Manage Technical Projects

If you have organisational skills and basic technical knowledge, you can manage projects for technical companies.

• Manage Technical Projects
• The Big Takeaway
• Business Model Breakdown
• Software
• Service
• Income
• Simple finances (per billed hour)
• Time to hit milestones (using €70 net per billed hour)

If you’ve ever walked on a building site where there was an incompetent project manager or no project manager at all to save money, you know that working on that project is just a shitshow.

Subcontractors get in each other’s way, materials are scattered around the site, material deliveries arrive too late or too early, the client gets annoyed and you see the profit and a potential bonus go down the drain.

It’s not fun to work like that. It’s stressful.

On the other hand, with a capable project manager, the project runs smoothly, the building site has good vibes, the client is motivated to hire your team for the next project, and the business earns money, so you can earn more money.

It’s fun and rewarding to see the project being built.

It turned out that on top of design skills, I had also organisational skills. So multiple projects I have designed, I also project managed.

That actually worked really well. I knew the systems I designed so well that I could clearly explain to the subcontractors what to build and when.

I see myself more as an engineer than a project manager. That makes me not really pursue managing a projects actively.

But it can be a nice add-on when I could use the extra work and they are willing to pay the fee I ask.

The Big Takeaway

When you understand enough of the technical work to ask the right questions and you have organisational skills, you can become incredibly valuable to a client. Often, you get hired to do one thing, like a design, and then they ask if you can also take on more, like managing the project. That second ask can be a really nice opportunity when you have the capacity for the extra work and you're confident you can deliver it well. Communicate clearly with the project team and keep the client confident.

Business Model Breakdown

Here is a simple breakdown of how this business model works. The numbers below are fairly accurate, but they will fluctuate depending on your hourly rate and how efficiently the project runs.

Software

Notion or Excel to create a professional-looking planning.

Service

Help businesses deliver projects on the agreed timeline and budget. Attend key meetings, make sure team members do their work and update the client regularly on progress.

Income

Start by charging an hourly rate. As you gain experience, consider retainer work or fixed-price projects.

Simple finances (per billed hour)

Time to hit milestones (using €70 net per billed hour)

Gantt chart of a project I managed.