Job Profile
Project Leader/
Project Lead (m/f/d)
what is a project lead?
Project leaders also bear a great deal of responsibility for their team and are in constant communication with their superiors and stakeholders significantly involved in the project. Leadership skills are just as much a part of being a project lead as the ability to create schedules, plan resources and keep an eye on the costs and risks involved until the project is completed.
The terms project lead and project manager are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, however, there are differences in responsibilities and competencies. While project leaders are actually concerned with exercising their leadership skills, project managers are primarily responsible for controlling, coordinating and organizing projects.
what is the difference to a project manager?
Project lead
- Take primary responsibility for the project.
- Have management responsibility, personnel responsibility,
- a say in team composition and budget responsibility.
- Are entrusted with the technical tasks of a project.
Project manager
- Mainly take care of management tasks.
- Only have limited decision-making authority and often have to seek backing and support "from above".
- Are primarily entrusted with coordinating, controlling, organizing and executing.
Profile overview - THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE
Education
Soft skills
- Communication skills
- Leadership competence
- Emotional intelligence
- Ability to deal with conflict
Preferred study programs
- Economics
- Engineering science
- Technology management
Average annual salary
Additional know-how
- Project management
- Corporate management
- Personnel planning/management
- Cost and activity accounting
Similar professions
- Project manager
- Project coordinator
- Team leader
Profile overview - THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE
Education
Soft skills
- Communication skills
- Leadership competence
- Emotional intelligence
- Ability to deal with conflict
Preferred study programs
- Economics
- Engineering science
- Technology management
Average annual salary
Additional know-how
- Project management
- Corporate management
- Personnel planning/management
- Cost and activity accounting
Similar professions
- Project manager
- Project coordinator
- Team leader
Profile overview - THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE
Education
Soft skills
- Communication skills
- Leadership competence
- Emotional intelligence
- Ability to deal with conflict
Preferred study programs
- Economics
- Engineering science
- Technology management
Average annual salary
Additional know-how
- Project management
- Corporate management
- Personnel planning/management
- Cost and activity accounting
Similar professions
- Project manager
- Project coordinator
- Team leader
Are you looking for a job as a project lead (m/f/d)?
Are you looking for a project lead (m/f/d)?
Are you looking for an exciting project as a project lead (m/f/d)?
Project leader tasks and activities
Project leads have different tasks depending on the phase of the project. Find out more about the job description
Start phase
- Setting up and managing the team
- Creation of a project plan (deadlines, process, budget)
- Assessment of risks
- Definition of sub-steps
- Coordination of tasks and responsibilities
Project implementation
- Budget monitoring
- Adherence to deadlines
- Conflict resolution with the team or project partners
- Motivation of the team
- Communication with customers, partners, clients, superiors
- Compliance with rules, guidelines, specifications
- Project documentation
Final phase
- Final costing
- Create final report
- Presentation of the project
Competencies of the project lead
- Professional competence
The expertise required varies depending on the type of project. The project lead does not necessarily have to be an expert in the respective field. However, he must have an overall view and be able to assess the facts. He does not have to be better than his employees in every area. However, technical expertise alone is not enough for the role of project lead. They also need other skills.
- Social competence:
This includes, for example, the ability to lead employees, promote and coordinate teamwork, inspire employees and manage potential conflicts. These skills can be learned to a certain extent.
- Methodological competence
The main focus here is on mastering the methods required for project work, such as project planning, problem-solving methods, creativity methods, time management, presentation and moderation skills.
- Personal competence
Ability to work in a team, initiative, creativity, reliability, negotiating skills, resilience, assertiveness, frustration and stress tolerance.
project lead Salary: How much does a project lead Earn?
The size of the company is also decisive when it comes to earnings in project management and project leadership. This is because large companies with more than 500 employees often pay up to 50 percent more than small to medium-sized companies.
The project manager salary
IT project lead salary
Technical project lead salary
Project lead construction salary
project lead Salary: How much does a project lead Earn?
The size of the company is also decisive when it comes to earnings in project management and project leadership. This is because large companies with more than 500 employees often pay up to 50 percent more than small to medium-sized companies.
The project manager salary
IT project lead salary
Technical project lead salary
Project lead construction salary
Our vacancies for project leader
Our vacancies for project leader
How do you become a project leader?
Many employers entrust long-standing employees with the task of project management because they have already proven themselves in the company and have been able to demonstrate their skills.
Study - the academich path
Project management is an important skill for many professions that have to do with the planning, management and implementation of projects. A degree in project management not only provides theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills to successfully manage and design projects. You can specialize in various fields, such as IT project management, international project management or project development.
The course content usually includes the basics of business administration, project management methods and tools, project planning and controlling, risk and quality management, communication and team leadership, as well as legal and ethical aspects of project management. Depending on your specialization, you can also take courses in IT systems, intercultural competence, project financing or sustainability. In addition to the theoretical modules, you also have the opportunity to gain practical experience in projects, internships or stays abroad.
