The digital project manager's position combines project management, webmarketing and technical skills. Playing a transverse role within his department or company, the digital project manager's mission is to deploy projects, both off-line and on-line, which will allow the company to progress in its growth.
The job of Digital Project Manager
The digital, functional, web or webmarketing project manager, depending on the details of his mission, is in charge of the deployment and implementation of digital projects. In general, these projects are related to marketing, since they are most often aimed at improving the customer experience, highlighting products, increasing the company's reputation, feeding databases, etc.
The digital project manager is therefore in charge of managing from A to Z the implementation of different digital or web means: showcase site, e-commerce, mobile application, etc. From the design of the specifications to the coordination of the teams and the follow-up of the results, he/she is responsible for the progress and success of the web project.
He/she can be dedicated to the project management (Project Manager MOE) and will then be attached to the technical part including the choice of tools, the integration and the tests. Or to the project management (MOA), he will be in this case more turned towards the functional aspect including among others the analysis of the needs and the budgeting.
Different tasks are carried out throughout his mission and according to the project for which he is responsible:
- Feasibility study and design of specifications when necessary
- Definition and writing of functional and technical specifications
- The planning of tasks and stages
- Coordination of all team members and every aspect of the project
- Testing to ensure the quality of the deliverables
Optimizing and analyzing the performance of the website or app.
Qualities and skills of the Digital Project Manager
The digital project manager, to be able to fulfill his functions of orchestra leader in an optimal way, must present a good number of varied and complementary skills and qualities.
In addition to his technical knowledge (mastery of web environments and languages CMS, HTML, CSS, etc.), he must also have project management skills (agile or scrum method for example). He/she also has a good sense of contact which allows him/her to efficiently coordinate teams and to act as an interface between all concerned: collaborators, clients or internal sponsors.
- Spirit of analysis and synthesis
- Sense of prioritization
- Autonomy and reactivity
- Digital culture and web marketing maintained by monitoring
- Ability to communicate and negotiate
What are the educational requirements to become a Digital Project Manager?
Most digital project managers today have a 5-year university degree and have received comprehensive and specialized training in business schools, communication and advertising schools, computer science schools, multimedia schools or even in universities. The choice of initial training depends on the student's attraction to a particular aspect of the profession: IT, for example, followed by a specialization in project management, or marketing and communication accompanied by technical culture.
The Paris Business School's Master of Digital Business offers students, in addition to advanced courses in management methods and marketing, the opportunity to demystify programming through an introduction to code, as well as various web marketing certifications. Once they have become accustomed to the technical side of things, they are even encouraged to participate in hackathons to create innovative digital projects.
Salary and career of the Digital Project Manager
The salary of digital project managers is around 3000 € per month. They go up to around 6 000 € for experienced profiles and/or large companies. The median salary in France is currently a little over €4,500 gross per month. Of course, salaries are linked to the specific characteristics (IS, functional, web) of each job because it is possible for a digital project manager to work within a company but also within an agency.
The career of the digital project manager can evolve towards increased responsibilities: Project or program manager or director, or even towards consulting and customer relations management positions.
