Key job roles and their responsibilities
Businesses employ staff to take on a number of different roles, with different duties and responsibilities. Roles are often organised into a levels of hierarchyThe different management levels found within an organisation., which can include directors, senior managers, supervisors and team leaders, operational staff, and support staff.
Directors
Directors are the people at the top of a business and its organisational structureThe internal make-up of staff within a business, representing the different layers of management.. Small businesses may only have one or two directors. Larger businesses often have a board of directors who make the key business decisions, such as implementing new policies, deciding how to invest profitsThe amount of money made after all expenses have been paid. or opening new offices. A board of directorsA group of people that are voted in by the shareholders to run a business, usually a public limited company, on behalf of them. is often made up of a senior person from each department, officers (such as treasurer or secretary), and the owner or chief executive officer (CEO)The highest-ranking person in a company, ultimately responsible for making managerial decisions. of a business.
Senior managers
Senior managers sit below the level of director in the hierarchy. They are the highest level of manager in a business and usually have overall responsibility for all staff below them. Senior managers may make key day-to-day operational decisions for a business and set business strategy or direction. For example, a senior manager of a bookshop chain might decide how the tables and shelves are going to be organised for the busy Christmas period and what sort of extra stock will be ordered to make the seasonal offer more appealing and maximise profit.
Supervisors and team leaders
Supervisors and team leaders sit below the senior managers in the hierarchy. They often manage a team of employees, which involves providing them with daily duties, agreeing their working hours and ensuring they fulfil their roles. In a supermarket and some other businesses, each department is likely to have a team leader. For example, the fruit and vegetable section may have a dedicated team of employees and the team may be managed by the team leader of that department.
Operational staff
Operational staff complete tasks that fulfil the purpose of a business. For example, in a car dealership, the operational staff would be the sales representatives and car engineers. In a supermarket, the operational staff would be the customer service representatives and checkout operators.
Support staff
Support staff assist with the daily operation and running of a business. Their duties do not directly contribute to the overall operation or purpose of a business. Support staff may include cleaners, maintenance workers, human resources employees and finance workers.