The executive director is almost the deputy general manager. But if we compare him with the immediate deputies of the chief, then we can say with full confidence that his responsibilities are much wider. The duties of the operations director include overseeing all aspects of the work process in the company. In other words, if the general is engaged in the preparation of a business plan, then the operations head develops and offers tactics for its implementation. Such a division of responsibilities provides the head of the company with additional time to communicate with customers and partners, relieving him of the responsibility to resolve internal issues and control the organization.
Basic powers
In most cases, the executive director is entitled to attend meetings of the board of directors, which gives him the opportunity to represent the interests of the company when communicating with partners and investors. He is also entrusted with the signing of all documentation relating to the economic activities of the enterprise. The main function of the Executive Director is to control the production of products, as well as ensuring the timely fulfillment of all obligations under the contracts concluded by the company.
Tasks
There is a list of the main tasks of the executive director in a modern, developing enterprise. The very first should be called the management of production processes. The operations director must draw up production plans and monitor the progress of their implementation by employees. Also, his duties include monitoring the receipt of all necessary resources for production, this refers not only to raw materials and supplies, but also equipment and the selection of necessary employees. He is also responsible for the maintenance of all production units.
He has an obligation to control employees so that they do not violate safety rules, the products manufactured are of high quality and meet all standards. He is responsible for all production costs and meeting deadlines. The job description of the executive director includes the need to take measures that can increase the growth of production efficiency, conduct actions to reduce product rejection, measures to optimize technological processes, as well as increase labor productivity.
The COO is responsible for HR management. His responsibilities include planning the hiring of the necessary number of employees to fulfill the company's plans, calculating staff costs, including the financial resources necessary for his training.
Under his control is also the management of administrative staff, if their staff exceeds 100 people. The operations director must monitor the timely completion of deadlines for meeting obligations to the company's customers. He should also deal with all other operational issues, including the implementation of production services, information technology control, technical support work, and similar working moments.
Job Categories
In practice, modern companies require employees for managerial positions that relate to four categories of varieties of duties of an operating director. You can choose the right type of employee only by clearly defining what goals the company sets for itself and what result is required from such an employee.
Innovator
Most often, companies need an innovator. This specialist will be able to take on the responsibilities of leading a new strategic direction, to manage the implementation of a set of measures that increase the efficiency of the company. In this case, applicants who have charisma should be selected, they should attract attention to interest employees in their ideas, and lead the staff to achieve the goals of the organization.
Mentor
If the company has a young and inexperienced CEO, then you should consider the type - mentor. A specialist in this area will become a solid support, he will help to debug business processes, including marketing, finance, sales and more. If the company has a need for such an employee, then you need to look for a professional with a large supply of knowledge, experience and proof of their implementation in practice. It would be ideal to find an employee who already has useful connections so that he can help the company establish contacts with people who are potentially useful for business.
Receiver
Some organizations for the position of chief operating officer are looking for a person who can later be transferred to the management of the company. In this case, it is very important to find a professional who can continue the business in the same vein. You cannot choose an employee who sees business development in his own way. He should approach the business in the same way as the general, their experience and vision should coincide. Otherwise, serious conflicts may arise in the conduct of business.
Partner
Another variety of the significance of the position of the operational director is a partner. It is important here that the general and executive share common values. The best option would be to select an employee who can complement existing knowledge with his knowledge and skills. There are two examples that can show the perfect combination of the principles of the work of two people in leadership positions.
In the first case, the general director can be soft and liberalistic, while the operating director, on the contrary, can be tough and very carefully check all areas of the company’s work. In the second case, the ideal combination is represented by the general director, who is engaged in the development of the company, the search for new niches in the market and other external issues, and the second leader should deal with internal processes and monitor the finances of the enterprise.
What should be able to a person who wants to take this position
First of all, when applying for a job in this position, they look at the availability of higher education. Also a plus will be experience in a leadership position that exceeds two years. It is equally important to have certain personal qualities, the necessary skills and knowledge that can ensure effective work.
Among the main qualities it is worth highlighting: organization, the ability to analytical thinking and a systematic approach to solving problems, the ability to make responsible decisions, easy adaptation to dynamic changes, organizational abilities. It is also important that a person can speak in public, speak competently and have great resistance to stress. It is also important that he understands the field in which the company is focused.
It is worth noting that the job description of the executive director in each company is different. There are basic criteria, but since this work is complex and requires a lot of stress, it all depends on the direction of the business and the nuances of the enterprise development strategy.
Responsibility
Since this position involves the management of the company, the responsibility assigned to the operations director is no less than the general director. According to the law, a person holding this position bears full financial responsibility. He is also fully responsible for all processes in the enterprise, including the work of staff. The Chief Operating Officer may be held administratively, laborly, civilly and criminally liable as an officer of the company. He is also responsible for the consequences of decisions, orders and more.