Localization Project Manager Job Description

A Smartcat Platform for Localization Project Management

If you want to make a global impact, you need a project manager who is also a localization project manager. They are the ones who make sure that users can play your game, use your app or watch your video in their own language, which can increase your global audience by up to 30 percent. A project manager is the person who makes sure that your product works in all the languages it is in.

In today's content-driven economy, it is extremely complex to plan and execute a localization process. A lot of things are done by the project managers. It is usually a good idea to hire someone specifically for the job, even if you want to assign it to an existing member of your team.

According to ie, the ability to speak the language of each stakeholder is a must for the success of the project. When interviewing a PM application, ask them to describe a situation in which they had to deal with multiple stakeholders and how they handled it. If you are willing to go into detail and ask follow-up questions, you can see if they were actually the ones responsible for handling the situation.

It is not easy to understand the field of Localization. It is important that the process is explained in a way that is easy to understand by the person who is explaining it. Ask the candidate if they can explain what they are saying.

If they use jargon or technical terms, pay attention to what they say and how easy they are to understand. In an interview, start a discussion that is not related to localization. If they are able to follow along at least somewhat, they might be able to adapt to your company's culture even if they don't know you from the beginning.

Localization Team

There can be many people within your company that can help support the project manager throughout the process, even if they don't have the title of a team member. The skill set of the teams at large enterprises is varied and they have strengths in collaboration, organization, and marketing. Medium-sized companies also need a team to juggle multiple roles.

It is important to understand the process of creating a localization team so that you can get the job done. A few questions. You could be dealing with 1 or several new markets, and you might be doing a lot of translation.

It will help you see in black and white how big your project is and how many people you need to have on your team. It is important to point out that not everyone in the team is solely focused on the project. You will be overseeing people that already have a defined role in your company, yet still play a crucial part in the process.

It is obvious that a central project manager is needed for the whole process, otherwise it can lead to lost time, slowed down translations, and a not very well executed strategy. They will be responsible for knowing what content should be in a certain area. A solid localization strategy will have already identified what part of your website should be in a specific language and which parts of it won't be relevant in your new target markets.

The Role of Teamwork in Localization Project Management

One of the jobs that does not require a high level of skill set is Localization project management. Managing projects is hard if you don't know what you are doing. Each project is different.

They have different budgets and resources. When a client hires a service provider, it becomes necessary for the team to do their best. Things can be more complicated in the case of a localization project.

Why? It is not easy to change a language and convert a topic. You are interested in providing e-books about gaming in 10 different languages.

You will need a project manager who is highly professional and has thorough planning and expert translators. Sometimes a project manager faces challenges that need to be taken care of even though they have the resources. Even though your planning might be good, you must be prepared for the unexpected outcomes.

Scope creep is one of the most natural challenges in any project. It can be problematic if clients are not clear about their goals. It can cause a lot of problems if e-books lack the local language guidelines.

Project Management in Linguistics

The first step is to find a linguist who can do the work. There are different linguistic tasks. Identifying the right match for each of the tasks is a challenge.

It is a gamble, as not all linguists are known to the project manager. Each human has his strengths and weaknesses. The skills of a linguist are not very common.

One needs to manage their quirks while managing their expertise. A project manager needs to be aware of the needs of the translator. Individual to individual ability to learn, comprehend and follow instructions varies.

The management of the diversity in capabilities is more intricate for a larger team. The project manager has a lot of work to do. The project manager has a central function of keeping the client informed about progress.

Localization Project Managers

The industry is growing each year. According to market research by Nimdzi, the market for language services is expected to grow to $70 billion by the year 2023. Half of the market involves translation services alone.

Your business may have its own needs. Are you ready to scale your business internationally? You need to execute on the projects of your localization strategy once you have decided on it.

They hold the entire process together. The translation project managers execute the strategy for the organization a tactical level, collaborating with team members across the organization to move translation projects from start to finish. A project that involves cross-functional teams requires high levels of collaboration.

Project managers are the point people in the organization who make sure the project schedules stay on time and budget. The translation process can be complicated and confusing, so it is important that your team knows what is happening with the translation process, when the goals are achieved, and the target timelines. Your project manager will be able to know who to talk to and where you are in the process, making it transparent for everyone.

That helps to monitor the quality of translations. The translation services market needs to be understood by the managers so they can negotiate better terms with their partners. Collaboration tools like Slack, and shared online documents are important communication methods for remote teams.