IHK project leader training (Germany)- when does it make sense?
IHK project leader training is useful if you:
- would like to improve career opportunities
- wants to expand project management skills
- Communication and leadership skills are to be strengthened
- want to make projects more efficient and successful
What skills should project leaders have?
Necessary skills for project leads:
- Analytical and planning skills
- Ability to work under pressure, flexibility, assertiveness
- Strong communication skills
- Mastery of the methodology of project management
- Compilation, development and coordination of the project team
- Communication with all stakeholders
- Conflict management in the project team and its environment
- Know-how in project management
- Leading in projects
- Agile methods such as design thinking
- IT-specific skills
Find your next challenge or employee with Hays
With our innovative "Find & Retain" concept, we bring experienced project leads with in-depth industry knowledge to the companies that suit them and need their expertise.
In our extensive pool of companies and applicant profiles, we quickly find the right match.
We match qualifications with requirements and personality with company values. As soon as we find that the skills, experience and wishes of candidates match the requirements of a job profile, we establish mutual contact. If it is clear after the interviews that a collaboration is desired, the framework conditions for this are agreed with us. Shape your professional future with us.
FAQs
The task of a project manager is to lead a project from the planning stage through to control and implementation. They define the project objectives, select the project team, monitor the project progress, make decisions, manage the budget, negotiate with stakeholders, present the project results and create the project documentation.
The task of a project manager is to lead a project from the planning stage through to control and implementation. They define the project objectives, select the project team, monitor the project progress, make decisions, manage the budget, negotiate with stakeholders, present the project results and create the project documentation.
The salary of project lead depends on various factors, such as the industry, company size, professional experience, qualifications and region. According to Glassdoor, the median annual salary as a project leaders in Germany is €71,051, with a range of €49,170 to €131,7663. The median additional pay as a project lead in Germany is €5,047, with a range of €2,530 to €8,089
The salary of project lead depends on various factors, such as the industry, company size, professional experience, qualifications and region. According to Glassdoor, the median annual salary as a project leaders in Germany is €71,051, with a range of €49,170 to €131,7663. The median additional pay as a project lead in Germany is €5,047, with a range of €2,530 to €8,089
You do not need any special training or qualifications to work as a project leader. However, a university degree in a relevant subject area (e.g. engineering, economics, computer science) or higher specialist training is often required. In many sectors, professional experience in the relevant field is also required. In addition, certificates in project management (e.g. from the International Project Management Association or the Project Management Institute) can improve your prospects on the job market.
You do not need any special training or qualifications to work as a project leader. However, a university degree in a relevant subject area (e.g. engineering, economics, computer science) or higher specialist training is often required. In many sectors, professional experience in the relevant field is also required. In addition, certificates in project management (e.g. from the International Project Management Association or the Project Management Institute) can improve your prospects on the job market.
There is no legal regulation as to who may call themselves a project manager. However, you should have the appropriate skills and experience to successfully manage a project. In addition to specialist knowledge, this also includes leadership qualities, communication skills, organizational skills, problem-solving skills and flexibility.
There is no legal regulation as to who may call themselves a project manager. However, you should have the appropriate skills and experience to successfully manage a project. In addition to specialist knowledge, this also includes leadership qualities, communication skills, organizational skills, problem-solving skills and flexibility.
Although the words project leader and project manager are synonymous in English and both are translated as project manager, there is a subtle nuance between them in German: project management often refers to the general field of expertise, while project leadership refers more to the management task in a specific project.
Although the words project leader and project manager are synonymous in English and both are translated as project manager, there is a subtle nuance between them in German: project management often refers to the general field of expertise, while project leadership refers more to the management task in a specific project.
The "real" project leader has leadership competence due to their function, while the "real" project manager is mainly responsible for the operational implementation of the project, i.e. for coordination, control, organization and execution. The project lead is the main person responsible for the project, has responsibility for personnel, can have a say in the team composition and has budget responsibility. The project manager only has limited authority and often needs support and backing from above in the event of problems and conflicts. It can therefore be said that the project leader is usually above the project manager, at least in the theory of project management. In practice, however, the roles can vary and overlap depending on the type, size and organization of the project.
The "real" project leader has leadership competence due to their function, while the "real" project manager is mainly responsible for the operational implementation of the project, i.e. for coordination, control, organization and execution. The project lead is the main person responsible for the project, has responsibility for personnel, can have a say in the team composition and has budget responsibility. The project manager only has limited authority and often needs support and backing from above in the event of problems and conflicts. It can therefore be said that the project leader is usually above the project manager, at least in the theory of project management. In practice, however, the roles can vary and overlap depending on the type, size and organization of the project.