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Project Management Specialists

SOC 13-1082.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparation

Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. Serve as a point of contact for the client or customer. May work in any sector of the economy, including IT, construction, healthcare, finance, government, and many others.

Context coveredCross-sector PM practice across IT, construction, healthcare, financial services, professional services; PMO coordinator through senior PM through program manager.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Project plans, timelines, and Gantt charts — produce in MS Project, Asana, or Jira under a senior PM's review.
  2. Status reports for routine projects — compile from team inputs on a weekly cadence.
  3. Project budgets and burn-rate tracking — maintain accurately for a defined scope.
  4. RAID logs (risks, actions, issues, decisions) — keep current across project life.
  5. Stakeholder rosters and RACI matrices — produce for assigned projects.
  6. Project meetings — schedule, run-of-show, take notes, and circulate.
  7. Change-request paperwork — log and route through governance.
  8. Common project-management tools — use to team conventions across the PMO.
  9. PM-methodology fundamentals (PMBOK, Agile-Scrum, Kanban) — apply correctly on assigned engagements.
  10. Resource-allocation tracking and capacity views — maintain for the assigned PM portfolio.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. A small project (6-12 weeks, single team, defined scope) — own end-to-end with senior backstop.
  2. Project planning from a charter — produce a realistic plan + budget + resource model.
  3. Stakeholder management on a routine project — communicate effectively at multiple levels.
  4. Risk identification and mitigation planning — execute substantively across the project life.
  5. Project closeout and lessons-learned — facilitate at end of engagement.
  6. Cross-functional team coordination — drive accountability across disciplines.
  7. Vendor and contractor management — execute on routine engagement components.
  8. PM-tool administration (Jira workflows, Asana templates, MS Project files) — manage at project level.
  9. Junior PMs and coordinators — guide on technique and process.
  10. Status and steering-committee presentations — deliver credibly on owned projects.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Mid-complexity project portfolio — manage 3-5 concurrent projects across multiple teams.
  2. Difficult-stakeholder management — handle politically charged or distressed-project contexts.
  3. Project recovery and turnaround — diagnose and execute on troubled projects.
  4. Methodology selection and tailoring — apply waterfall / agile / hybrid appropriately to the project context.
  5. PM-team mentorship — provide formally and informally across the practice.
  6. PMO governance and reporting — contribute substantively to portfolio-level practice.
  7. Resource-conflict resolution across functions — negotiate at director and VP level.
  8. Vendor and SOW negotiation — execute with procurement on six-figure engagements.
  9. Program-level cross-project dependencies — identify and manage across owned portfolio.
  10. Quality and acceptance criteria — own across deliverables and through user-acceptance.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Multi-million-dollar programs or critical strategic initiatives — own as program manager with executive sponsorship.
  2. Program portfolio governance — set practice across multi-quarter cycles.
  3. Hiring, leveling, and PM-career development — shape the PMO talent pipeline.
  4. PMO strategy and methodology — author or co-author for the organization.
  5. Executive-sponsor partnerships — manage on multi-quarter or multi-year programs.
  6. Crisis-management on at-risk programs — lead through with composure and clarity.
  7. Senior consulting on cross-organizational programs (M&A, transformation, ERP rollouts) — drive with executive partners.
