What Does a Product Coordinator Do?

Product coordinators put product ideas into action. Thoughtfully arranged and organised plans are typically successful when manufacturing and marketing a product. Product coordinators follow the road map for a product and create stopping points, prepare for problems, and have a strategy for potential adjustments. These tasks require specific skills, knowledge, and forethought to predict what a production schedule will need based on factors ranging from customer demand to cost.  

Explore the role of product coordinator, including duties and responsibilities, essential skills, experience, and qualifications, and find out about job opportunities and the salary you can expect.  

What is a product coordinator?

As a product coordinator, you ensure that product development goals, milestones, budgets, and timelines are met and accurately executed according to the product manager's development plans. You’ll also conduct extensive preliminary research that product managers use to create plans. As a product coordinator, you create, manage, and execute the lifecycle plan using project management software and tools for a product’s development and launch. This means collaborating with different teams, from manufacturing to marketing, to ensure timely and accurate development for product launches. You also track project timeline progress and quality assurance whilst ensuring sufficient resources and employees are in place to support the plan. 

Product coordinator vs. product manager 

The main difference between product coordinators and product managers is that a product coordinator executes product development steps and creates timelines to ensure the product development steps. In contrast, a product manager manages and oversees the process. You may find some overlap between these two professions. In many cases, a product coordinator reports to a product manager. 

Duties and responsibilities of a product coordinator 

As a product coordinator, you must predict the needs of a product's inception and deployment based on market research, costs, industry trends, and more. You’ll play an integral role in ensuring a product reflects the company’s brand, meets the target consumer's needs and brings profitability to the company. You may also have the following duties:

• Review product design and suggest changes based on market research, competitors, and industry trends. 

• Determine the best method of distribution and oversee the entire product launch process, including sample distribution and marketing campaigns.

• Provide training to customer service and sales staff on the products they sell and answer questions about them.

• Ensure the project development process stays within the set project budget and make changes as needed.

• Hold incremental meetings with involved parties and management to provide updates on project progress and communicate the project's status.

• Organise and file documents critical for production, such as pricing estimates and vendor contracts, managing the entire product lifecycle.

• Create quality assurance checkpoints and alerts throughout the production timeline and report quality concerns to management. 

Skills of a product coordinator 

Careers in product development and product management both require an ability to manage products and people. A product's complete life cycle includes multiple touch points from various people with varying specialties. As a product coordinator, you need to understand how to effectively communicate with all parties working on a product and devise a plan for developing and launching a product with a support system in place. 

Workplace skills

Since product coordinators work with so many different people during product development, empathy, compassion, and the ability to collaborate are essential personal skills. A teamwork mentality and positive attitude will help you motivate employees and keep everyone working together toward a common goal. Time management and the ability to multitask are also key product coordinator skills. 

Technical skills 

Knowledge of the complete product lifecycle is essential for product coordinator jobs. Product coordinators are production management experts, so you will likely need technical skills like market research, data analysis, A/B testing, software development, prototyping, and database management. You'll likely need to use Agile methodology and product management software to ensure results are on target with customer expectations.

Working conditions and work environment 

The work environment for product coordinators can vary, but you’ll typically work for manufacturing, distribution, or related companies. Working conditions for product coordinators are usually indoors in an office setting. You may take part in virtual meetings, particularly with customers or media outlets, for product promotions. 

How to become a product coordinator 

To become a product coordinator, you’ll need to meet the education requirements and seek ways to set yourself apart through specialisations, certifications, or online courses demonstrating knowledge of essential product coordinator skills. Experience in business, management, or related fields can improve your employability at larger companies and may be beneficial for meeting your long-term career goals. 

Earn a degree. 

A degree is not required, but it can be valuable if you want to pursue this profession long-term or advance to a management role like a product manager. Many product coordinators hold a degree in business administration, marketing, product management, or a related field.

Consider enrolling in specialised courses.

Enrolling in specialised courses to learn the necessary skills to work in this profession can help bolster your CV. Whilst no professional certifications explicitly designed for product coordinators exist, product managers have many certifications. As a product coordinator you can earn certifications in software systems, product management methodologies, or related professional skills. 

• The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers several levels of Agile certification ideal for product coordinators, including Disciplined Agile Scrum Master, PMI Certified Agile Practitioner and Disciplined Value Stream Agile Consultant Certification.  

• On Coursera, many certificate programmes specialise in specific project management tools and methods a product coordinator will likely use, such as Agile Project Management, Google Project Management, and DevOps, Cloud, and Agile Foundations Specialisation. 

• APMG International provides training in Agile techniques and ways to manage the lifecycle of an Agile project through the Agile Project Manager (AgilePM ® ) certification.  

Gain experience. 

Many product coordinators start in entry-level positions like a marketing role, project coordinator, or product support. The goal is to earn experience that can build product coordinators' daily skills. Research skills and qualifications and gain professional experience that aligns with the needs of employers who are hiring product coordinators. 

Apply for jobs. 

When you feel confident in your qualifications as a potential product coordinator, it’s time to research jobs and start the application process. Many employers are moving to Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software to find the best applicant. You may find success uploading your CV to online job sites or professional social networks like LinkedIn. Make sure you optimise your CV with keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for. 

Prepare your product coordinator CV with essential product coordinator skills you hold, related achievements (certifications, accolades, etc.), relevant experience, and education. List your relevant experience first, and use action verbs throughout your CV to give employers an idea of your skills and qualifications. 

Salary and career outlook 

The median annual salary for a product coordinator working in the UK is £31,545. This figure is base pay and doesn’t include additional income from cash bonuses or commissions, which may amount to an average of £2,611, raising the total salary to £34,156 [1]. Expect factors like education, skill set, years of experience, location, the company, and certification to affect your earnings as a product coordinator.  

Additionally, the demand for product management professionals has risen over recent years. The continual rise of digital media has impacted the demand for product coordinators and product managers. Companies need positions like these to launch effective marketing campaigns and achieve accurate pricing for products and the production process. 

Build skills for a successful product coordinator career with Coursera

Product development roles, including that of product coordinator, are growing in demand due to advances in the tech industry and the rise of digital products.

Learn in-demand skills and methodology used by top product coordinators. On Coursera, you can choose specific courses focusing on product coordinator skills that look great on product coordinator resumes. Courses like Supply Chain Management: A Learning Perspective teach the foundational elements of a product supply chain. 

If you already have some experience in product management or want to work in the tech industry, a course such as Real World Product Management would be an ideal way to learn new and innovative product management and coordination techniques. Enrol today to begin building your skill set and setting your career goals.