What Does a Supervisor Do?
Supervisors support their team, help manage workflow and solve problems. They play a key role in the day-to-day operation of the business, monitor production and identify areas for improvement. Supervisors maintain a working knowledge of relevant regulations and ensure compliance among their team.
Supervisors report to senior management. They compile data about their team’s work and feedback about upcoming projects and changes to processes.
Supervisors line manage their team members, completing inductions with new staff members including training and briefing on company policies. They monitor individual progress, conduct appraisals and performance reviews and offer support and training to their staff.
Supervisor Skills and Qualifications
A successful Supervisor candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that will make them effective including:
- Performance management
- Data analysis
- Time management
- Excellent communication skills
- Quality assurance
- Managing a budget
- Prioritisation and time management skills
Supervisor Experience Requirements
The experience requirement for a Supervisor depends on the type of role and the number of people that they are managing. Many companies prefer to recruit internally so that their Supervisors already have some experience of the business and are familiar with their in-house software, company culture and values and the working processes.
For a role supervising a small team, previous management experience is a plus, but may not be required. A Departmental Supervisor with a large team will usually need strong management experience as well as a thorough understanding of the appraisal process and in-depth knowledge of the business’s operations.
Supervisor roles require candidates that have experience of working with others, problem-solving and managing their workload. An ideal candidate will have a track record for improving staff morale, increasing efficiency or for other measurable improvements in their team.
Supervisor Training and Education Requirements
Supervisors need to be numerate and literate with GCSEs in maths and English or equivalent. A degree in a relevant subject is desirable, but not always required. Candidates may also need relevant industry certification or training, such as a regulator-approved diploma or completion of sector-specific courses. Training in management, coaching, staff motivation or similar skills is a plus.
Supervisor Salary Expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Supervisor is £9.83 per hour, but this depends on the number of staff they are supervising and the level of responsibility they have as well as the location of the business and the sector they are in.
Job description samples for similar positions
If you are recruiting for a role that is similar to a Supervisor, then there are other job description samples to help you find the right candidate: