Who is a PRINCE2 Project Manager: A Quick Guide

Quick Look

1. A PRINCE2 Project Manager works throughout the project, from starting up and initiating to controlling stages and closing.

2. Responsibilities include managing delivery through Work Packages, reporting progress and engaging stakeholders.

3. Risks and issues are managed day to day, with the Project Board deciding when a problem is beyond the Project Manager’s authority.

4. Key skills include method knowledge, planning and control, communication, leadership and tailoring.

5. Practitioner certification, built on Foundation, helps apply and tailor PRINCE2 7 to different projects.

Every project needs someone to turn the Project Board’s direction into steady progress on the ground. In PRINCE2, that person is the Project Manager, who sits between the decision-makers above and the teams delivering the work below.

Knowing what the role covers, and where its authority ends, makes it easier to see how PRINCE2 keeps projects controlled and accountable. In this blog, let’s look at who the PRINCE2 Project Manager is and what they do.

Who is a PRINCE2 Project Manager?

A PRINCE2 Project Manager is accountable for the day-to-day management of a project on behalf of the Project Board. They coordinate plans, resources, risks, issues, delivery activities, and reporting while ensuring work remains within the tolerances agreed by the Board.

If a problem is likely to push the project beyond what the Project Board has approved, the Project Manager reports it and the Board decides what to do next. This keeps decisions with the Board and delivery with the Project Manager, so everyone knows who is accountable.

How to Become a PRINCE2 Project Manager?

Becoming a PRINCE2 Project Manager involves learning the PRINCE2 method, developing core project management capabilities, gaining practical experience, and progressing towards applying the method in real project environments. The following steps provide a practical pathway:

a) Understand the Role: Learn how the Project Manager works with the Project Board, Team Managers, Project Assurance, and Project Support.

b) Learn Project Management Fundamentals: Build an understanding of how projects are planned, governed, monitored, and delivered within structured project environments.

c) Gain a Recognised Certification: Take the PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation and Practitioner certifications. Foundation covers the principles, practices, processes and roles, while Practitioner develops the ability to apply and adapt PRINCE2 to different projects.

d) Gain Practical Project Experience: Build experience through roles such as Project Administrator, Project Coordinator, Junior Project Manager, or PMO Analyst.

e) Progress into Project Management Roles: Take on increasing responsibility for coordinating and managing project delivery within established governance structures.

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Roles and Responsibilities of a PRINCE2 Project Manager

The roles and responsibilities of a PRINCE2 Project Manager are clearly defined within the PRINCE2 Project Management method. Here is a breakdown of these core responsibilities:

1) Starting up and Initiating a Project

The Project Manager’s work begins in the Starting up a Project process, where they work with the Project Executive to prepare the Project Brief and plan the initiation stage. Once the Project Board authorises initiation, they prepare the Project Plan and the Project Initiation Documentation (PID) and set up the project controls and management approaches.

 The Project Executive remains accountable for the Business Case, while the Project Manager contributes to its preparation and updates.

2) Controlling a Stage

During each management stage, the Project Manager oversees day-to-day delivery, authorising Work Packages, monitoring progress, managing risks and issues, taking corrective actions within delegated tolerances, and issuing regular Highlight Reports to the project board.

3) Managing Product Delivery

The Project Manager coordinates the controlled flow of work with team managers through agreed Work Packages. Team managers oversee specialist product delivery, while the Project Manager tracks progress via Checkpoint Reports to maintain alignment between management and delivery levels.

4) Managing a Stage Boundary

At the end of each management stage, the Project Manager reviews stage performance, prepares the next Stage Plan, and updates the Project Plan and Business Case as required. This information enables the Project Board to assess progress and decide whether the project should continue to the next stage.

5) Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

During initiation, the Project Manager prepares the communication management approach, which sets out who needs which information, how often and through which channels.

 Throughout the project, they engage stakeholders and coordinate with Team Managers, Project Assurance and Project Support. This reflects the stronger emphasis in PRINCE2 Project Management (Version 7) on the people element and effective communication.

6) Closing the Project

Within the Closing a Project process, the Project Manager supports a controlled end by confirming product acceptance, evaluating project performance, completing the required closure activities, and recommending formal project closure to the Project Board.

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Skills Needed to be a PRINCE2 Project Manager

PRINCE2 Project Managers need a combination of method knowledge, planning, control, communication, and people-management capabilities. Key skills include:

a) Planning and Control: Develop plans, monitor progress, manage stages, coordinate resources, and maintain delivery within agreed tolerances.

b) Risk and Issue Management: Identify and assess risks and issues, take appropriate action within delegated authority, and escalate when tolerances could be exceeded.

c) Communication and Reporting: Communicate project information clearly and keep the Project Board and delivery teams informed about progress, decisions, risks, and issues.

d) Leadership and Collaboration: Coordinate people effectively, support productive working relationships, and promote collaboration across the project environment.

e) Tailoring and Adaptability: Apply and tailor PRINCE2 Project Management to suit the specific needs, size, complexity, and context of a project.

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Average Salary of PRINCE2 Project Manager

Below is a table showing the average salaries of PRINCE2 Project Managers in the specified countries:

                                                                                                                     Source: Payscale

Please note that these figures are approximate and can differ depending on experience, location, and employer.