Program manager versus director

In a healthy organization, employees will typically require closer supervision than managers, giving directors more time and space to work on high-level tasks. Managers, conversely, may be expected to encourage, mentor, discipline and evaluate employees on a more frequent basis. However, there can be overlap in many cases. In some organizations—particularly newer or smaller companies or those with a fast track up the corporate ladder—a director may find herself beset with a flock of first-time or relatively inexperienced managers.

These managers may have been promoted or otherwise recognized for their intellect, drive or excellence as employees but they may lack the ability to harness the softer skills that can drive their teams to success. In these cases, a director may need to step into that manager role more often and provide more hands-on mentorship than may be expected in an organization where the road to the manager position can be a decade or more.

In most organizations, a manager is tasked with day-to-day concerns. For example, a manager may be more involved in overseeing employees and supervising the implementation of team or company-wide initiatives. If the company or division is a ship, the manager is the one with his hand on the wheel, keeping everyone on the right course. Rather than having his hand on the wheel of the ship, the director is charting the course to come before delivering instructions to the managers below him to carry out.

In this case, director vs manager has to do with the strategic view of activities that one must take. While managers implement the strategies they are provided, it is up to the director to formulate what success will look like. While strategic vision is a necessary quality for any director position, it is a high-risk, high-reward responsibility.

A manager, however, may be able to skate by with less responsibility should failure occur, noting that he or she was simply carrying out the vision of the director.

Where are the shortfalls? Where are the bottlenecks? Where is the system in place working and where is it failing?

The director is then tasked with solving these myriad problems. A manager, on the other hand, is more often tasked with taking the prescribed procedures from the director or upper level of management and keeping them in line. Every organization—and every industry—will treat the role of manager and director differently. Where some companies will see a great deal of overlap between the roles—and even a single person holding both titles—others will have a substantial experience gap holding the two apart.

While these Ivy Exec guidelines can help you focus on the skills needed to advance between these titles, understanding the ins-and-outs of how your specific company and industry views these roles is integral to your growth. You can ask any question on Project Management and you can rest assured that real Project Managers will answer your shortly!

Program manager vs program director. Usually program directors are only found in very large companies, because they manage the program managers in the company. It's obvious to say that the program manager reports to the program director. The job of the program director is to ensure that all the programs undertaken by the organizations are running smoothly and are all aligned with the company's business objectives. Another way to look at it is that, while business managers are tasked with executing goals, directors play a more direct role in setting those goals.

In doing so, directors may take into account finance, client relations, and other core business operations. Specific functions of business directors may include:. Ultimately, both the manager and director play a significant role in advancing business goals. However, there are some significant points of distinction between these two professions.

One of the most important distinctions has to do with authority. In many corporate structures, managers oversee rank-and-file employees, whereas directors often oversee the managers.

For example, a corporate structure may have a director of sales and marketing, under whom multiple marketing and client relations managers oversee their own teams. Another important distinction centers on the difference between tactics and strategy.

By contrast, directors actually help set those goals and develop the strategies that will be implemented to achieve them.

Due to this important distinction, managers and directors benefit from separate but complementary skill sets. A director needs to have a vision and long-term planning skills, whereas managers benefit from the ability to motivate and optimize efficiency on a daily basis.

As with manager positions, salaries can vary widely based on industry, position, location, and other factors. Successful businesses require visionary directors to help set goals and create strategies. Equally important are capable managers who know how to execute those strategies and get the best out of their team members.

Whether you want to become a manager or director, an advanced education can provide you with the skills and confidence you need for long-term success in business leadership.

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