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Executive Director Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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An Executive Director, or Chief Executive Officer, makes critical decisions to fulfil the organisation’s goals. Their primary duties include developing strategic plans, recruiting senior management and ensuring compliance to internal and external laws and regulations .

Executive Director duties and responsibilities

Executive Directors develop and create business strategies, introduce policies and make sure the company achieves its goals. Their main tasks and responsibilities can include: 

  • Recruiting and mentoring senior executives to oversee critical business operations
  • Promoting a culture of continuous improvement in service delivery
  • Ensuring employees and the company adhere to industry laws and regulation
  • Nurturing and maintaining positive relationships with major stakeholders and agencies
  • Working with committees and the board of directors to address issues that the company faces
  • Acting as the spokesperson of the company
  • Creating a culture of transparency and communications through the organisation

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Executive Director Job Description Examples:

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
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What does an Executive Director do?

Executive Directors are responsible for all the activities or operations in a company. They provide strategic direction and perform quality assurance while ensuring programmes run efficiently. They also ensure staff align themselves with the company’s goals, implement company-wide policies, allocate the resources of the company, develop a market strategy and provide constructive feedback to management. Executive Directors are required to report the company’s progress regularly to the board of directors.

Executive Director skills and qualifications

Executive Directors need a range of skills and qualifications to perform their job effectively. A successful Executive Director candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:

  • Firm grasp of leadership and management principles
  • Proven ability to work with committees and board of directors
  • Strategic decision-making skills with exceptional communication and presentation skills
  • Teamwork skills and the ability to act as the public face of the company
  • Commercial awareness and innovative approach to business development
  • Strong resource capacity planning and prioritisation skills

Executive Director experience requirements

An Executive Director must have at least 10 years of experience in a senior management role in a non-profit or corporate environment, steering the business and providing strategic leadership. A background in finance, operations or human resources is desirable. They should also have experience developing and delivering tactical and strategic plans.

Executive Director education and training requirements

Executive Directors must have a bachelor’s in business administration, human resources, finance or a relevant field. Some companies prefer candidates with a master’s or doctorate degree. Some companies provide development programmes or training within their organisation for a candidate’s advancement. While it’s not usually required, some Executive Directors need to hold professional certification in a specific area of management, depending on the company’s requirements or their job duties.

Executive Director salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of an Executive Director in the UK is £34,263 per year. This figure varies depending on several factors, including the company, complexity of the job and geographical location.

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Executive Director job description FAQs

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