diff --git a/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.spec.ts b/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.spec.ts
index bf78e999f..309998ef2 100644
--- a/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.spec.ts
+++ b/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.spec.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ describe('permissions.utils project management helpers', () => {
             .toBe(true)
     })
 
+    it('allows project managers to create projects without a project context', () => {
+        expect(checkCanManageProject(['Project Manager'], '123'))
+            .toBe(true)
+    })
+
     it('requires project manager or copilot membership for talent manager edit access', () => {
         expect(checkCanManageProject(['Talent Manager'], '123', managedProject))
             .toBe(true)
@@ -71,11 +76,6 @@ describe('permissions.utils project management helpers', () => {
             .toBe(false)
     })
 
-    it('does not expand project-manager creation access beyond the work-manager change', () => {
-        expect(checkCanManageProject(['Project Manager'], '123'))
-            .toBe(false)
-    })
-
     it('limits engagement creation to admins and talent managers', () => {
         expect(canCreateEngagement(['copilot']))
             .toBe(false)
diff --git a/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.ts b/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.ts
index efd20b778..b2107c008 100644
--- a/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.ts
+++ b/src/apps/work/src/lib/utils/permissions.utils.ts
@@ -264,9 +264,9 @@ export function checkProjectMembership(
 /**
  * Returns whether the caller can manage project ownership and billing flows.
  *
- * Admins always qualify. Copilots and Talent Managers can create projects.
- * When a project context is provided, Project Managers may also manage that
- * existing project when they hold a manager or copilot membership on it.
+ * Admins always qualify. Copilots, Project Managers, and Talent Managers can
+ * create projects. Managing an existing project still requires a manager or
+ * copilot membership on that project.
  *
  * @param userRoles caller roles from the decoded auth token or app context.
  * @param userId logged-in user identifier used for project membership checks.
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ export function checkCanManageProject(
     }
 
     if (!project) {
-        return hasCopilotRole(userRoles) || checkTalentManager(userRoles)
+        return hasCopilotRole(userRoles) || hasManagerRole(userRoles)
     }
 
     if (!hasCopilotRole(userRoles) && !hasManagerRole(userRoles)) {
diff --git a/src/apps/work/src/pages/projects/ProjectsListPage/ProjectsListPage.spec.tsx b/src/apps/work/src/pages/projects/ProjectsListPage/ProjectsListPage.spec.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79f069146
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/apps/work/src/pages/projects/ProjectsListPage/ProjectsListPage.spec.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-var, global-require, @typescript-eslint/no-var-requires */
+/* eslint-disable import/no-extraneous-dependencies, ordered-imports/ordered-imports */
+import type { Context, PropsWithChildren, ReactNode } from 'react'
+import {
+    render,
+    screen,
+} from '@testing-library/react'
+import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom'
+
+import { WorkAppContextModel } from '../../../lib/models/WorkAppContextModel.model'
+import { useFetchProjectsList } from '../../../lib/hooks'
+
+import { ProjectsListPage } from './ProjectsListPage'
+
+var mockWorkAppContext: Context<WorkAppContextModel>
+
+jest.mock('react-toastify', () => ({
+    toast: {
+        error: jest.fn(),
+    },
+}))
+jest.mock('tc-auth-lib', () => ({
+    decodeToken: jest.fn(),
+}))
+jest.mock('../../../lib/services/resources.service', () => ({
+    fetchResourceRoles: jest.fn(),
+    fetchResources: jest.fn(),
+}))
+jest.mock('~/apps/admin/src/lib', () => ({
+    TableLoading: () => <div>Loading</div>,
+}), {
+    virtual: true,
+})
+jest.mock('~/apps/review/src/lib', () => ({
+    PageWrapper: (
+        props: PropsWithChildren<{ pageTitle?: string; rightHeader?: ReactNode }>,
+    ) => (
+        <div>
+            <div data-testid='page-right-header'>{props.rightHeader}</div>
+            <h1>{props.pageTitle}</h1>
+            <div data-testid='page-content'>{props.children}</div>
+        </div>
+    ),
+}), {
+    virtual: true,
+})
+jest.mock('~/libs/ui', () => ({
+    Button: (props: { label: string }) => (
+        <button type='button'>
+            {props.label}
+        </button>
+    ),
+}), {
+    virtual: true,
+})
+jest.mock('../../../lib/components', () => ({
+    Pagination: () => <div>Pagination</div>,
+    ProjectsFilter: () => <div>Projects Filter</div>,
+    ProjectsTable: () => <div>Projects Table</div>,
+}))
+jest.mock('../../../lib/contexts', () => {
+    const React = require('react') as typeof import('react')
+
+    mockWorkAppContext = React.createContext<WorkAppContextModel>({
+        isAdmin: false,
+        isAnonymous: false,
+        isCopilot: false,
+        isManager: false,
+        isReadOnly: false,
+        loginUserInfo: undefined,
+        userRoles: [],
+    })
+
+    return {
+        WorkAppContext: mockWorkAppContext,
+    }
+})
+jest.mock('../../../lib/hooks', () => ({
+    useFetchProjectsList: jest.fn(),
+}))
+jest.mock('../../../lib/constants', () => ({
+    PROJECTS_PAGE_SIZE: 10,
+}))
+jest.mock('../../../lib/utils', () => ({
+    checkCanManageProject: jest.requireActual('../../../lib/utils/permissions.utils').checkCanManageProject,
+}))
+
+const mockedUseFetchProjectsList = useFetchProjectsList as jest.Mock
+
+const defaultContextValue: WorkAppContextModel = {
+    isAdmin: false,
+    isAnonymous: false,
+    isCopilot: false,
+    isManager: false,
+    isReadOnly: false,
+    loginUserInfo: {
+        email: 'user@example.com',
+        exp: 0,
+        handle: 'work-user',
+        iat: 0,
+        roles: ['topcoder user'],
+        userId: 12345,
+    } as WorkAppContextModel['loginUserInfo'],
+    userRoles: ['topcoder user'],
+}
+
+const projectManagerContextValue: WorkAppContextModel = {
+    ...defaultContextValue,
+    isManager: true,
+    loginUserInfo: {
+        ...defaultContextValue.loginUserInfo,
+        roles: ['project manager'],
+    } as WorkAppContextModel['loginUserInfo'],
+    userRoles: ['project manager'],
+}
+
+function renderPage(contextValue: WorkAppContextModel = defaultContextValue): void {
+    const MockWorkAppContext = mockWorkAppContext
+
+    render(
+        <MockWorkAppContext.Provider value={contextValue}>
+            <MemoryRouter>
+                <ProjectsListPage />
+            </MemoryRouter>
+        </MockWorkAppContext.Provider>,
+    )
+}
+
+describe('ProjectsListPage', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        jest.clearAllMocks()
+
+        mockedUseFetchProjectsList.mockReturnValue({
+            error: undefined,
+            isLoading: false,
+            isValidating: false,
+            metadata: {
+                page: 1,
+                perPage: 10,
+                total: 0,
+            },
+            mutate: jest.fn(),
+            projects: [],
+        })
+    })
+
+    it('renders the new project action for project managers', () => {
+        renderPage(projectManagerContextValue)
+
+        const newProjectButton = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'New Project' })
+        const newProjectLink = screen.getByRole('link', { name: 'New Project' })
+
+        expect(newProjectButton)
+            .toBeTruthy()
+        expect(newProjectLink.getAttribute('href'))
+            .toBe('/projects/new')
+    })
+})