What does an assistant department head do?
An assistant department head is responsible for monitoring the operations of the department, together with the department head. Assistant department heads' duties include managing clients' inquiries and complaints, developing strategic solutions to improve clients' satisfaction, and identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and the business' profitability. They will also work on monitoring the staff's performance and addressing their concerns, creating sales reports, maintaining budget goals, and organizing training. An assistant department head must have excellent leadership and communication skills to help in achieving the department's objectives.
Assistant department head responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant department head resumes:
- 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.
- Represent the hospital in providing request documents of work to fulfill the ISO's accreditation standards.
- Introduce mathematics enrichment programs for students who are not quite ready to advance to the next level.
- Monitor exam of chemistry and prepare exam materials.
- Develop multimedia presentations and reports using Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Educate students using tailor courses explaining basics of general chemistry.
- Perform physical security assessments and ensure compliance with DOD directives.
- Develop, implement and maintain ISO compliant corporate supply management strategy.
- Assist in producing computer automate spreadsheets and payroll records for the office administration.
- Recognize for outstanding contribution to bottom line profit dollars through payroll and operation expense control.
Assistant department head skills and personality traits
We calculated that 29% of Assistant Department Heads are proficient in Ladders, Sales Floor, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Math skills, and Selling skills.
We break down the percentage of Assistant Department Heads that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Ladders, 29%
Reason for Leaving: My health had my knee replaced and became difficult to climb ladders.
- Sales Floor, 28%
Completed markdowns, organized the department, received new merchandise and worked it onto the sales floor, priced new inventory.
- Customer Service, 11%
Led a team of 150 customer service representations; awarded numerous customer service awards for superior performance and customer satisfaction.
- Curriculum Development, 3%
Supervised installation, instructor training, and curriculum development for several new automated intelligence systems.
- Professional Development, 3%
Managed and tracked all professional development, clinical education and military medicine training requirements for 535 active duty and civilian personnel.
- Loss Prevention, 3%
Monitored loss prevention in Inventory Control.
Most assistant department heads use their skills in "ladders," "sales floor," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential assistant department head responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for an assistant department head to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what assistant department heads do because "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers." Additionally, an assistant department head resume shows how assistant department heads use customer-service skills: "assisted customers with item locations questions and fitting room needs while functioning as loss prevention. "
Math skills. Many assistant department head duties rely on math skills. "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers.," so an assistant department head will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways assistant department head responsibilities rely on math skills: "planned and coordinated internal inspections teachers of mathematics. "
Selling skills. This is an important skill for assistant department heads to perform their duties. For an example of how assistant department head responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an assistant department head: "created and executed loss prevention strategies, set goals, and optimized dated stock to track sales trends. ".
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what assistant department heads do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to assistant department head responsibilities because "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical assistant department head tasks: "demonstrated initiative using interpersonal and problem solving skills in a diplomatic and timely manner to promote goodwill in customer relations. "
The three companies that hire the most assistant department heads are:
- Ocean State Job Lot26 assistant department heads jobs
- Kroger4 assistant department heads jobs
- Tenet Healthcare3 assistant department heads jobs
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Compare different assistant department heads
Assistant department head vs. 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. They also ensure that the employees are doing their jobs while at work. Shift supervisors are expected to ensure that employees are really working during working hours and properly delegate work. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees are productive and efficient in their jobs. They are expected to provide coaching and guidance so that the employees will be able to reach the goals assigned to the work team.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, assistant department head responsibilities require skills like "ladders," "curriculum development," "professional development," and "financial statements." Meanwhile a typical shift supervisor has skills in areas such as "cash handling," "store operations," "store management," and "food products." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Shift supervisors really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $39,059. Comparatively, assistant department heads tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $54,439.On average, shift supervisors reach lower levels of education than assistant department heads. Shift supervisors are 11.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Assistant department head vs. 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. A keyholder must have excellent customer service and time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially during high customer volume.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, assistant department head responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "curriculum development," "professional development," "financial statements," and "payroll." Meanwhile, a key holder has duties that require skills in areas such as "bank deposits," "store management," "retail store," and "store sales." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Key holders may earn a lower salary than assistant department heads, but key holders earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $30,477. On the other hand, assistant department heads receive higher pay in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $54,439.In general, key holders achieve lower levels of education than assistant department heads. They're 12.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 3.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant department head vs. Co-manager
A co-manager's role is to supervise business operations and perform administrative tasks as support to a manager. One of the primary functions of a co-manager is to delegate tasks of team members and arrange schedules. They also evaluate progress, produce the necessary documentation, maintain a record of data, identify issues and opportunities, and assist in coordinating with other employees. A co-manager may also have the task of hiring and training new workforce members, enforcing policies and regulations at all times.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, assistant department heads are more likely to have skills like "curriculum development," "professional development," "financial statements," and "stock shelves." But a co-manager is more likely to have skills like "food safety," "perform routine maintenance," "store sales," and "basic math."
Co-managers earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $64,497. Comparatively, assistant department heads have the highest earning potential in the energy industry, with an average salary of $54,439.Most co-managers achieve a lower degree level compared to assistant department heads. For example, they're 10.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 3.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant department head vs. Sales leader
A Sales Leader's responsibility is more than just leading. Most of the tasks involve monitoring the progress of sales, creating strategies to attain financial gains, managing the workforce, and as well as suggesting and enforcing particular options that would be beneficial for the sales and the company. All while making sure that all actions adhere to the policies and standards of the company. Above all, a Sale's Leader must have the passion and determination to drive a team towards the company's goal.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between assistant department heads and sales leaders, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an assistant department head might have more use for skills like "ladders," "curriculum development," "professional development," and "financial statements." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of sales leaders require skills like "store management," "customer satisfaction," "store operations," and "store associates. "
In general, sales leaders hold lower degree levels compared to assistant department heads. Sales leaders are 10.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of assistant department head
Updated January 8, 2025
