Director of human resources vs senior human resources manager

The differences between directors of human resources and senior human resources managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director of human resources and a senior human resources manager. Additionally, a senior human resources manager has an average salary of $102,806, which is higher than the $100,601 average annual salary of a director of human resources.

The top three skills for a director of human resources include performance management, HRIS and employee engagement. The most important skills for a senior human resources manager are performance management, employee engagement, and SR.

Director of human resources vs senior human resources manager overview

	Director Of Human Resources	Senior Human Resources Manager
Yearly salary	$100,601	$102,806
Hourly rate	$48.37	$49.43
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	46,924	46,602
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a director of human resources do?

A human resources director is responsible for managing the overall operations of the human resources department, ensuring smooth operations while meeting the company's goals of successful profitability and services. Human resources directors' duties include providing staff consultation, addressing staffing concerns, managing compensation and benefits plans, reviewing plans for training and development programs, and reporting future actions to the management. A human resources director must have excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills to help lead the business to its growth and development.

What does a senior human resources manager do?

As a senior human resources manager, you are responsible for the overall management of human resources involving talent acquisition, performance management, and training and development. You will also handle compensation and benefits, employee services and industrial relations, and personnel administration to ensure a sustainable complement to the company's business operation requirements. It is also part of your role to review, plan, and provide general direction on employee relations programs and activities. The senior human resources manager also does an adequate review of company rules, regulations, and code of conduct and ensures the implementation of employee training and development programs.

Director of human resources vs senior human resources manager salary

Directors of human resources and senior human resources managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Director Of Human Resources	Senior Human Resources Manager
Average salary	$100,601	$102,806
Salary range	Between $68,000 And $147,000	Between $73,000 And $143,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Nevada
Best paying company	McKinsey & Company Inc	Bain & Company
Best paying industry	Technology	Energy

Differences between director of human resources and senior human resources manager education

There are a few differences between a director of human resources and a senior human resources manager in terms of educational background:

	Director Of Human Resources	Senior Human Resources Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Director of human resources vs senior human resources manager demographics

Here are the differences between directors of human resources' and senior human resources managers' demographics:

	Director Of Human Resources	Senior Human Resources Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0%	Male, 42.7% Female, 57.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	18%	18%

Differences between director of human resources and senior human resources manager duties and responsibilities

Director of human resources example responsibilities.

Recruit, negotiate new benefit contracts, manage compensation budget with department managers, process and oversee payroll.
Develop a structure interview process, implement online background investigation, integrity surveying applications, and manage the HRIS system.
Adopt mediation as a prefer means of reduce cost employee dispute resolution.
Design performance management training program and develop and deliver sexual harassment and EEO training to production show staff.
Maintain affirmative action and OSHA documentation.
Lead responsibility for all employment litigation and administrative charges.

Senior human resources manager example responsibilities.

Spearhead HRIS initiatives; transition to new applicant tracking system and develop leads database that strengthen recruitment pipeline.
Administer employee action issues including disciplinary procedures, promotions, retention, code of conduct, FMLA policy and benefits information.
Prevent litigation by thoroughly investigating numerous harassment, discrimination, and other EEO cases.
Expand functionality to meet enhance reporting needs relate to payroll accruals and performance measurements.
Implement total quality management initiative by moving FMLA administration from 3rd party outsourcing to in-house.
Create automated offer letters and appropriate HRIS documentation for transfers, eliminating additional recruitment and operational support.

Director of human resources vs senior human resources manager skills

Common director of human resources skills

Performance Management, 8%
HRIS, 5%
Employee Engagement, 4%
Payroll Processing, 4%
Customer Service, 4%
Succession Planning, 4%

Common senior human resources manager skills

Performance Management, 10%
Employee Engagement, 6%
SR, 5%
HRIS, 5%
Customer Service, 4%
Succession Planning, 4%

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Director Of Human Resources vs Senior Human Resources Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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