Resource Manager: Roles and Responsibilities

Resource managers are an essential part of any business. They manage resources such as time, money, and people to ensure that projects stay on track and objectives are met. They also work with a wide range of stakeholders, from senior management to project teams, ensuring that the right resource is allocated in the right place at the right time.This article will explore what resource managers do, why they are essential, and how you can become one. We’ll also discuss some tips for resource managers to help them succeed. So if you’re interested in learning more about resource management or becoming a resource manager, read on!

What is a resource manager?

Resource managers are experts who help organizations manage their resources effectively. Their role is to ensure that a company’s available resources are utilized in the best possible way and that all projects have the required materials, staff, and finances to succeed.

Resource managers often work with project managers to identify resource needs and allocate resources accordingly. They also manage the inventory of resources and financial assets, ensuring that resources are assigned based on organizational objectives and strategies.

Resource managers can optimize resource allocation to increase efficiency and reduce costs. They may also need to handle resource shortages or excesses and assist with resource scheduling and planning. By organizing resource allocation in an organization, they can help ensure that projects are completed most efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

What does a resource manager do?

A resource manager’s primary responsibility is to assist project managers with planning and resource allocation. They also create strategic plans to ensure each department has the necessary tools and resources.

Resource management is critical to project management as it involves planning, scheduling, and allocating resources such as people, processes, and budgets. The success of a project often depends on how well these resources are managed.

Employing a resource manager can provide several advantages:

• They can enhance the overall flow of the project.
• They can balance employees’ workload.
• They can prevent resource shortages and late deliveries.
• They ensure that the right people are assigned to each project.
• They ultimately improve efficiency and quality, enhance customer relationships, and increase staff happiness and productivity.

What do you need to become a resource manager?

Although the career path for resource managers can vary, you can still prepare by meeting the basic qualifications and skills required for the role.

Here are some essential requirements that hiring managers may consider when evaluating candidates for the position:

Education

Most people finish a bachelor’s degree program to become resource managers. If you want to become a resource manager, you should study fields such as business, human resources, or communication. Here are some subjects you could learn about:

• Employee and labor relations
• Advanced business analytics
• Change management
• Human resource and employment law
• Principles of accounting
• Fundamentals of project management
• Strategic human resource management
• Operations management
• Principles of macroeconomics

Certifications

You can become a resource manager without earning additional certifications, but having them can be beneficial since many employers prefer candidates with advanced credentials. These certifications can also help you develop new skills and learn new techniques.

Some well-known certifications in resource management are:

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR): This certification is granted by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) to professionals who have mastered proper HR management practices and techniques. It evaluates an individual’s knowledge of program implementation, strategic orientation, and laws and regulations.
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR): This credential is also provided by the HRCI to professionals with at least five years of relevant work experience. You can enroll in this program online and pass an exam to get certified.
• Resource Management Certified Professional (RMCP): The Resource Management Institute (RMI) offers this certification to resource managers who demonstrate advanced knowledge of resource management theory and application. This certification program is also available online.

Work experience

In addition to education and certification, employers usually seek candidates with at least five years of experience in project manager roles.

Many resource managers start their careers as HR managers. Consider internships in project management, resource management, or human resources to enhance your skills. This allows you to apply your knowledge in a natural work environment.

Hard skills

To excel in a resource management position, you will need the following technical skills:

• Proficiency in using resource management software, project management software, CRM, and analytics tools
• A thorough understanding of labor laws and regulations
• Experience in project and resource management
• Ability to make objective decisions using a data-driven approach
• Knowledge of the current market and economic trends
• Computer literacy
• Understanding of financial and market analysis and reports
• Knowledge of the hiring, onboarding, and training processes.

Management and interpersonal skills

It would help if you had more than the technical qualifications to become an excellent resource manager. You also require leadership skills and personal qualities that promote a collaborative, motivated, and productive environment. Here are some important skills that a great resource manager should possess:

• Problem-solving skills to resolve conflicts and explore all potential solutions
• The ability to foster cooperative relationships
• Effective communication skills
• Strategic thinking for efficient negotiating, delegation, and assignment
• Coaching, mentoring, and training skills
• Goal-setting abilities
• Adaptability and versatility

The average salary of a resource manager

How much you earn in this role largely depends on your previous work experience, level of education, and skill set, along with the size of the company and the cost of living. The national average salary for resource managers is $70.570.

Some of the most common benefits resource managers receive are:

• AD&D insurance
• Health insurance
• 403(b)
• Health savings account
• Employee referral program
• Dependent health insurance coverage
• Life insurance
• Child care assistance
• Disability insurance
• Wellness Program
• Flexible spending account
• Employee assistance program

Resource manager vs. project manager

Although there are some similarities between the roles of a resource manager and a project manager, there are also distinct differences.

