Comparing Executive Directors to Directors of Operations
Executive directors work directly under the orders of a board of directors enforcing the company's goals. Directors of operations, on the other hand, are usually firmly entrenched in the overview of specific budgeting and work schedules of all the projects of an organization. Below is material about these two positions along with some career finances as well.
| Job Title | Education Requirements | Median Salary (2022)* | Job Growth (2020-2030)** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director | Bachelor's degree | $81,412 | -6% (chief executives) |
| Directors of Operations | Bachelor's degree | $87,814 (operations director) | 8% (for all top executives) |
Sources: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Responsibilities of Executive Directors vs. Directors of Operations
These two positions are part of the major management players of any company, and as such requires many years of experience in the industry to take on the role. Both help design and implement the goals and strategies of the board of directors. Executive directors are normally representatives of the board of directors and are expected to help design the company's mission and strategies. Directors of operations, on the other hand, usually work directly for a director or vice president to make sure that all projects come in within budget and get done within the time allotted. Their job is to act as troubleshooters for the managers of each project and work to stay out of their way unless they are needed to fix something.
Executive Directors
Successful companies live through the work of a board of directors. Boards owe their success to the men or women they choose to act as their executive directors. These employees are the public face of the company. It is their job to design the goals and missions of the company with the help of the board. They then act as management cheerleaders getting lower executives on board with the strategies the board has determined will lead to the company's success and profitability.
Job responsibilities of an executive director include:
- Keeping current on the business culture and any changes that may affect the team
- Supporting of team members and their branding goals for public consumption
- Mediating projects with lower executives under the boards direction
- Making business presentations to various groups - public or private
Directors of Operations
Directors of operations may be considered glorified budget directors. These are managers who must keep the numbers in mind as they aid managers with work schedules and site inspections. It is their job to rally management to meet those goals and resolve changes that will help the team. Within offices, directors of operations know the finances of the company inside and out. They commonly are called in to work with departments to make recommendations on streamlining and efficiency, whatever it takes to keep the company profitable.
Job responsibilities of a director of operations include:
- Implementing and evaluating standard processes
- Brainstorming with department managers on workflow schedules
- Designing procedures to help deploy board strategies
- Managing people involved with the company's finances
Related Careers
People who feel driven to be managers or businessmen and like performing as executive directors, might look at similar positions in the area of sales management running a team to increase sales and profits for a company or client. Also, those who know numbers and people as do directors of operation, might want to consider work as a financial manager keeping a company's finances strong through data driven suggestions on investments.
