What Does a UX Project Manager Do?

Key takeaways

UX project managers lead teams to create user‑friendly digital products by blending UX design principles with project management techniques.

• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects a 7 percent employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average [1].

• Besides strategic planning, essential technical skills for UX project managers include proficiency in using project management software, graphic design programs, and customer research tools.

• You can move into UX project management by building design expertise, gaining leadership skills, and pursuing training in project management methods.

Take a closer look at what UX project managers do, including the skills and qualifications needed to pursue this role. Then, consider enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you can develop the skills needed to succeed in an entry-level project management role, including the foundations of Agile project management with a focus on implementing Scrum events. You can also practice strategic communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management through real-world scenarios.

What is UX project management?

UX design project management, also known as user experience management, is a discipline that combines UX design approaches with traditional project management techniques and processes to effectively create a product that meets user expectations.

What does a UX project manager do?

A UX project manager oversees the process and project team that strives to enhance a person's experience using a digital product, such as an application, website, or online stream. As a project manager, you seek to use the team's individual strengths to launch a product that is enjoyable, interactive, and user-friendly. You'll typically manage a team that may include UX designers, web designers, researchers, and other professionals.

In this role, your ultimate focus is the human experience and how your product is optimized for maximum enjoyment. You'll also focus on business aspects, such as how you:

• Grow the project

• Attract investment

• Increase demand

• Increase sales and revenue

UX project manager duties and responsibilities

The duties of a UX project manager vary depending on the product or service you work on, the scale of your project, and your team. In general, you will likely have the following responsibilities:

• Managing the user experience of a website, app, or other digital product that includes user engagement

• Developing strategies to combine the skills of all disciplines involved in creating a user experience

• Facilitating collaboration between various creative professionals

• Moving a UX product through its lifecycle with the best possible result

• Leading user research and analysis, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing

• Using effective project management methodologies, such as Waterfall or Agile

• Keeping open communication channels with the whole team in order to work together

• Setting clear roles and responsibilities within the team

• Looking for investment opportunities

• Monitoring budgets and increasing revenue

• Communicating with stakeholders

Read more: What Is Stakeholder Management?

UX project manager skills

Working as a UX project manager involves combining the technical skills and understanding of UX design with the skills of a project manager. Workplace and technical skills are essential to this role, which involves working closely with people. These skills include the following:

Technical skills

• Project management

• UX design

• Strategic planning

• Adhering to standards 

• Project management software

• Agile and Waterfall methodologies

• Graphic design programs

• Spreadsheets

• Visual design

• Testing

• Wireframes

• Prototyping

• Customer research tools

Workplace skills

• Attention to detail

• Analytical thinking

• Problem-solving

• Collaboration and teamwork

• Communication and listening 

• Ability to meet targets and deadlines

• Leadership

• Delegation

• Stress management

• Organization 

Why are project managers necessary when working in UX design?

Project managers are important in UX design because they oversee the entire user design process, including coordinating teams, speaking to customers, and developing strategies.

They ensure that projects function with a high level of quality assurance and that a suitable project methodology is chosen.

UX project manager salary and job outlook

Project management within UX design is growing, given the need for organization and facilitation between a multidisciplinary team. UX designers have the technical skills but not necessarily the project management skills needed to bring a project together, so a professional skilled in both is essential for this role.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for digital designers, which includes UX designers, is excellent. BLS expects a 7 percent growth rate from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average [1]. Project management specialists also have an average job outlook of 6 percent, which is faster than the average of 3 percent for all jobs in the US [2].

Building project management skills as a UX designer is a great form of professional development and an excellent way to combine these career paths. According to Payscale, UX designers in the US earn an average annual salary of $82,808, but a UX designer with project manager skills earns an increased average annual salary of $86,820 [3,4]. According to Glassdoor, a UX project manager's median total pay is $134,000 [5]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

How to be a UX project manager

UX project management is an effective way to use your digital design skills and build on them to advance in your career. With a bachelor’s degree, skills, and experience, UX designers can advance into management positions.

To work as a UX project manager, you need a unique blend of technical and workplace skills to manage project goals and outcomes. Let’s take a look in more detail at the education, training, and experience you need to work as a UX design project manager.

Education and training

The position of UX project manager is generally a progression from the role of UX designer. To work as a UX designer, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant major such as computer science, design, or communications. However, a degree isn’t your only option, and it’s possible to enter the field of UX design through boot camps, gaining experience, and self-directed learning.

To step up into UX management, you generally need a bachelor's degree. Sometimes, employers may expect you to have a master’s degree. Project management also requires additional training and certifications, most widely in project management methodologies, which are integral to the role.

UX project managers may use various project management methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and Lean UX, so you may need training and certifications to match.

Certifications to consider include:

• CompTIA Project+

• PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)

• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Experience

To work in a management position, you must demonstrate UX design experience and leadership capacity. Depending on your employer and abilities, this could take up to 10 years or more.

It’s also essential that you have experience in leadership roles, managing people, and projects. This might be an entry-level role, an internship, taking on extra responsibility as a UX designer, shadowing senior positions, or becoming a mentor to less experienced colleagues. 

Build your career skills using our free resources

Career growth is closer than you think. If you're considering a new career trajectory or looking to strengthen existing skills, then check out our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat. You can also check out some of our free resources below:

• Watch on YouTube: How to Become a Project Manager: 6 Essential Steps

• Learn the terminology: Glossary of UX Terms and Definitions

• Take a career quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

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