P4.3: Project Director & Project Manager Roles

Given the complexity of major development projects and the likely timescale over which the project may emerge, the experience of ATLAS has demonstrated that two key specific roles are crucial to take forward a successful project. These roles may be performed by the same person or two people working closely together within each organisation and relate to:

• An overall ‘Project Director’ who would act as a formal spokesperson and project leader on behalf of the relevant partner organisation, with a senior decision making role. It is most likely that the Director acting on behalf of the Local Authority would also be expected to chair the overall Steering Group and have overall internal responsibility for the project;
• A ‘Project Manager’ who would act as the day-to-day individual representing the interest of the partner organisation. Again, it is most likely that a Local Authority officer would be best placed to manage the overall Steering Group and any Working Groups, co-ordinating the evaluation of information and resolution of issues.

The relative roles and responsibilities of the two positions are illustrated in the following table.

Figure P4.3: Project Director & Project Manager Roles

It is important to recognise at the outset that it will be necessary to commit a significant amount of time and resources to project management. It is recognised that many organisations suffer from limited resources, in particular in relation to allocating Project Director or Project Manager roles to individual projects. It is however crucial in relation to large development projects that time and resources are made available to guide and manage the development process in order to achieve a positive outcome. Identifying the right people for the roles is a crucial part of this.

At the outset of a project it may be necessary to undertake a skills and capacity audit to assess up front how each partner organisation will be able to take the project forward. This may reveal the need to bring in project specific resources such as through secondee, contract or consultant project management support.