Sample Manager Job Description

Are you interested in what a manager does at work? This is a sample job description for a manager. It describes the basic job duties and responsibilities of an employee who is functioning in a management role. The core responsibilities and duties of a manager are similar from organization to organization but differences exist as well.

You will need to customize this manager job description based on the goals and the responsibilities of their function in your organization. Some managers will lead a group of people in a traditional management role.

Others will lead a functional unit of your business. For example, the manager of your global outreach may have no direct reporting staff people but rather contacts in each country you are targeting for your business. In a second example, you may have a recruiting manager who has no direct reports but who must coordinate among hiring managers and other staff to hire employees. The job title, manager, is used for either job function.

See, use, and customize this sample manager job description for your organization. This basic job description covers the most basic job duties of a manager.

Manager Position Job Description Duties and Responsibilities

The manager is an employee who is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the operations and fiscal health of a business unit, division, department, or operating unit within an organization. The manager is responsible for overseeing and leading the work of a group of people in many instances.

The manager, sometimes known as the line manager, is also responsible for planning and maintaining work systems, procedures, and policies that enable and encourage the optimum performance of its people and other resources within a business unit.

Leading people is usually part of the description of what a manager does. But, he or she is also responsible for leadership over a segment of work, a sub-section of the organization's results, or a functional area within an organization with or without reporting staff.

Sample Manager Job Description

Primary Objectives of the Manager

• Health and safety of the workforce.
• Carrying out and attaining the mission and the goals of the business unit managed.
• Development of a superior workforce.
• Development of the department.
• Development of an employee-oriented company culture that emphasizes quality, continuous improvement, key employee retention and development, and high performance.
• Personal ongoing self-development and personal growth as an employee.

Primary Responsibilities of a Manager

Perform Human Resources Management

• Plan staffing levels.
• Work with Human Resources staff to recruit, interview, select, hire, and employ an appropriate number of employees.
• Provide oversight and direction to the employees in the operating unit in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and opportunities.
• Empower employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals. Delegate responsibility and expect accountability and regular feedback.
• Foster a spirit of teamwork and unity among department members that allows for disagreement over ideas, conflict and expeditious conflict resolution, and the appreciation of diversity as well as cohesiveness, support, and working effectively together to enable each employee and the department to succeed.
• Consciously create a workplace culture that is consistent with the overall organization's and that emphasizes the identified mission, vision, guiding principles, and values of the organization.
• Lead employees using a performance management and development process that provides an overall context and framework to encourage employee contribution and includes goal setting, feedback, and performance development planning.
• Lead employees to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, continuous improvement, and goal accomplishment.
• Provide effective performance feedback through employee recognition, rewards, and disciplinary action, with the assistance of Human Resources, when necessary.
• Maintain employee work schedules including assignments, job rotation, training, vacations, and paid time off, telecommuting, cover for absenteeism, and overtime scheduling.
• Maintain transparent communication. Appropriately communicate organization information through department meetings, one-on-one meetings, and appropriate email, IM (Instant Messaging), and regular interpersonal communication.

Perform Department Management

• Manage the overall operational, budgetary, and financial responsibilities and activities of the department.
• Plan and implement systems that perform the work and fulfill the mission and the goals of the department efficiently and effectively.
• Plan and allocate resources to effectively staff and accomplish the work to meet departmental productivity and quality goals.
• Plan, evaluate, and improve the efficiency of business processes and procedures to enhance speed, quality, efficiency, and output.
• Make business decisions that are financially responsible, accountable, justifiable, and defensible in accordance with organization policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain relevant controls and feedback systems to monitor the operation of the department.
• Review performance data that includes financial, sales, and activity reports and spreadsheets, to monitor and measure departmental productivity, goal achievement, and overall effectiveness.
• Manage the preparation and maintenance of reports necessary to carry out the functions of the department. Prepares periodic reports for management, as necessary or requested, to track strategic goal accomplishment.
• Communicate regularly with other managers, the director, vice president, president, and other designated contacts within the organization.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

To perform the manager job successfully, an employee must perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. These requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to lead in the role of manager. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Manager Job Requirements

• Knowledge and experience in business, supervision, and management.
• Knowledge of the functions, operation, and mission of the specific department.
• Better than average written and spoken communication skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal relationship building and employee coaching and development skills.
• Management experience in a team-oriented workplace preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a department and department staff members.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic economics, budgeting, and accounting principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a knowledgeable resource to the organization's management team that provides leadership and direction.
• Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Must include knowledge of Excel and skills in Access.
• General knowledge of various employment laws and practices and employee relations.
• Evidence of the ability to practice a high level of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational management skills.

Education and Experience Required of the Manager

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business or a departmentally related field.
• A minimum of three years of responsible leadership experience in management or supervisory positions.
• Specialized training in managing human resources, preferred.

Physical Demands of a Manager Job

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the manager's job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the manager's job.

While performing the responsibilities of the manager's job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use his or her hands and fingers, to handle or feel.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Vision abilities required for this job include close vision.

Work Environment of the Manager

While performing the responsibilities of the manager's job, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the manager will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the manager's job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

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Please note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. The site is read by a world-wide audience and ​employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance.