A Project Support Officer (PSO) is the administrative/coordination backbone for a project or PMO.
Not the decision-maker, but the person keeping everything running and visible.
Typical responsibilities:
Maintaining project documentation (plans, registers, logs)
Tracking actions, risks, issues, and dependencies (RAID logs)
Scheduling meetings, workshops, taking minutes/actions
Chasing status updates from workstream leads
Producing status reports and dashboards for the Project Manager/sponsor
Managing document control — version control, filing, ensuring the right people have the right version
Supporting budget/resource tracking (not owning it, usually)
Onboarding new project team members to tools/processes
Where it sits:
Below a Project Manager, often within a PMO. It's a common entry point into project management careers — you learn the mechanics (RAID logs, governance, reporting rhythms) before progressing to Assistant PM → PM.
Key distinction from a PM: a PSO enables the process and keeps records straight; a PM owns decisions, budget, and outcomes.
