using a servant leadership style and coaching approach
- Work with project teams to ensure successful adoption and implementation of agile practices, tools and techniques.
- Facilitate streamlined ceremonies like sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives, and demos
- Help resolve impediments and risks that could affect delivery times or quality.
- Monitor and report on project progress, identifying issues and risks early and working with the team to mitigate them
- Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures related to project management.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by sharing best practices and lessons learned across the organization
- Collaborate with other agile coaches and program managers to promote agility at scale
- Support the transition to Agile for new projects and programs.
- Train and guide new agile professionals
- Perform other tasks as assigned
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business, administration or related fields
- 10+ years of experience in a program/project management role, with at least 5 years in an Agile environment
- Proven track record of successfully delivering projects using agile methodologies
- Strong understanding of software development processes and lifecycles.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adjust to changing priorities
Preferred skills and qualifications
- Master's Degree in Business, Management or Related Fields
- 15+ years of experience in a program/project management role, with at least 10 years in an Agile environment
- PMP, CSM or similar certification
- Experience working in a global organization.
- Fluency in more than one language.
FAQs
What are the roles and responsibilities of Agile Program Manager? ›
It (also called an APM) plans, leads, organizes and motivates Agile project teams. The manager has a vast range of responsibilities: Helping the team achieve a high level of performance and quality, holding teams accountable for their work, removing obstacles, and mentoring less experienced team members.
What is the salary of Program Manager roles and responsibilities? ›Average starting Salary for Program Manager in India is around ₹4.8 Lakhs per year (₹40.0k per month). 3 years of minimum experience is required to be a Program Manager. What is the highest salary for a Program Manager in India? Highest salary that a Program Manager can earn is ₹36.9 Lakhs per year (₹3.1L per month).
What is the best salary for program manager? ›- Redmond, WA. $119,018 per year. 119 salaries reported.
- Washington, DC. $96,283 per year. 463 salaries reported.
- Seattle, WA. $94,337 per year. 695 salaries reported.
- $82,818 per year. 397 salaries reported.
- Atlanta, GA. $82,385 per year. ...
- Show more nearby cities.
Yes, program managers get paid well.
Program managers tend to make salaries between $80,000 and $125,000 per year. As with any role, a program manager's salary is dependent on factors such as location, company, experience, and education. Program managers have complex jobs, which is why their salary is often quite high.
Program managers and project managers have related and often intertwining roles. While a project manager will orchestrate the success of individual projects, program managers will oversee the strategy of all interrelated projects, collectively called a program.
What is the salary level of a program manager at Microsoft? ›The highest paying salary package reported for a Program Manager at Microsoft sits at a yearly total compensation of $322,200. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses. The median yearly total compensation reported at Microsoft for the Program Manager role is $224,126.
Is program manager a stressful job? ›Are you a stressed project manager? Not surprisingly, project management can be incredibly stressful. We're responsible for delivery on time, on budget and scope but often have to deal with limited or poorly equipped resources, unrealistic client expectations and a to-do list that could easily reach the moon and back.
What is the highest level of program manager? ›4. Director of program management. The director of project management is often the highest-ranking employee in a company's project management operation. The director of program management oversees the company's big-picture planning, including all projects executed by the company.
Do program managers get bonuses? ›Most program manager job offers also include an annual performance bonus. The annual program manager performance bonus is typically a percentage of your base salary that's dependent on both company and personal performance. So depending on the targets you or your company hit, your performance bonus could go up or down.
Are program managers higher than project managers? ›Project manager and program manager are both high-level positions that offer personal and financial rewards. However, a program manager is typically a more senior role than a project manager.
What level is a program manager? ›
Program leadership
A program manager is essentially a senior-level leader. In that capacity, they are responsible for a number of leadership tasks such as: Leading planning meetings. Guiding project managers.
Key skills and attributes needed in program management
Interpersonal and communication skills. Leadership qualities. Strong analytical and finance skills. Ability to break down complex inputs from senior leaders into actionable insights.
Vice presidents, presidents, and C-suite executives are usually higher than a program manager. Some companies may have additional positions that are higher ranking than program managers, depending on how they're structured.
What qualifications do you need to be a program manager? ›To become a program manager, you need a bachelor's degree and some experience in project management. Ideally, 2 to 3 years of experience is sufficient.
What do program managers do all day? ›They plan resources, handle finances, and organize the business documents related to the project. They also work directly with higher management to streamline the entire project management process to ensure the project has a set direction for success and it meets this definition of success at the completion period.
What level of role is a program manager? ›Program leadership
A program manager is essentially a senior-level leader. In that capacity, they are responsible for a number of leadership tasks such as: Leading planning meetings. Guiding project managers.
Program managers are most concerned with timelines, budget, resource allocation, and reporting for multiple projects.
What is 90% of a project manager's job? ›90% of the project management job requires you to communicate with other project managers, executive staff, customers, stakeholders, and team members. Mediator: The ability to make people with conflicting goals work together to meet the project and organizational goals is a handy tool for project managers.
What are the five duties the manager perform on daily basis? ›Good managers discover how to master five basic functions: planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling.
What personality type is a program manager? ›The average Program Manager tends to be exacting, organized, and cautious in behavior. They is likely to support others, seek stable routines, and appreciate constructive feedback. Though they value their privacy, they enjoy spending time with the people they love most.
What is the average age of a program manager? ›
The average age of an employed program manager is 46 years old.
What is the life of a program manager? ›As a program manager, you'll oversee different teams, working towards different goals and with separate work schedules. Projects in your program will be connected by overarching organizational objectives or within the same business function. You'll track project progress, align project managers and project outcomes.
What is the next career step for a program manager? ›Program Managers who move to another field often do so in such positions as a high-ranking business analyst, the program director who assigns tasks to the Program Managers, or they may head a particular department, such as accounting, marketing or human resources.
Is program manager higher than project manager? ›If you're trying to understand the difference between project managers and program managers broadly, projects are micro while programs are macro. Program managers are responsible for big-picture work for organizations. The job is more high-level and focused on the overall direction of the organization.
Who is the boss of a program manager? ›Director of program management
The company's project managers often report directly to the director of program management, who ensures that all projects remain on schedule and facilitates interaction between projects when necessary.
Normally team members directly report to functional managers and project managers and program manager directly report to the head of the relevant project/program management department.