  8. Industry / community PM presence — represent through PMI chapter, conferences, or publication.
  9. Vendor and consulting-partner strategy at program level — own commercials.
  10. Practice culture and PM standards — shape through rituals, templates, and example.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted document drafting — uses an LLM to generate first-draft project plans, meeting summaries, and status reports, then reviews and corrects outputs before distribution Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Industry trend monitoring — prompts an AI assistant to surface recent news and deal activity in relevant sectors, reducing manual research time while spot-checking AI-retrieved facts against primary sources Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Contract and communication review — delegates routine contract clause summarization and client correspondence drafts to an AI tool, retaining responsibility for final approval and negotiation decisions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Stakeholder report compilation — directs an AI assistant to aggregate project data and format progress reports, then applies critical thinking to validate figures and adjust narrative framing before delivery WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Scheduling and task tracking — uses AI-generated schedule drafts and dependency analyses to accelerate planning cycles, manually verifying resource assumptions and deadline logic before committing to a project baseline Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. Multi-document synthesis — orchestrates an AI assistant to cross-reference contracts, scope statements, and client briefs simultaneously, extracting conflicts and gaps that the specialist resolves through judgment and stakeholder dialogue Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Risk identification workflow — supplies an AI tool with project parameters to generate an initial risk register, then evaluates each flagged risk for organizational context and likelihood, accepting, modifying, or rejecting items with documented rationale Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  3. Client evaluation support — uses AI-assisted transcript analysis after auditions or interviews to surface candidate patterns, while retaining sole authority over selection decisions that require active listening and relational judgment Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  4. Time-savings reallocation — leverages the roughly 55 % time reduction AI delivers on routine documentation tasks to redirect specialist capacity toward high-stakes negotiation and stakeholder relationship management Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. AI autonomy governance — sets delegation boundaries for AI agents handling administrative project tasks, defining the 19 % of workflow steps appropriate for near-autonomous execution versus the majority requiring human oversight and sign-off Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Workflow architecture design — architects end-to-end project management processes that embed AI at augmentation touchpoints, ensuring human judgment anchors active listening, decision making, and contract enforcement in line with Q2 augmentation positioning Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Quality calibration and feedback loops — establishes evaluation criteria and iterative prompt refinement protocols so AI outputs for project documentation and analysis continuously improve in accuracy and relevance across engagements Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  4. Cross-functional AI integration — leads adoption of AI-assisted project tools across specialist teams, coaching colleagues on appropriate delegation limits and maintaining accountability for outcomes where AI autonomy scores remain low Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 48
Augment share: 76.3%
Time saved: 55.3%
AI autonomy: 0.27
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Active Listening
Score: 42.2 / 100
Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmented
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Data Science and Analysis
data_science_and_analysis
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication13 statements
Emerging
  1. Stakeholder status updates — drafts basic project status emails using standard templates to inform team members of progress milestones Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Meeting facilitation — prepares agenda items and distributes meeting notes for routine project team check-ins Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Scope documentation — summarizes project requirements in plain language from technical briefs for non-specialist audiences O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Risk communication — conveys project risks and mitigation options clearly to sponsors and stakeholders through written reports and verbal briefings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Client expectation alignment — conducts structured intake conversations to elicit project goals, constraints, and success criteria from clients Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Cross-functional messaging — tailors project updates in tone and detail for audiences ranging from executive sponsors to front-line contributors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Executive project briefings — delivers concise, data-supported presentations to senior leadership synthesizing schedule, budget, and risk status Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Contract communication — negotiates and documents scope changes through formal change-order correspondence aligned to contract terms O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Conflict mediation — facilitates structured conversations among competing stakeholders to reach documented project decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Lessons-learned reporting — authors comprehensive post-project reports that communicate outcomes, variances, and recommendations across the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational communication strategy — designs project communication frameworks and templates adopted across the PMO for consistent stakeholder engagement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Executive influence messaging — shapes organizational narratives around program investment decisions using evidence-based briefings to C-suite audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. PM communication coaching — mentors junior project managers on audience analysis, written precision, and difficult-conversation facilitation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
2Leadership13 statements
Emerging
  1. Task ownership — accepts assigned project action items and follows through to completion without requiring repeated follow-up Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Team coordination support — assists senior project managers in tracking team member assignments and escalating blockers promptly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Initiative documentation — identifies gaps in project tracking tools and proposes simple improvements to the project manager Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Workstream leadership — leads discrete project workstreams by setting task priorities, removing obstacles, and holding contributors accountable to deadlines Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Vendor accountability — directs vendor activities against contracted deliverables, escalating performance issues through appropriate channels O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Team motivation — recognizes team contributions during project milestones and sustains momentum through schedule pressure or scope changes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Project governance leadership — establishes and chairs project steering committees, driving governance decisions and maintaining sponsor