A project manager oversees a few projects and is responsible for their success. They must ensure the project is finished on time, within budget, and meets the specifications.

Resource managers work across the whole organization and collaborate with several project managers. They focus on the resourcing aspect of the project instead of the entire scope of the project. Despite this, they play a crucial role in the success of a project, as having the right resources at the right time is essential.

Moreover, project managers spend much time communicating with external stakeholders, while resource managers are less involved with people outside the organization. To demonstrate the differences between these roles further, here are some everyday tasks that project managers and resource managers might do in a typical week:

Project manager tasks:

• Simplifying documentation processes to ensure transparency
• Meeting with stakeholders to update them on project progress and address issues
• Collaborating with clients, stakeholders, and the team to create project documentation
• Assigning specific tasks and work packages within the project team
• Developing risk management strategies to minimize losses and inactivity
• Monitoring budget and expenses

Resource manager responsibilities:

• Managing resource allocation to various projects to maximize efficiency
• Assessing and forecasting resource demands and allocating resources accordingly
• Overseeing resource inventory and financial assets
• Coordinating with project managers to identify resource needs and ensure optimal allocation
• Using resource management software to track the availability and schedule of team members and equipment
• Ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations.

Signs that your business needs a resource manager

Some organizations may believe that project managers can manage resources and other responsibilities. However, the adverse effects of not handling resources properly become more noticeable when the company grows.

In addition to supporting project managers, a resource manager has an overview of all projects, including their status, outstanding tasks, and deadlines. They can use software to track equipment and technicians in real time and communicate this information to project managers.

Here are some indications that your company would benefit from hiring a resource manager:

The team is overworked and overbooked

If your team members are working long hours for weeks and handling several projects simultaneously, it might be a sign that you need to hire a resource manager.

Working on multiple projects simultaneously is okay, but when your team’s resources are stretched too thin, it can lead to demotivation and burnout. This can result in lower-quality work and decreased productivity.

A resource manager can help by allocating resources and planning project requirements to match staff assignments. This prevents overbooking team members and reduces their workload.

You can’t figure out who or when to hire

Managing your company’s staffing needs can be daunting, especially if you lack experience in resource management.

If you need help determining when and who to hire, you may need a resource manager to assist you. One of their abilities is to analyze and evaluate when you need to add staff to your team.

In particular, a resource manager can precisely predict your organization’s needs by considering future projects, resource schedules, and your teams capacity.

You don’t have an overview to see who is working on what

Assigning tasks to team members might seem simple at first. But as you get further into the project, monitoring everyone’s progress and producing a report can be challenging unless you have a well-established process in place.

This is where a resource manager can help. They have a broad view of the project and can prioritize demands and streamline communication. The resource manager uses their overview to delegate and oversee resources and capacity for all ongoing projects.

Nowadays, resource managers use management tools to provide more visibility into team members’ work, schedules, and availability. These tools automate, forecast, and coordinate work, time, and costs according to the project management team’s specifications.

As a result, the resource manager can allocate, plan, and manage project resources to keep track of assigned tasks.

You experience resource conflicts and shortages

When an organization begins to undertake larger and more complex projects, it becomes crucial to optimizing the allocation of resources. This is especially true if you have a small team, as problems can arise if team members are simultaneously assigned to multiple demanding projects.

A resource manager can handle this situation by prioritizing and ensuring that overbooking and conflicting commitments are minimized. When people or equipment are needed on several projects simultaneously, they can use various strategies such as resource leveling or resource smoothing based on the projects’ context.

Is a resource manager the same as a human resource manager?

The responsibilities of a resource manager overlap with those of human resource managers and hiring managers, but they are distinct roles. Resource managers collaborate with hiring managers and HR managers for resource allocation during recruitment. However, human resources managers focus exclusively on human resources, while resource managers consider all of the organization’s resources, not just personnel.

Resource managers are responsible for planning and maximizing the allocation of all company resources, including training and employee development, as well as equipment and supplies. Their main objective is to ensure that each project stage has sufficient resources. Conversely, human resources managers handle employee benefits, payroll administration, staff training, onboarding, and recruitment.

Resource and human resources management may collaborate to oversee staff allocation and project staffing needs. Depending on the company’s organizational structure, a resource manager may also work with the HR manager on employee-related matters.

Conclusion

Resource managers are essential for resource optimization and ensuring that projects have the necessary resources to succeed. They can help you prioritize demands, streamline communication, delegate tasks effectively, and minimize resource conflicts or shortages.

Although resource management shares some responsibilities with human resources management, such as recruitment and staffing needs, resource managers focus on all company resources, while human resources managers handle employee-related matters.

Having a resource manager in your organization can be invaluable for improving workflow processes and maximizing efficiency.