In global development, the project manager is often the person coordinating technical teams, liaising with in-country staff and donors, and supporting programs, all the while based in a regional or headquarters office.
Managing projects remotely comes with its challenges — assessing potential hires can be problematic without those all important in-person meetings and a lack of daily interaction around the office can make it difficult for team leads to spot and tackle staff issues. Meanwhile, different time zones and limited internet access in the field can complicate daily or weekly communications.
At Tetra Tech, each project involves a project manager whose responsibilities range from overseeing the project, to new business development, to thought leadership. Supporting this is a deputy project manager based in one of the United States-based home offices, as well as a contract, grants, and procurement specialist, and an accountant.
About the author
Emma Smith
For four years, Emma Smith covered careers and recruitment, among other topics, for Devex. She now freelances for Devex and has a special interest in mental health, immigration, and sexual and reproductive health. She holds a degree in journalism from Glasgow Caledonian University and a master’s in media and international conflict.