engagement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Resource mobilization — secures and allocates cross-functional resources across competing project priorities through negotiation with functional managers Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Change leadership — leads organizational change initiatives embedded within project delivery, preparing stakeholders for adoption and managing resistance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Crisis response leadership — takes decisive command during project crises, coordinating rapid response teams and communicating recovery plans to leadership Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. PMO vision leadership — defines PMO strategic direction, methodology standards, and maturity roadmaps that elevate delivery capability organization-wide Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Mentorship program design — creates structured mentorship pathways for developing project managers within the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Portfolio leadership — leads a portfolio of interdependent projects, balancing strategic alignment, resource constraints, and executive expectations simultaneously Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition12 statements
Emerging
  1. Personal performance reflection — reviews completed project tasks to identify what planning or execution approaches worked and what did not Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Learning gap identification — recognizes specific PM methodology knowledge gaps and seeks targeted training or mentoring to address them Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Estimation self-monitoring — tracks own task duration estimates against actuals to improve forecasting accuracy over successive projects Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Cognitive bias awareness — identifies when anchoring or optimism bias is influencing project schedule or budget estimates and applies corrective techniques Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Problem-solving strategy review — pauses mid-project to assess whether the current approach to a complex problem remains optimal given new information Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Feedback integration — systematically incorporates lessons from peer and sponsor feedback into adjustments to personal project management practice Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Planning assumption auditing — builds formal assumption-review checkpoints into project schedules to surface and challenge implicit reasoning before decisions solidify Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Decision journal practice — maintains records of key project decisions, rationale, and outcomes to calibrate future judgment across similar project contexts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Stress-response self-regulation — recognizes personal cognitive load limits during multi-project periods and restructures priorities to maintain decision quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Metacognitive culture building — embeds structured reflection practices such as pre-mortems and decision reviews into PMO standard operating procedures Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Expertise modeling — articulates own expert project management reasoning processes explicitly to accelerate learning for developing practitioners Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Systemic blind-spot analysis — examines personal and organizational cognitive patterns that have historically led to project failures and redesigns processes to counteract them Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking13 statements
Emerging
  1. Requirement gap identification — reviews project charters and scope documents to surface missing, ambiguous, or conflicting requirements before planning begins Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Schedule logic review — examines draft project schedules to identify sequencing errors or missing dependencies O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Assumption listing — documents explicit project assumptions and flags those with highest uncertainty for senior review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Risk probability analysis — evaluates identified project risks using qualitative and quantitative methods to prioritize mitigation investment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Vendor proposal evaluation — applies structured scoring criteria to compare competing vendor bids, identifying hidden cost and performance risks O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Root cause analysis — conducts structured cause-and-effect analysis when project variances occur to isolate systemic rather than symptomatic problems Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Business case scrutiny — critically evaluates project business cases for unrealistic benefit projections, under-estimated costs, or flawed logic before endorsing Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Trade-off analysis — constructs and presents objective analyses of scope, schedule, and budget trade-offs to support executive decision-making Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Constraint conflict resolution — identifies mutually exclusive project constraints and develops reasoned prioritization frameworks endorsed by sponsors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Earned value interpretation — analyzes earned value metrics to distinguish temporary schedule variance from structural delivery problems requiring re-baseline O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Portfolio decision modeling — applies multi-criteria decision analysis frameworks to prioritize project investments across a portfolio under resource constraints Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Methodology critical evaluation — assesses fitness of PMBOK, Agile, and hybrid frameworks for specific organizational contexts rather than applying them prescriptively Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Systemic failure analysis — leads cross-project retrospectives to identify organizational patterns driving repeated failures and develops evidence-based remediation plans Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration13 statements
Emerging
  1. Cross-functional coordination — participates constructively in project team meetings, clarifies assigned responsibilities, and shares relevant updates proactively Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Document co-creation — contributes to shared project planning documents in collaborative tools, respecting version control and team conventions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Perspective solicitation — actively seeks input from subject matter experts outside own domain when developing project plans Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Stakeholder alignment facilitation — convenes cross-functional working sessions to build consensus on project scope, milestones, and responsibilities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict navigation — identifies interpersonal conflicts within project teams early and facilitates structured resolution conversations to restore productive collaboration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Shared accountability creation — co-develops RACI matrices with team leads to ensure clear ownership while preserving collaborative decision-making norms Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Multi-vendor collaboration management — orchestrates collaboration among competing vendors and internal teams within the same project delivery environment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Distributed team cohesion — sustains collaborative engagement across geographically distributed project teams through structured virtual collaboration practices Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Executive-team bridging — translates executive strategic expectations into actionable team commitments, maintaining alignment in both directions simultaneously Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Joint problem-solving leadership — leads cross-functional war rooms during project crises, integrating diverse expertise toward rapid collaborative resolution Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Collaboration framework design — designs PMO-wide collaboration protocols and tooling standards that measurably improve cross-project team effectiveness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Inter-organizational partnership management — manages collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries including clients, regulators, and strategic partners on complex programs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Team dynamics coaching — coaches project managers on diagnosing and improving dysfunctional team dynamics using evidence-based group effectiveness frameworks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character13 statements
