Project Management

Please login or join to subscribe to this thread

Project Coordinator vs. Research Project Manager

linkedin twitter facebook   Career Development   Leadership   Marketing and Sales  
avatar
Ashley Stauffer Associate Director of Solution Alignment| Penn State University Office of Research Information Systems State College, Pa, United States
I have recently been offered a position as a Research Project Manager level 2 (an upgrade from my current level 1 position). My new supervisor informed me that my desk title could be Project Coordinator if I felt like that would warrant more authority than research project manager. He envisions the position as having a birds-eye view of managing research projects and coordination of various research team members.

What do folks think? Should I go with Project Coordinator? Does one title have more value when pursuing executive leadership positions or consultation work (future goals).

Update: Thank you for the feedback so far. For clarification the new supervisor has told me that I can choose a title that I feel may best fit the position and provide authority in the role. He mentioned that there is a path to Assistant Director in the next 2-4 years depending on trust built, performance, etc.
Sort By:
< 1 2 >
avatar
Dinah Young Project Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William County Springfield, Va, United States
I agree with Guy, Senior Project Manager would be ideal.
avatar
Eric Simms Senior Program Manager Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Nov 30, 2017 1:41 PM
Replying to Ashley Stauffer
...
Hi Eric,

Thank you for your very thoughtful response, and for even checking out my linkedIn profile! The new position is not 100% confirmed yet,so it is not currently posted there. Your feedback is very helpful, and I will consider it as I continue on my career path.
My pleasure, Ashley. I hope everything works out as you desire.
avatar
Deepa Kalangi Manager, Program Management, Author, Trainer| CVS Health Charlotte, NC, United States
Not a Project Coordinator title for sure(especially when you are wanting to head in the direction of becoming a part of executive team in the future).
avatar
Eric Simms Senior Program Manager Baltimore, Maryland, United States
"...the new supervisor has told me that I can choose a title that I feel may best fit the position and provide authority in the role....

In that case you should dub yourself a 'Senior Project Manager'. That title would give you the authority and respectability you'll need to deal with high level stakeholders, including Deans and the university President.
avatar
Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I totally agree with Eric. I would stick with Research Project Manager for the different reasons Eric mentioned. Good Luck !
avatar
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD Senior Project Manager| Infosys Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Yes anything that ends with "Project Manager" is going to be better.
avatar
Stéphane Parent Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker Prince Edward Island, Canada
Congratulations on your new opportunity, Ashley. I echo my colleagues' sentiments to stay away from "Project Coordinator". I've seen that title on a lot of projects for someone who was doing administrative support, nothing remotely close to project management.

As some have pointed out, you have to decide if putting "Research" in your title is more beneficial than a hindrance. It would define you as a particular type of project manager. This can be good or bad, depending on the demand for research project managers.

On the other hand, going with just "project manager" might imply a bigger breadth of project experience than you are prepared to support.
< 1 2 >

Please login or join to reply

Content ID:
ADVERTISEMENTS

"Stop that! It's silly."

- Graham Chapman, Monty Python's Flying Circus

ADVERTISEMENT

Sponsors







Vendor Events

See all Vendor Events

Newsletters

Jun 3: The Career Problem Facing New PMs
May 20: Your PM Career as a Project Life Cycle
May 13: The Big Lie After Layoffs

See all newsletters