How to hire an assistant department head

How to hire an assistant department head, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant department head hiring guide:

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

What does an assistant department head do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assistant department head you need to hire. Certain assistant department head roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an assistant department head to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an assistant department head that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of assistant department heads.

   Type of Assistant Department Head	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Department Head		$18-50
   Shift Supervisor	Shift supervisors are responsible for the employees assigned to the shift that they are handling. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees who were expected to report to work at the specific shift came in... Show more	$12-21
   Key Holder	A keyholder is responsible for ensuring the store's daily security before and after the operation. Keyholders' duties include assisting with administrative tasks, handling customers' inquiries, managing and escalating customers' complaints, monitoring the alarm system, keeping track of the deliveries, supporting staff training, cooperating in company's events, and recommending operational strategies to meet business goals and objectives... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Ladders
   • Sales Floor
   • Customer Service
   • Curriculum Development
   • Professional Development
   • Loss Prevention
   • Financial Statements
   • Stock Shelves
   • Payroll
   • Inventory Management
   • Mathematics
   • Logistics
   • Inventory Control
   • Front Desk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Generate and implement new rules and regulations for the disciplinary department which lead to streamlining the process for separating challenge sailors.
   • Manage a high volume of patient information from authorizing diagnostic procedures and scheduling patients.
   • Perform all duties require while working in a retail environment such as POS cash handling, customer service and sales.
   • Stoop, climb ladders, and lift heavy loads during set-up for events.
   • Administer Microsoft PowerPoint training lectures and meeting/ briefings require by OSHA and NAVOSH.
   • Collaborate with patients, Tricare, and providers DOD and civilian coordinating specialty care referrals.

   More assistant department head duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant department head job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An assistant department head salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant department head in Kentucky may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level assistant department head usually earns less than a senior-level assistant department head. Additionally, an assistant department head with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average assistant department head salary

   $65,309yearly

   $31.40 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant department head salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average assistant department head salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$93,646	$45
   2	California	$82,636	$40
   3	District of Columbia	$81,806	$39
   4	Connecticut	$80,946	$39
   5	Maryland	$77,364	$37
   6	Massachusetts	$76,247	$37
   7	Maine	$71,721	$34
   8	Nevada	$61,413	$30
   9	North Carolina	$59,783	$29
   10	Texas	$59,353	$29
   11	Indiana	$57,708	$28
   12	Montana	$55,582	$27
   13	Nebraska	$54,065	$26
   14	Louisiana	$52,040	$25
   15	Kansas	$51,638	$25
   16	Missouri	$47,914	$23

   Average assistant department head salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Princeton University	$121,039	$58.19	1
   2	University of California	$112,150	$53.92	7
   3	California Institute of Technology	$108,694	$52.26	1
   4	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$105,835	$50.88	4
   5	The Chapin School	$89,223	$42.90	1
   6	UC Merced	$88,972	$42.77
   7	University of Nebraska at Omaha	$86,931	$41.79
   8	Tenet Healthcare	$86,825	$41.74	23
   9	LA State University Continuing	$85,370	$41.04	12
   10	The Culinary Institute of America	$82,078	$39.46
   11	PSEA	$79,702	$38.32	4
   12	City of Baltimore	$77,609	$37.31	2
   13	University of Nevada, Reno	$76,618	$36.84	4
   14	University of Georgia Small Business Development Center	$72,720	$34.96	5
   15	University Of Minnesota Physicians	$70,319	$33.81
   16	Newton Public Schools	$70,010	$33.66	2
   17	Kansas State University	$69,484	$33.41	1
   18	Oxford Solutions	$66,911	$32.17
   19	Amherst College	$66,326	$31.89
   20	Tactical Engineering & Analysis	$64,687	$31.10

4. Writing an assistant department head job description

   An assistant department head 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an assistant department head job description:

   Assistant department head job description example

   12-month tenured position

   Reporting to the Dean of Library, the Library Systems Department Head is responsible for providing high-quality, robust management of library systems (applications and hardware) that facilitate search, discovery, and delivery of library services and resources. The Library Systems Department Head works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, to support the discoverability of library resources in both the physical and digital realms. This position plays a key role in NMSU Library's integrated information technology-library ecosystem. This Library Systems Department Head is tasked with managing current systems and works on projects to deliver new services of high-quality to support an intensive research and multi-disciplined environment. As a member of the library faculty, pursues an active and ongoing program of professional development appropriate for rank at the university. Ensures compliance with relevant library and university policies and procedures, including department head roles and responsibilities as specified in New Mexico State University Administrative Rules and Procedures (ARP). 6.72-Department Heads Responsibilities.
   As a member of the library faculty, is responsible for achieving in the following areas:

   • Librarianship
   • Scholarship and Creative Activity
   • Outreach and Extension (when appropriate)
   • Service

   Specific duties of the incumbent include the following:

   • Oversees internal systems administration for NMSU Library and IT-related workflows and infrastructure
   • Monitors the trends in the field and implements new and emerging library data management applications and knowledge systems, such as next generation library catalogs, aggregated discovery tools, research and collaboration systems, instructional technology, digital archives, and simulation and presentation tools.
   • Works closely with library staff, the systems unit, and other organizational entities within NMSU and NMSU Library to ensure systems are optimized for all library operations.
   • Maintains up to date documentation regarding systems, policies, procedures and practices.
   • Promotes a diverse environment.

   Moving allowance included.

   New Mexico State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer; Minorities, Females, Veterans, and those with a Disability are encouraged to apply.
   

   PandoLogic. Keywords: Department Chair, Location: Washington, DC - 20037

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right assistant department head 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 assistant department head job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant department head candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assistant department heads, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 assistant department head

   Once you've selected the best assistant department head candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new assistant department head. 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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How much does it cost to hire an assistant department head?