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Program Manager

Program Manager (PM)

EVM Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Program Manager (PM) is the individual with overall responsibility for the cost, schedule, and technical performance of a program or project, including making the tradeoffs necessary to meet these objectives.

Program Manager and Project Manager are often used interchangeably in earned value practice, and this encyclopedia treats them as the same role. Government agencies run programs, so they tend to use Program Manager, and many contractors use the same title for their counterpart role. This encyclopedia uses Project Manager. Where a source or contract says Program Manager, read it as the same role.

What this means for you

The two titles appear side by side across contracts, standards, and company procedures, which can leave readers wondering whether a document is describing two different roles. It is not. Knowing the terms are equivalent saves time interpreting source material and prevents an imagined distinction from creeping into a system description or a procedure.

Also known as
Project Manager
Used in
Baseline change approval; Management Reserve authorization; Estimate at Completion approval; variance analysis review

FAQ

Is there a difference between a Program Manager and a Project Manager?
No. The terms are used inconsistently across the industry and mean the same role in EVM practice. Government usage favors Program Manager because agencies run Programs, and many contractors follow suit for their counterpart role.
How is a Program Manager different from a Control Account Manager?
The Program Manager carries overall responsibility for the whole program. A Control Account Manager is responsible for the cost, schedule, and technical performance of a single Control Account within it.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
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