Translation project management - an ultimate skill for translators?

ENThe existing standards in the translation market rather vaguely define translation project manager’s competences and how they can be interpreted, acquired and developed. There is also a lack of detailed research in the translation field that would focus on defining the particular skills necessary for successful translation project management. This paper aims to discuss and describe the skills necessary for translation project managers in the translation market by presenting an overview of the Lithuanian translation market and providing significant insights of translation service providers and university translation students about translation project management. The study is based on surveys carried out to determine translation service providers’ and students’ attitudes and experiences in translation project management, with the emphasis on the set of skills needed in the field. The main questions analysed are related to the importance of particular skills for translation project managers, the ways of acquiring and developing the skills, and the benefits of the use of translation project management software for freelance translators. Studying these issues may provide helpful theoretical, practical and pedagogical implications as to the training of translators and translation project managers. Keywords: translation project management, communicative skills, IT skills, translation service providers/agencies, freelance translators.