Director Vs Manager Vs Supervisor

Comparing Job Roles of a Director,

Manager and Supervisor

While a director, manager and supervisor all have authoritative roles, these roles differ
greatly in key ways. The scale at which each level of management operates differs
greatly as directors typically oversee managers, and managers oversee supervisors, who
then look after individual employees. Of the three roles, a director is normally the highest
level of management whereas a supervisor is the lowest.

Education Median Salary

Job Title Job Growth (2018-2028)**
Requirements (2019)*

$97,115 (business
Director Bachelor's Degree 6% (top executives)
director)

$65,948 (business 7% (administrative services

Manager Bachelor's Degree
manager) managers)

Superviso High School $54,947 (sales -1% (first-line supervisors of office

r Diploma support supervisor) and administrative support workers)

Sources: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Different Responsibilities of Directors, Managers and Supervisors

Directors, managers and supervisors are all necessary roles in an organization, as they
ensure that policies are implemented and employees are doing their jobs. Supervisors
are responsible for more internal management whereas managers look after a wider
scope of both external and internal. Managers are responsible for making more
significant decisions and commitments regarding roles, resources, etc. The supervisor is
the one who will work to implement these decisions and achieve unity and cooperation
among employees while usually working alongside their subordinates. Managers and
directors rarely perform the same tasks as subordinate employees, since they are on a
higher level of management. Directors operate on an even higher level of management
than managers. They are responsible for keeping the managers on track and making
sure they adhere to the principles of the business. Ultimately, directors create and define
the goals and strategies of the company to ensure its success.
Directors
The work of a director within a company is instrumental to the company's overall
success. This is because directors are there to create strategies to meet goals and also
help implement these strategies with top level management. They may also analyze data
to predict trends, oversee budgets/finances and negotiate contracts and agreements for
the business.
Job responsibilities of a director include:

 Ensuring the prosperity and long-term growth of the organization

 Determining values and overall mission for the company
 Protecting the reputation of the company and creating strategies to minimize risk
 Accountability to shareholders for the performance of the organization

Managers
There are many different types of managers though their duties usually consist of the
same types of tasks. Managers can focus on delegating tasks and improving existing
procedures, as well as setting goals and deadlines for specific tasks within their units.
While overseeing their department, they are responsible for ensuring employees have
what they need to succeed in the long-term.
Job responsibilities of a manager include:

 Implementing the decisions made by directors

 Making decisions regarding company resources, expenses and employee roles
 Communicating with other levels of management to ensure cohesiveness
 Resolving difficult problems facing the department or unit

Supervisors
Supervisors are usually team leaders within a department. They supervise their
department on a more intimate level and may delegate tasks and address issues when
necessary. It is their responsibility to report back to the manager of the department.
Job responsibilities of a supervisor include:

 Applying the decisions of management and overseeing the team

 Delegating tasks to employees and managing workload
 Addressing immediate issues of employees
 Reporting issues and challenges to managers

Related Careers
Directors, managers and even supervisors typically have many options and opportunities
to choose from should they wish to consider an alternate career path. They might pursue
analyst positions or various types of executive and management spots, such as the
following.

 Business Analyst: Educational Requirements

 How to Become a Marketing Executive: Education and Career Roadmap
 How to Become a Retail Manager: Education and Career Roadmap