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What is a business unit leader and how to become one
A business unit leader acts as the main overseer of a company's business unit. They set the team's goals, delegate tasks to staff, train new staff, and supervise the daily activities of their unit. Their leadership ensures that all of their team's objectives are met.
The specific job duties of a business unit leader typically include supervising team members, coordinating work schedules, conducting business meetings, monitoring KPIs, and providing mentoring as needed. They also coordinate with other business units to help ensure smooth workflow within their entire organization.
A bachelor's degree in business or some other business-related field is the typical minimum requirement for this role. However, having an MBA can increase one's earning potential and chances of career advancement. In terms of experience, a business unit leader must have at least three to five years of industry experience as well as substantial experience in a supervisory role. The salary of a business unit leader ranges between $54,000 to $156,000, depending on their level of experience and expertise, as well as the size of the team they are handling.
Avg. Salary $111,361
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%
Asian 6.32%
Black or African American 6.13%
Hispanic or Latino 15.01%
Unknown 4.33%
White 67.74%
Genderfemale 18.93%
male 81.07%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Business unit leader career paths
Key steps to become a business unit leader
Explore business unit leader education requirements
Start to develop specific business unit leader skills
Skills Percentages Continuous Improvement 9.71% Quality Standards 6.20% Lean Manufacturing 6.08% Safety Culture 5.92% World Class 5.48% Complete relevant business unit leader training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business unit leaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business unit leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business unit leader resumes.Research business unit leader duties and responsibilities
- Manage and develop employee KPIs to assist in reaching monthly and annual gross profit goals.
- Manage a team of four and hold matrix leadership responsibility for specialists assign to particular technical areas for business continuity projects.
- Coordinate all KPIs and develop measurement tools of teams by line/shift.
- Deliver meaningful fact-base guidance for visual analytics and data review to support decision making from patient safety and data review prospective.
Get business unit leader experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a business unit leader. The most common roles before becoming a business unit leader include production supervisor, operations manager team lead and production manager.Apply for business unit leader jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a business unit leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average business unit leader salary
The average business unit leader salary in the United States is $111,361 per year or $54 per hour. Business unit leader salaries range between $64,000 and $191,000 per year.
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How do business unit leaders rate their job?
Business unit leader reviews
I am able to stay organized and able to help other do there job correctly and ask questions when needed
Updated January 8, 2025
