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Managing Localization Projects in Translation |
Translation Project Manager and Assigned Roles
A translation and localization project manager is responsible for many processes such as scheduling, budgeting, selecting and assigning team members to different tasks, managing the entire team, and other inseparable elements of the project. Project management has become extremely relevant for the translation industry as clients often need to translate and localize complex items such as entire websites, software, and mobile applications. These projects include the translation of legal documents, instructions, descriptions, and even non-textual elements. Usually, the required amount of work cannot be completed by one specialist and requires a team.
In this scenario, the assigned localization project manager maintains constant communication with the client and serves as the connecting factor between the team of translation specialists, reviewers or editors, client’s representatives, translation agency, and any other involved stakeholders.
Responsibilities Associated with Managing Localization Projects
Given the number of responsibilities and required roles, the reward is corresponding. Apart from being one of the most important professionals in the project team, one develops extremely important skills and gains knowledge that cannot be obtained in educational institutions. This is the real experience of managing a team of highly skilled experts and delivering quality products that will be offered on the global market. Here is a list of the major responsibilities that allow obtaining that knowledge for those who are already asking Google, "How do you become a localization project manager?"
Understanding Requirements while Managing Localization Projects
High-quality localization requires a complete understanding of all client’s specific needs, preferences, and product’s peculiarities. Team members can provide the required work only when the project managers themselves fully understand the requirements and guidelines, and inform team members during all stages of completion.
Being a Single Contact Between Parts of the Team
Truly polished content is ensured by the efforts of multiple professionals, and the best results can be achieved when there is an independent cross-checking process. It is better to avoid communication between translators and editors to ensure a completely independent check of quality and absence of mutual influence on the completed work.
Assembling a Relevant Team to Succeed in Managing Localization Projects
Localization project managers communicate with the clients directly at the start of the project, making them the only ones who realize the full scope of required work. Different professionals will be needed for technical document translation services and software localization. Thus, it is the translation project manager’s responsibility to assign the project’s tasks to people with relevant skills and manage them, ensuring the client receives a fully complete project on time. Clients should not dedicate their efforts to managing the team of hired translators as they need to focus on developing and managing their actual products. Delegating responsibilities is one of the greatest principles in business and management.
Scheduling in Managing Localization Projects
The localization manager keeps timelines on track to ensure no deadlines are missed. This is achieved by constantly checking the project’s progress and obtaining completed portions of work according to internal deadlines set by the manager earlier. Additional time is not always an option, so the translation project manager should consider assigning more specialists to get the required work done by the agreed deadline in case any emergencies appear during earlier stages.
Managing the Entire Process
Localization management requires monitoring tools and documentation. The workflow demands careful organization and constant monitoring along with documenting the entire project’s history. Developing and assigning tasks and checklists, as well as ensuring their proper completion using various collaboration tools, is the essence of project management.
Keeping Documentation
Developing and maintaining glossaries and translation memory tools is crucial for high-quality and consistent projects in the future, especially with returning clients and long-term multiple projects. A qualified project manager will always follow up with clients and ask for feedback to identify areas needing more attention. The manager’s work does not end with the project’s completion since there is a need to deliver assessments and feedback to group members, assisting them in improvement if needed.
What Makes a Good Translation Project Manager?
Adherence to all the above-mentioned principles would be the most obvious answer. However, one distinguishing factor is micromanagement handling. Project managers who merely forward files from one group of stakeholders to another and allow themselves to get stuck in menial tasks will not become good project managers. Conversely, those who are not afraid to apply changes, try new approaches, and avoid outdated strategies will focus on building assets, developing effective communication, and conducting market research to implement more useful tools or ideas. In other words, a good project manager creates a healthy collaboration ecosystem that adds value to both the translation agency and clients’ companies.
Professionals who implement modern localization and cooperation technologies and tools rather than sticking to outdated methodologies easily serve as examples of top earners. Professional translation project managers adopt technologies and automation tools whenever possible and applicable, from organizing and managing the team to developing terminology databases and glossaries. This approach allows them to accept more complex and rewarding projects, such as medical translations or software localization tasks, and deliver high-quality content.
Overall, a good translation and localization project manager who can organize the team, ensure effective collaboration, and provide ideal deliverables is, first of all, a person who can organize their own time and tasks. People who achieve the highest levels in this position refrain from procrastinating, are motivated, result-oriented, and always seek new knowledge. Even if you have not yet honed these skills, everything comes with time and practice.
Bottom Line: Always Hire the Best Experts
Many clients stated that the value of qualified translation or localization project managers cannot be overestimated. Otherwise, clients would end up trying to coordinate efforts of multiple translation specialists instead of continuing to work on their own tasks. A good localization project manager also ensures the highest possible quality of delivered content, incorporating all initial requirements and applying required changes upon feedback.