Human Resources Project Manager Job Description
Table of Contents
A Human Resources Project Manager plans, runs, and delivers projects designed to improve the HR function in an organization. In addition to expert HR knowledge and experience, a Human Resources Project Manager is also an adept project manager, able to plan a project, set timelines and milestones, allocate resources, manage budgets, and deliver results.
The HR Project Manager’s role combines a deep understanding of all aspects of HR at the management level with the vision, planning ability, and drive to generate positive change in as efficient a way as possible.
Similar Job Titles:
HR Consultant, Human Resources Team Leader, Human Resources Development Manager, Assistant Director of Human Resources
What Does a Human Resources Project Manager Typically Do?
A Human Resources Project Manager plans, launches, manages, and completes HR-related projects to boost HR effectiveness in an organization. This is a multifaceted role that encompasses:
- Identifying HR improvement opportunities
- Formulating a project charter
- Designing a project plan
- Recruiting required resources
- Securing required budgets
- Launching projects
- Managing projects
- Communicating progress across the board
- Ensuring result delivery on time, spec, and budget
- Closing out projects
- Running lessons learned procedures
Identifying HR Improvement Opportunities
The Human Resources Project Manager must have an understanding of all the organization’s HR functions and the metrics used to measure their success. On the basis of this, opportunities for improvement are identified, quantified, and prioritized.
Formulating a Project Charter
A project charter states the overall aim of the project and typically focuses on the benefit that its execution will bring. The project charter is owned by the Human Resources Project Manager and the HR Manager/Director and limits the chance of scope creep in the project.
Designing a Project Plan
A project plan must include timelines, resources, and budgets and must be detailed, thorough, and realistic. The deeper the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) level used, the better the chances of the plan succeeding, so the Human Resources Project Manager must be adept at WBS, Monte Carlo, Critical Path to Success, and Earned Value calculations.
Recruiting Required Resources
The Human Resources Project Manager must assemble the right team to deliver the project, taking into account not just skills and knowledge but also personality and cohesiveness. In some instances, the Human Resources Project Manager has to negotiate with line managers to free up the required resources.
Securing Required Budgets
The required budgets must be calculated in-depth and negotiated with the HR Director or Finance Manager. An HR Project Manager may be required to present several alternatives and determine which one is the most cost-effective, together with other internal stakeholders.
Launching Projects
At project inception, the Human Resources Project Manager must ensure that all stakeholders understand the project charter, project scope, planned timelines, and expected outcomes. In particular, all stakeholders must understand how the project will affect them throughout its duration and after closeout.
Managing Projects
The Human Resources Project Manager must run daily, weekly, monthly, and milestone meetings to ensure the project stays on track. This also requires ongoing financial reporting, resource use reporting, and any potential issues that may be identified. The Human Resources Project Manager is also responsible for ensuring that any issues are resolved swiftly and efficiently.
Communicating Progress Across the Board
Communicating progress involves the regular preparation and dissemination of progress reports to all stakeholders, direct and indirect, and includes management reporting, financial reporting, and PR/IR reporting to ensure ongoing support for the project.
Ensuring Result Delivery on Time, Spec, and Budget
The project results should be a logical follow-on from good planning and management of the project.
Closing Out Projects
The Human Resources Project Manager must develop metrics to track the empirical benefit of the changes brought about by the project prior to handover to the HR Director or HR Manager. Empirical benefits could include increased productivity, reduced cost-of-quality, direct profit impact, or more efficiency in HR processes.
Running Lessons Learned Procedures
Every project should conclude with a breakdown of what worked and what could be improved, with input from all possible stakeholders. The Human Resources Project Manager should collate this learning and use it as a reference for future project planning.
Roles a Human Resources Project Manager Typically Collaborates With
A Human Resources Project Manager will work closely with the following posts:
| Collaborative Roles | ||
| Senior HR Business Partner | HR Manager | Payroll Manager |
| HR and Administration Manager | HR Operations Manager | Recruiting Manager |
Human Resources Project Manager Salary
The national average salary for a Human Resources Project Manager will typically be between $76,000 and $125,000 per annum in the U.S. The median is around $99,600.
What Is the Human Resources Project Manager Pay Difference by Location?
Average salaries for a Human Resources Project Manager differ by location as follows:
| City | Average Salary |
| San Francisco, CA | $124,500 |
| Seattle, WA | $108,900 |
| Denver, CO | $100,700 |
| Austin, TX | $98,000 |
| Washington, DC | $110,900 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $98,600 |
| Boston, MA | $112,200 |
| New York, NY | $119,800 |
What Is the Human Resources Project Manager Pay Difference by Experience Level?
Depending on experience, pay will vary as follows:
| Experience Level | Average Salary |
| < 1 year | $95,085 |
| 1–4 years | $95,627 |
| 5–9 years | $97,433 |
| 10–19 years | $102,533 |
| 20+ years | $103,510 |
Human Resources Project Manager Job Description Template
[Company Name] is looking for an experienced, resourceful, and results-driven Human Resources Project Manager to deliver long-term benefit to our HR environment.
As a Human Resources Project Manager with [Company Name], you will help identify opportunities for improvement and will plan, lead, and manage projects that significantly grow our capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness in HR.
You will ideally be a senior-level HR practitioner with expert project management skills, able to plan and deliver while ensuring minimum disruption to business processes. You will be results-oriented, thorough, and able to execute projects within agreed-upon deadlines.
Responsibilities
The Human Resources Project Manager’s tasks will include but are not limited to:
- Identifying opportunities for growth within the HR function
- Planning improvement projects, including timelines, budgets, resources, milestones, and CPS
- Recruiting and leading project delivery teams from within the company
- Managing projects to successful completion within designated parameters
- Closing out and handing over projects to ensure sustainability
Required Skill Set
The Human Resources Project Manager should possess the following qualifications, skills, and attributes:
- Bachelor’s Degree in HR
- MBA or similar preferable
- Recognized project management qualification
- At least five years’ project management and ten years’ HR experience
- Expert computer literacy, including project management software
- Proven team leadership ability
- Ability to work under deadline pressure
- Excellent administrative skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Conflict-resolution and problem-solving ability
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