Emerging
  1. Commitment reliability — meets personal project deadlines and communicates proactively when obstacles threaten delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Ethical contract conduct — handles client fee structures, payment terms, and confidential information in strict accordance with contract and organizational policy O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Transparent reporting — reports project status accurately, including unfavorable variances, without omission or distortion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Stakeholder trust building — maintains consistent, honest communication with clients and sponsors even when delivering unwelcome project news Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict of interest management — identifies and discloses potential conflicts of interest in vendor selection or resource allocation decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Accountability modeling — accepts personal responsibility for project management errors and leads transparent corrective action rather than deflecting blame Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Ethical procurement leadership — applies rigorous ethical standards to competitive bidding processes, preventing favoritism and ensuring regulatory compliance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional standard maintenance — upholds PMI or equivalent professional code of ethics across all project engagements and challenges peers when standards are breached Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Sensitive information stewardship — protects client confidential business information and proprietary project data with disciplined information security practices O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Organizational integrity advocacy — escalates observed unethical project practices to appropriate leadership through proper channels regardless of political risk Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Ethics culture leadership — establishes ethical decision-making frameworks and training within the PMO that shape organizational professional standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Trust capital management — maintains a track record of integrity across high-stakes client and executive relationships that directly enables organizational reputation and repeat business Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Professional community contribution — contributes to the advancement of project management professional standards through published work, certification development, or professional association leadership Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
7Creativity13 statements
Emerging
  1. Alternative scheduling — proposes alternative task sequencing options when standard critical-path approaches create unacceptable schedule risk Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Problem reframing — reframes a project constraint as an opportunity during team brainstorming, generating options the team had not previously considered Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Template innovation — suggests improvements to existing project tracking templates that improve utility for the team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Novel risk mitigation design — develops creative contingency strategies for high-impact risks where standard mitigation approaches are unavailable or insufficient Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder engagement innovation — designs non-standard stakeholder engagement approaches to improve buy-in from resistant or disengaged groups Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Resource constraint workarounds — engineers unconventional resource solutions when budget or headcount constraints threaten project viability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Methodology hybridization — designs custom project delivery frameworks that blend Agile, waterfall, and other methodologies to fit unique project contexts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Complex problem reframing — redefines intractable project problems in ways that open solution spaces previously invisible to the project team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Creative scope negotiation — develops innovative scope trade-off packages that satisfy both client value requirements and delivery team feasibility constraints Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Recovery plan innovation — designs creative project recovery plans under severe triple-constraint pressure that preserve core business value delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Delivery model innovation — pioneers new project delivery models within the organization that achieve measurably better outcomes than predecessor approaches Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Industry practice contribution — develops and publishes novel project management tools, techniques, or frameworks adopted beyond the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Creative PMO design — architects PMO structures and governance models that creatively balance standardization with adaptive flexibility for the organization's unique context Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset13 statements
Emerging
  1. Failure learning orientation — documents what went wrong after project missteps and applies specific lessons to the next planning cycle without defensiveness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Skill stretch acceptance — volunteers for project assignments that require developing unfamiliar PM competencies rather than staying within established strengths Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Feedback receptivity — actively solicits and applies sponsor and team feedback on personal project management performance at project close Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Complexity escalation — actively seeks progressively more complex project assignments to accelerate professional development Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Industry trend engagement — continuously tracks emerging project management methodologies and tools, integrating relevant practices into current work O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Setback reframing — responds to project setbacks by analyzing recovery options and communicating a constructive path forward to the team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Certification and learning investment — pursues advanced PM credentials and continuing education proactively to maintain currency with evolving industry standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. High-difficulty project pursuit — accepts assignment to troubled or high-risk projects as development opportunities rather than reputation risks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Learning culture modeling — normalizes experimentation and learning from failure within the project team by transparently sharing own lessons and growth areas Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Cross-industry method adoption — applies project management practices imported from different industries to solve persistent delivery problems in current context Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. PMO learning system design — creates organizational after-action review and knowledge management systems that institutionalize growth mindset at the PMO level Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Adversity-to-innovation conversion — transforms significant project failures into published case studies and training materials that advance organizational learning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Growth mindset mentorship — coaches project managers experiencing career setbacks to reframe failures as developmental data and reconstruct forward momentum Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness13 statements
