What Do Program Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for program specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what program specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Program Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about program specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Program Specialists all managers not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Program Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Program Managers
- Project Coordinators
- Managers
- Technical Program Managers
- Program Coordinators
- Supervisors
- Program Directors
- Site Managers
- Shift Supervisors
- Compliance Managers
- Proposal Managers
- Field Supervisors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for program specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Program Specialists
Program Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 13.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.7%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 6.7%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.9%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 3.3%
- Federal Government, Military: 3.3%
- Other: 62.7%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of program specialists can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2022, about 13.4% of all jobs for program specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.7%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (6.7%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.9%), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3.3%) and Federal Government, Military (3.3%).
What Do Program Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what program specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work program specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that program specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for program specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Program Specialists
Based on 955,147 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Program Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 256,159 | 27% |
| Marketing | 120,709 | 13% |
| Auditing | 105,772 | 11% |
| Finance | 90,900 | 10% |
| Process Improvement | 73,693 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Program Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 498,666 | 52% |
| Management | 469,890 | 49% |
| Leadership | 367,436 | 38% |
| Operations | 324,178 | 34% |
| Planning | 236,845 | 25% |
Based on 955,147 job postings related to program specialists, project management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for marketing, auditing, finance, process improvement and accounting were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for program specialists, followed by management, leadership, operations, planning and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 256,159 | 27% |
| Marketing | 120,709 | 13% |
| Auditing | 105,772 | 11% |
| Finance | 90,900 | 10% |
| Process Improvement | 73,693 | 8% |
| Accounting | 67,504 | 7% |
| Workflow Management | 62,789 | 7% |
| Data Analysis | 59,709 | 6% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 52,850 | 6% |
| Agile Methodology | 50,068 | 5% |
| Business Development | 44,769 | 5% |
| Risk Management | 44,663 | 5% |
| Change Management | 42,260 | 4% |
| New Product Development | 42,016 | 4% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 39,610 | 4% |
| Procurement | 38,645 | 4% |
| Invoicing | 38,630 | 4% |
| Computer Science | 38,374 | 4% |
| Milestones (Project Management) | 37,569 | 4% |
| Business Process | 34,549 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 498,666 | 52% |
| Management | 469,890 | 49% |
| Leadership | 367,436 | 38% |
| Operations | 324,178 | 34% |
| Planning | 236,845 | 25% |
| Customer Service | 231,424 | 24% |
| Problem Solving | 196,524 | 21% |
| Program Management | 194,287 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 179,779 | 19% |
| Writing | 178,178 | 19% |
| Detail Oriented | 164,161 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 160,226 | 17% |
| Sales | 155,010 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 145,183 | 15% |
| Presentations | 133,275 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 120,247 | 13% |
| Research | 119,383 | 12% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 109,052 | 11% |
| Scheduling | 107,623 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 107,379 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Program Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Program Managers | 129,114 | 27.1% |
| Project Coordinators | 92,472 | 19.4% |
| Managers | 25,020 | 5.2% |
| Technical Program Managers | 22,551 | 4.7% |
| Program Coordinators | 28,460 | 6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was program managers, with 53,291 unique job postings. Project coordinators were second, with 10,431 postings, followed by managers, technical program managers and program coordinators.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to program specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Program Managers | 129,114 | 27.1% |
| Project Coordinators | 92,472 | 19.4% |
| Managers | 25,020 | 5.2% |
| Technical Program Managers | 22,551 | 4.7% |
| Program Coordinators | 28,460 | 6% |
| Supervisors | 18,891 | 4% |
| Program Directors | 14,282 | 3% |
| Site Managers | 14,339 | 3% |
| Shift Supervisors | 17,865 | 3.7% |
| Compliance Managers | 12,687 | 2.7% |
| Proposal Managers | 9,210 | 1.9% |
| Field Supervisors | 10,766 | 2.3% |
| Project Administrators | 11,476 | 2.4% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 9,464 | 2% |
| Program Specialists | 11,323 | 2.4% |
| Program Administrators | 9,648 | 2% |
| Environmental Health and Safety Managers | 10,682 | 2.2% |
| Site Supervisors | 10,343 | 2.2% |
| Project Specialists | 9,379 | 2% |
| Relationship Managers | 8,828 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for program specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for program specialists.
How much do program specialists make?
Program Specialists: How do you become one?
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