Resource Manager: What They Do, Earn, and How to Become One

A resource manager manages a company’s people, technology, assets, finances, and other resources. Careers in resource management can offer solid earning potential and other benefits if you are detail-oriented and have a knack for seeing the bigger picture. As a resource manager, you’ll typically use your skills to create safe, efficient, and happy work environments. 

Delve deeper into what resource management is, what sets it apart, and the steps you'll need to take to join the field as you determine if it’s the appropriate career path for you.

What is resource management?

Resource management involves managing a company's resources. This can include planning how and when a company uses its people, finances, and other resources, along with overseeing the roll-out of resources for a company's various projects. Examples include:

• Deciding how much money goes to each project

• Determining how many staff members are necessary for specific tasks

• Recruiting team members to fill skill gaps

• Allocating the type of technology used in a project or programme

The exact resources you manage will depend on the position, so it's essential to look at the job description carefully to ensure it's the right fit for you.

What is a resource manager?  

Resource managers decide how to allocate an organisation's resources to promote its short- and long-term success and optimise its return on its use of those resources. The job could include handling any resource needed to complete a task or project, such as improving employee skill sets, funding, workplace tools, and more.

Resources managers are often involved in project coordination and development across multiple sectors, so building project management, communication, and organisation skills can help you succeed in this position.

Duties and responsibilities

As a resource manager, your duties and responsibilities will vary greatly depending on where you work. Whilst at a small company you'll likely manage resources across many different projects, at a large company you'll may have opportunities to work in a specialised area.

Nonetheless, some typical responsibilities and duties you may encounter could include the following:

• Allocating employee time and company resources to projects

• Ensuring the company has the resources needed for upcoming tasks

• Managing employee workload and workflow

• Ensuring adherence to company regulations

• Overcoming resource shortages through creative planning 

• Organising current project resource flow and scheduling future resources

• Collaborating with the human resources departments and project managers

• Documenting resource use and planning

• Reading utilisation reports to ensure optimal use of available resources 

Resource manager salary and job outlook

Resource managers earn a higher-than-average salary and have a positive job outlook for the foreseeable future.

According to Glassdoor India’s September 2024 data, resource managers earn a median base salary of ₹10,34,655 [1]. This is higher than the median base salary for all positions in the country, which Glassdoor India calculates as ₹8,96,481[2].  

Finding precise statistics regarding the job outlook for resource managers is challenging. However, a quick search on Naukri and LinkedIn India reveals thousands of job openings for those with the required knowledge and skills. Given the vital role resource managers play in businesses of varying sizes, the job outlook will likely remain steady for years to come. 

Resource manager vs. human resources manager

A human resource manager is a type of resource manager with a specialisation in people-oriented management. Human resources managers are in charge of tasks such as recruiting employees, determining salaries, training employees, and keeping track of employee performance. The main goal of a human resources manager is generally to keep the organisation a safe, productive, and healthy place for the workers. 

On the other hand, a resource manager has a more general focus and typically looks at a range of resources across multiple projects. This may also involve human resources, such as employee time and skills, but resource managers will not specialise in this area. They deal with a holistic view of the company’s resources, which can include finances and technology as well as people, and often collaborate with human resource managers and others when building a project team.

How to become a resource manager

Resource managers help organisations accomplish their goals by managing their resources. To become yourself, consequently, you'll need to demonstrate that you have the training and experience required to work with budgets, manage teams, and communicate with diverse audiences on behalf of your employer. 

The following outlines what you'll likely have to do to become a resource manager:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree.

Employers typically require at least a bachelor’s degree to become a resource manager. A business management, project management, operations management, or economics degree can help demonstrate your relevant skills. Focusing on industry-specific skills like strategic human resource management, accounting, labour relations, and project planning can make you a competitive option during the hiring process. 

2. Gain work experience. 

Internships and entry-level jobs that provide practical experience in managing resources can show that you’re passionate about the field and demonstrate your competitive skills. Many resource managers begin in HR, project management, and similar areas. 

3. Build your skills.

As a resource manager, you need various technical and workplace skills to manage projects and teams efficiently. For example, part of your job will likely involve anticipating obstacles and finding solutions, so it's essential to be able to communicate your thoughts and ideas clearly with other employees. In addition to this, being able to organise the details of each project and how they fit together can help you do your job well.

The following lists some of the technical and workplace skills you should consider honing to become a resource manager:

• Basic computer skills

• Knowledge of project management and resource planning software

• Basic maths abilities

• Domain expertise

• Effective communication

• Decision making

• Organisation

• Attention to detail 

Resource management might be a great career fit if these skills sound like ones that come naturally to you. Companies of all sizes rely on resource managers to help them sustain and grow. 

Build your resource manager skill set on Coursera

Resource managers use their unique skills to ensure that an organisation's resources are managed effectively, efficiently, and responsibly. If you want to pursue this career, consider taking a flexible, cost-effective course on Coursera to develop your foundational knowledge and skills.

For example, after completing the University of Minnesota's Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialisation, you'll know how to develop strategies and skills for hiring, managing performance, and rewarding employees.

With Google's Project Management Professional Certificate, you can build job-relevant skills like creating risk management plans, creating budgets, and using project management software