Emerging
  1. Meeting presence discipline — enters project meetings having reviewed prior notes and eliminates distractions to maintain full attention on agenda items Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotional response awareness — notices own frustration or anxiety during project pressure and pauses before responding to prevent reactive communication Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Workload monitoring — tracks personal task volume against capacity and signals overload risk to supervisor before quality degrades Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Intentional prioritization — applies deliberate daily prioritization to project management tasks rather than reacting to the loudest stakeholder demand Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder emotional awareness — reads stakeholder emotional states during project conversations and adjusts communication approach in real time to maintain trust Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Pressure-response regulation — maintains analytical effectiveness during project crises by applying structured stress-management practices before critical decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Multi-project attention management — sustains focused, high-quality attention across simultaneous project portfolios through disciplined scheduling and task-switching protocols Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Difficult conversation intentionality — enters high-stakes sponsor or team conversations with clearly defined intent, anticipated emotional dynamics, and a composed communication plan Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Decision-making pause practice — builds deliberate reflection pauses before committing to major project decisions to prevent reactive or impulsive choices Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Team psychological safety awareness — monitors team interaction patterns mindfully to detect emerging psychological safety erosion before it impacts delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational mindfulness culture — integrates mindfulness-based practices into PMO team norms and project manager development curricula Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Crisis composure leadership — models deliberate composure and intentional decision-making visible to the entire organization during program-level crises Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Mindful stakeholder ecosystem management — maintains grounded, present-focused awareness of complex multi-stakeholder political dynamics across a program portfolio Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude13 statements
Emerging
  1. Deadline persistence — sustains effort on project deliverables through overtime or weekend work when schedule demands require it without abandoning quality standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Ambiguity tolerance — continues productive project planning work despite incomplete requirements rather than stalling until all information is available Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Early setback recovery — rebounds constructively after initial project planning errors by revising the approach and continuing without prolonged discouragement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Prolonged pressure endurance — maintains consistent project management rigor across multi-month delivery cycles under continuous stakeholder scrutiny Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Unpopular decision courage — delivers accurate but unwelcome project status assessments to sponsors and executives without softening findings to avoid conflict Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Scope pressure resistance — holds defined project scope boundaries against stakeholder pressure for uncontrolled expansion, escalating formally when necessary Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Troubled project turnaround — accepts and sustains leadership of severely distressed projects, rebuilding team confidence and delivery discipline under organizational scrutiny Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Repeated adversity recovery — demonstrates consistent resilience pattern across multiple project crises within a program, maintaining team trust and executive confidence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Organizational resistance navigation — drives project delivery forward through sustained organizational resistance, politics, and competing priorities without losing strategic focus Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Long-horizon program endurance — sustains personal motivation and organizational momentum across multi-year program timelines through inevitable setbacks and resource disruptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. High-stakes program courage — accepts enterprise-critical program leadership under conditions of high public visibility, regulatory risk, and organizational consequence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Resilience culture building — designs PMO practices and team rituals that systematically build collective resilience and perseverance across project delivery teams Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Career-risk advocacy — champions necessary but politically difficult project decisions at executive level, accepting personal career risk in service of organizational and client outcomes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Related titles
Design Project Management Specialist · Grant Assistant · Human Resources Project Manager (HR Project Manager) · Implementation Project Manager · Implementations Management Specialist · Movie Project Management Specialist · Planning Development Specialist · Project Administrator · Project Communications Officer · Project Controller · Project Coordinator · Project Delivery Manager
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingActive Learning
Knowledge domains
English LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsAdministration and ManagementComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentAdministrativeEconomics and Accounting
Abilities
Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionInductive Reasoning
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityIntegrityCautiousnessAchievement OrientationPerseverance
Technology
Word processing softwareDocument management softwareDesktop publishing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareHuman resources softwareData base user interface and query softwarePresentation softwareOperating system softwareCloud-based data access and sharing softwareEnterprise application integration software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
  2. Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, spons
  3. Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
  4. Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
CIP education codes
11.100552.010152.020152.021152.021652.2002

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.