About This Career

Determines and formulates policies and provides overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plans, directs, or coordinates operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster General Management pathway.

A person in this career:

• Directs or coordinates an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
• Confers with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
• Prepares budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
• Directs, plans, or implements policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
• Prepares or presents reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
• Implements corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
• Directs human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments.
• Analyzes operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
• Directs or coordinates activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
• Appoints department heads or managers and assigns or delegates responsibilities to them.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overnight travel
• Overtime work