What Does an Implementation Manager Do? Your 2024 Career Guide

When an organization wants to install new systems, networks, and processes, it often needs the help of an implementation team to ensure a successful transition. Within this team is an implementation manager who guides the team, acts as a client liaison, and ensures the project’s progress. 

If you’re interested in a role that combines technology, project management, customer relations, and business analytics, this might be the career for you. Learn more about implementation managers and the skills, education, and experience you'll need, as well as the salary expectations, related careers, and how to start this career path. 

What does an implementation manager do? 

An implementation manager specializes in deploying new systems, networks, and processes to an organization’s workforce. In this position, your responsibilities often center on overseeing the implementation team and ensuring implementation goes smoothly. You’ll also develop action and work plans, coordinate with various departments, and monitor and verify the accuracy of requisitions and information materials. Additionally, you may help ensure that employees using newly implemented technology receive the proper training to use them and lead and encourage the implementation team while following the organization's policies and regulations.

Why organizations need implementation managers

Implementation managers ensure quality service and client satisfaction at each system integration and implementation stage. In this position, you’ll provide the support and expertise to keep the implementation process aligned with the organization’s objectives, budget, and timeframe. You’ll also aid in troubleshooting any issues that arise during the process, serve as a bridge between various departments and stakeholders, and provide detailed reporting that the company can use to improve future endeavors. 

Implementation manager tasks and responsibilities

As an implementation manager, you’ll perform various tasks, from coordinating teams to keeping records. In many cases, you’ll find yourself leading the strategic product planning efforts and developing strategic roadmaps for implementing new technology. You’ll also ensure this is all done within scope, budget, and deadline. 

Some of your other tasks might include: 

• Coordinating with teams, like sales and customer service, to ensure a cohesive process 

• Making recommendations based on trends and customer needs 

• Communicating with clients and managing their expectations 

• Conducting cost/benefit analysis 

• Identifying risks and handling them proactively 

• Monitoring the environment post-implementation to ensure it's running as projected

• Keeping records of best practices for future projects 

Read more: How to Use a Product Roadmap

What skills does an implementation manager need?

An implementation manager is well-versed in technology and communicates the technology in a way that non-technical people and stakeholders can understand. You’ll need a broad skill set that transcends tech and customer service to accomplish this. Some of the top implementation manager technical skills include proficiency in Java, structured query language (SQL), database management systems, and budgeting and cost analysis tools. 

Because you’ll also deal with clients and lead a team throughout the projects you’re on, you’ll require customer service and managerial skills. Some key skills to bring to the table as an implementation manager include managing client expectations, verbal and written client communication, project management, leadership, and more. 

Like many roles, an implementation manager needs a host of workplace skills to supplement these more procedural and technical skills. These skills include the ability to analyze and solve complex problems, organization, manage multiple tasks at once, and make quick decisions. 

Technical skills

Implementation managers also require technical and management skills, including: 

• Microsoft Dynamics 

• Microsoft Office 

• Gantt charts

• Team building activities

• Project communication plans

• Salesforce

• Java

Salary and job outlook

According to Glassdoor, the average base annual salary for an implementation manager in the US is $83,461, but this figure may vary based on your location, experience, education, and industry [1]. The typical salary range is $64,000 to $108,000 annually, with opportunities to earn more if your company provides bonuses and other forms of additional compensation [1]. 

The implementation manager role falls under the larger project management specialist career field. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates project management specialist jobs will grow by 6 percent between 2022 and 2032 [2]. That’s faster than average growth for all occupations in the US. 

Read more: What Is a Good Salary?

Becoming an implementation manager

Implementation managers blend technology and customer service expertise. Following a specific education path can help lead to success in this role. 

Education and training

Employers seeking an implementation manager typically look for candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree. In fact, 71.1 percent of all implementation managers have a bachelor’s degree, and another 14.3 percent have a master’s degree, according to Zippia [3]. Here is a breakdown of types of major implementations managers have [3]:

• Business: 33.1 percent

• Computer science: 7.5 percent

• Finance: 5 percent

Although most professionals have a bachelor's degree, becoming an implementation manager with an associate degree or a high school diploma is possible.

On top of your formal education, you can also aid your career with related certifications. Some examples include: 

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

• Six Sigma Green Belt

• Master Project Manager (MPM)

• Certified Manager Certification (CM)

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

• CompTIA Project+ Certification

Read more: 10 PMI Certifications to Level Up Your Project Management Career

Experience

Gaining robust foundational knowledge via formal education and practical experience can offer you an excellent start toward becoming an implementation manager, and entry-level roles can also help you hone the skills you’ll need. To supplement your training on the job, you may also consider completing an internship, which can help you gain valuable hands-on experience. 

The experience in related fields you need to gain the required implementation manager qualifications can range from up to four years. Generally, you’ll gain six to 12 months of on-the-job training once in your position. 

Career progression

Before becoming an implementation manager, many people work as project managers or senior project managers. Other roles that can lead to becoming an implementation manager include: 

• Technical project manager

• Consultant

• Business analyst

• Team leader

You can apply for jobs after working in one of these roles and gaining the knowledge required to successfully become an implementation manager. Working as an implementation manager for at least two years may adequately prepare you to move into other roles, though you may require additional education. The standard career moves after implementation manager include: 

• Implementation manager II

• Implementation manager III

• Senior implementation manager

• Director of implementation

• Senior director of implementation

• Vice president of implementation

Other related job titles

If you wish to stay within the implementation team but don't want to be an implementation manager, you can consider roles like implementation specialist, implementation project manager, or implementation consultant. You can even work your way into management as the director of implementation in some companies. 

You might also specialize in a certain type of implementation management. For example, a health care implementation manager might oversee technology implementation in medical settings, like telemedicine platforms or patient management software. As an infrastructure implementation manager, you'll oversee the implementation of IT, such as networks or cloud services. 

Getting started with Coursera

As an implementation manager, you’ll install new systems, networks, and processes within an organization’s workforce. You’ll often find yourself overseeing the implementation team, ensuring the operation runs smoothly, developing action and work plans, coordinating with various departments, and monitoring and verifying the accuracy of requisitions and information materials.

If this sounds like a great career, learning more about project management can help you know if it's right for you. Courses like the University of California, Irvine’s Project Management Success: The Basics for Success, and Google’s Agile Project Management on Coursera can help you learn more. Upon completion of either program, gain a Professional Certificate to include in your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile.