# What is a job

A **Job** is the execution of a **workflow** based on a [workflow template](https://docs.primeur.com/data-mover-1.20/workflow-templates) associated with an action defined within a contract.

A job refers to the entire execution of the workflow template, not to an individual step of the process.

Job management is handled by the **Job Manager**, which in Data Mover is responsible for the job lifecycle, i.e., the execution of workflows within contracts.

The Job Manager:

* Supervises the execution of workflows associated with contracts.
* Uses [job queues](https://docs.primeur.com/data-mover-1.20/monitoring/job-queues) to manage task priority and parallelism.

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**Note**: In all these activities, Data Mover acts as a client.
{% endhint %}

Jobs can be managed and monitored in three different ways, depending on users' operational needs and preferred interaction method:

1. Directly through the [graphical user interface](https://docs.primeur.com/data-mover-1.20/jobs/manage-jobs), which provides an intuitive and user‑friendly list.
2. Programmatically using the [Job Manager REST APIs](https://docs.primeur.com/data-mover-1.20/api/job-manager-apis). 
3. With the [jobman.sh command‑line interface](https://docs.primeur.com/data-mover-1.20/cli-and-configuration-files/jobman.sh) to execute job management operations from a terminal.