Project Management Jobs

Project managers are responsible for time management, budget development, resource and activity planning, and risk management. In Canada, graduates holding a degree in project management work as project control specialists, coordinators, and project accountants and officers.

Canadian institutions that offer programs in project management include the University of Winnipeg, Centennial College, and Humber College. Applicants can choose from different programs, including supply chain management and advanced business management.

The pool of positions includes assistant and senior project manager, project coordinator, and resource project manager. Professionals work across different sectors such as healthcare, information technology, financial services, law, and engineering and construction. Finance project managers, for example, control and plan expenditures and budgets and review, coordinate, and assign programs and projects. Construction project managers prepare and maintain construction schedules, develop contingency plans, conduct risk assessments, and coordinate with regulatory bodies. Information technology project managers coordinate resources and timetables, meet financial objectives, and implement organization strategies and goals. Employers are normally looking for qualifications and skills such as quality management, strategic planning, data center management, problem solving, and technical understanding and management.

Demand for engineering project managers is still high in Canada, mainly due to infrastructure projects and new construction. Information technology managers top the list of high demand IT positions. Many employers are looking to hire professionals with agile, PMI, and PMP certifications. According to recent studies, including research under the Canadian Occupational Project System, IT and engineering project managers are still in high demand in 2020 but dropped out of the list of top in-demand positions. According to data by the B.C. Labour Market Outlook, in British Columbia, the forecasted employment growth rate for information and computer systems managers is 10.6 percent between 2017 and 2022 and 12.6 percent between 2022 and 2027. Job openings are expected to increase by 450 until 2022 and by 510 by 2027. Some 38.6 percent of new positions will be due to economic growth and the rest will be the result of replacement of retirees. Many companies are currently hiring systems and software development managers, systems analysis and data processing managers, and systems project managers.

Salary varies based on sector, qualifications, and experience. The average salary of information technology project managers stands at about $84,900 and ranges from $57,000 to $116,000. Men make about 88.9 percent of employees. Factors that play a role in terms of salary prospects include skills such as project management, information technology infrastructure library, and people management. Engineering project managers are paid about $82,880 on average. The pay ranges from $60,000 to $125,000 and varies based on location, education, skills, and experience. New graduates are paid about $59,000 on average while professionals with over 20 years of experience get about $107,000 on average. Professionals in cities such as Vancouver, BC, Edmonton, Alberta, and Calgary, Alberta earn more than the national average. Engineering project managers with the lowest salaries work in places such as Mississauga, Montreal, and Toronto.

Construction project managers are paid between $49,000 and $109,000, and the average pay stands at about $73,800. Skills and qualifications that affect salary prospects include project and budget management and contractor and contract management. Professionals with 1 – 4 years of experience are paid about $76,000 while those with 10 – 19 years of work experience are paid about $85,000. Construction project managers in several cities are paid more than the national average, including Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary. The lowest pay is in cities such as Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto.

The association works to support professionals in the sector and to create a more inclusive model of project management. Members enjoy multiple benefits such as discounts for certifications, events, and competence training courses and subscription discounts for the International Journal of Project Management.

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Project Management Courses, Certifications, and Programs

A number of universities and colleges in Canada offer postgraduate certificates and diplomas in project management, among which Humber College, Centennial College, and University of Winnipeg.

The university offers students the chance to learn more about measuring, modelling, scoping, budgeting, and other essential tools. Students choose from a selection of courses such as managing organizational change, financing fundamentals, risk & decision analysis, and quality management. Upon graduation, students earn a Management Certificate and a Project Management Diploma. Graduates work as risk analysts, support officers, project coordinators, and business analysts. Other suitable positions for graduates include procurement coordinator, cost analyst, events manager and coordinator, and project manager. In addition to businesses and financial institutions, many graduates also work for the University of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, Manitoba Infrastructure, and City of Winnipeg.

The University of Winnipeg also offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management to help students learn about complex networks and their elements – carriers, shippers, suppliers, and manufacturers. Program focus areas include purchasing and sourcing, logistics and manufacturing, and green supply chain management. Students also learn about inventory management, supply chain planning, controlling, and strategies, and advanced planning systems. They also master key techniques and methods of operation, management, and analysis of supply chains. Key topics include operations research, logistics management, and geographic information systems for logistics and transport.

Humber College also offers a graduate certificate program in project management to help students master skills such as execution, planning, and control. Courses are taken in two semesters and include project integration simulation, project cost management, and project scope and quality management. Graduates work across different sectors, including healthcare, financial services, energy, global infrastructure, and technology.

Students are offered a graduate certificate program and the opportunity to earn an Ontario College Graduate Certificate. They choose from a selection of courses such as business analysis, project leadership, fundamentals of project management, and project planning and scheduling. Students learn how to implement key practices and concepts and identify project limitations and goals, resource requirements, and performance criteria.

The Schulich School of Business offers a Masters Certificate in Project Management as well as project management courses. The Masters Certificate features several modules with a focus on team effectiveness and leadership, project control and planning, and stakeholder, communication, and leadership management. Students learn how to develop communication plans, organize and manage project teams, reduce project costs, and effectively implement negotiation and solicitation principles. Modules also focus on unit, variable, and fixed costs, cost control, budgeting and resource planning, and macro and micro cost estimating.

The Royal Roads University offers the Graduate Certificate in Project Management program with a length of 6 months. Students earn a total of 9 credits and take courses such as project planning and scheduling, the right side of project management, and managing complex projects. Students also learn how to align organization’s goals with projects and master key skills such as conflict resolution, negotiation, and collaboration. They also learn more about project constraints such as budget, materials, human resources, and time limits. They master techniques for cost reporting and monitoring, forecasting and evaluation, and structure development and work breakdown.

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