How to hire an area director

How to hire an area director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step area director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an area director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new area director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an area director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The area director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An area director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, area directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of area director salaries for various roles:

   Type of Area Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Area Director	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$26-87
   Director Of Operations And Finance	A director of operations and finance is in charge of overseeing and spearheading business and financial operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to identify the best practices to optimize operations, coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting research and analysis to identify new business and investment opportunities, and monitoring the progress of various projects and programs... Show more	$37-87
   Director Of Business Operations	The position of a director of business operations involves the direction and coordination of an organization. It is the main responsibility of the directors of operations to oversee the profitability and overall growth of their organization... Show more	$32-87

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Patients
   • Home Health
   • Oversight
   • Human Resources
   • Financial Performance
   • Compassion
   • Business Plan
   • Payroll
   • Business Development
   • Brand Marketing
   • Direct Reports
   • Financial Management
   • Direct Supervision

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all aspects of selling process such as ROI, quotes, budgetary approval and demos.
   • Manage due diligence requirements and rehabilitation plans.
   • Lead operations for contract rehabilitation practice across north and central Texas.
   • Establish and manage the mid-Atlantic regional office of a privately own legal education company that provide educational services to law students.
   • Provide administrative (programmatic and fiscal) oversight for residential homes for people with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities.
   • Offer risk management and insurance services to the healthcare industry.

   More area director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your area director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An area director can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, area directors' average salary in hawaii is 65% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level area directors 70% less than senior-level area directors.
   • Certifications. An area director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an area director's salary.

   Average area director salary

   $100,433yearly

   $48.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level area director salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average area director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$162,342	$78
   2	Delaware	$146,285	$70
   3	California	$136,583	$66
   4	New York	$134,086	$64
   5	District of Columbia	$129,863	$62
   6	Illinois	$127,446	$61
   7	Virginia	$118,246	$57
   8	Pennsylvania	$110,919	$53
   9	Washington	$108,402	$52
   10	Texas	$101,020	$49
   11	Colorado	$98,848	$48
   12	Michigan	$97,978	$47
   13	Minnesota	$94,433	$45
   14	Indiana	$86,557	$42
   15	Oregon	$85,616	$41
   16	Iowa	$82,749	$40
   17	South Carolina	$81,975	$39
   18	Louisiana	$79,675	$38
   19	Florida	$75,133	$36
   20	Arizona	$74,099	$36

   Average area director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AstraZeneca	$234,673	$112.82	48
   2	Boehringer Ingelheim	$231,894	$111.49	13
   3	Koch Industries	$227,683	$109.46
   4	AbbVie	$222,777	$107.10	93
   5	Slalom	$215,425	$103.57	2
   6	Republic Services	$212,524	$102.17	19
   7	Raytheon Technologies	$187,656	$90.22	28
   8	Kaiser Permanente	$181,502	$87.26	28
   9	Reef	$175,885	$84.56
   10	United Natural Foods	$175,865	$84.55	4
   11	Simon Property Group	$173,227	$83.28	11
   12	Johnson & Johnson	$173,077	$83.21	145
   13	University of Washington	$172,829	$83.09	3
   14	Microsoft	$172,315	$82.84	15
   15	Mathematica	$170,397	$81.92
   16	Globus Medical	$169,477	$81.48
   17	UMiami Health System	$167,835	$80.69
   18	Lt Engineering	$163,724	$78.71
   19	Mission Health Services	$162,184	$77.97	4
   20	General Dynamics	$155,245	$74.64	12

4. Writing an area director job description

   An area director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an area director job description:

   Area director job description example

   The Area Director of Catering and Conference Services is a key staff position responsible for the administration, analysis, development, and communication needed to service customers and develop revenues. ADOCCS must be an enthusiastic, aggressive, and results driven, professional individual who possesses the ability and passion for guest service and booking business. The ADOCCS will be responsible to oversee the staffs selling catering events and servicing all group related conventions/meetings within the three hotels. This role must work closely with Area Director of Sales and Marketing and Market Director of Revenue Management to achieve annual goals, budget, and targets. The ADOCCS is responsible for the supervision of Catering sales managers, Convention/Event Services Managers, trainees, and administrative staff. The ADOCCS will act as a liaison between Catering & Convention Services and all departments throughout the hotel. Communication and organizational skills are of the utmost importance.
   Job Description
   Principle duties and responsibilities (Essential Functions) include:
   
   Assist in recruitment, and hiring of team, training, managing and coaching managers to meet company goals and maximize hotel revenues Direct the day-to-day activities of the catering and conference services team. Advise staff of formal policies and procedures Work closely with Area DOSM to increase team engagement and development in their Sales and/or management roles Identify operational problems that impact the effectiveness of overall catering sales performance and work closely with appropriate departments on solutions Prepare an annual budget for approval and administer that budget in a fiscally responsible manner. Develop annual goals for Catering and Convention Services TeamMonitor and review Catering Sales Managers' sales achievement as it relates to productivity Keep the Area DOSM informed of all activities related to the Catering & Convention Services Department with regular meetings and daily communication Work closely with Area DOSM and Market DORM on revenue strategies To assist the Area DOSM in establishing and maintaining the annual Sales & Marketing PlanDevelop banquet menu pricing, rental fees, and revenue minimums, using current competitive data and as directed Negotiate/achieve maximum revenue/profit while satisfying clients' needs Participate in daily business review meeting, weekly Catering prospecting review, sales meetings, and management meetings Coordinate sales efforts between hotel sales department and catering sales to ensure proper utilization of function space to yield maximum revenues Ensure that function bookings, group resumes, and event contracts are prepared and distributed accurately and efficiently Work towards providing efficient processes and updating/creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) Ensure Team is well trained on Delphi, monitor Delphi and enforce SOP's for its use with audits as needed Help to answer questions daily from Staff as needed and maintain a good morale in the office Maintain a harmonious working relationship with other departments in the hotels, other hotels, convention bureau and regional offices, as well as constant knowledge of what is happening in the market and other hotel properties Prepare and present accurate monthly forecasts Follow departmental policies and procedures Follow all safety policies Perform other duties as assigned
   
   Specific Job Knowledge & Skills:
   Track record of delivering exceptional guest and client experience Bachelor's Degree in marketing or related field or equivalent5+ years' experience in a catering setting or related field, with direct supervisory experience over a sales/catering team, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience Must speak fluent EnglishOther languages preferred Demonstrable expertise in analysis and action taking Excellent oral and written communication Excellent organization skills Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPointReading and writing abilities are utilized often when completing paperwork and management reports, interpreting results, giving and receiving instructions, and training Mathematical skills, including basic math, budgeting, profit/loss concepts, percentages, and variances are utilized frequently.Problem solving, reasoning, motivating, organizational and training abilities are used often.Ability to travel to attend workshops, tradeshows, conventions, etc.May require a valid Driver's License.May be required to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays.Alcohol awareness certification and/or food service permit or valid health/food handler card as required by local or state government agency.
   
   Additional Job Description
   
   Benefits
   
   Sonesta recognizes that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families. We offer a variety of benefits to our employees including:
   
   Medical, Dental and Vision InsuranceHealth Savings Account with Company Match 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company MatchPaid Vacation and Sick DaysSonesta Hotel DiscountsEducational AssistancePaid Parental LeaveCompany Paid Life InsuranceCompany Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability InsuranceVarious Employee Perks and Discounts
   
   Upon submitting your application, please ensure you complete a full application in addition to attaching a resume. Incomplete applications received will not be considered.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right area director for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your area director job on Zippia to find and recruit area director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit area directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new area director

   Once you've decided on a perfect area director candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new area director. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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