How to hire a division manager

How to hire a division manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step division manager hiring guide:

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

What does a division manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The division manager 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

   A division manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, division managers 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of division managers.

   Type of Division Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Division Manager	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.	$24-62
   Manager Of Business Services	Business Service Managers are administrative professionals who oversee different service-related functions in the company. They manage the teams involved in serving various functions... Show more	$32-67
   General Manager Of Operations	General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management... Show more	$23-79

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Project Management
   • Safety Program
   • Oversight
   • Human Resources
   • Financial Statements
   • Business Development
   • Business Plan
   • Product Development
   • ISO
   • Payroll
   • Direct Reports
   • Professional Development
   • Personnel Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve $2.5 million increase in EBITDA, from - $2.3 million to + $200K.
   • Exceed budget in years two & three and achieve ISO certification in year one.
   • Exceed budget in years 2 & 3 and achieve ISO certification in year 1.
   • Launch the usage of a CRM tool to assist associates in managing book of business.
   • Develop operational plans, implement schedules, coordinate supply logistics and manage the operational plan from inception to completion.
   • Establish productive working relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies, reorganize and improve operation, and achieve OSHA compliance.

   More division manager duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, division managers' average salary in mississippi is 59% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level division managers 61% less than senior-level division managers.
   • Certifications. A division manager 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 a division manager's salary.

   Average division manager salary

   $81,755yearly

   $39.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level division manager salary

   $51,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average division manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$123,117	$59
   2	Washington	$100,789	$48
   3	District of Columbia	$97,333	$47
   4	Colorado	$96,484	$46
   5	Arizona	$92,931	$45
   6	Massachusetts	$87,278	$42
   7	New York	$86,434	$42
   8	Texas	$86,043	$41
   9	New Jersey	$85,583	$41
   10	Oregon	$85,183	$41
   11	Illinois	$83,104	$40
   12	Oklahoma	$82,758	$40
   13	Nevada	$78,648	$38
   14	Georgia	$77,976	$37
   15	New Mexico	$76,718	$37
   16	Maryland	$75,592	$36
   17	Ohio	$74,980	$36
   18	North Carolina	$70,910	$34
   19	Minnesota	$70,899	$34
   20	Utah	$68,538	$33

   Average division manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dignity Health	$147,191	$70.76	6
   2	Callon Petroleum	$147,014	$70.68
   3	Regeneron	$143,434	$68.96	35
   4	MDU Resources	$125,918	$60.54
   5	CyberCoders	$125,899	$60.53	7
   6	Abbott	$125,335	$60.26	60
   7	Goldman Sachs	$125,253	$60.22	1
   8	Seagen	$123,198	$59.23
   9	IDA	$121,903	$58.61
   10	Stanford University	$120,893	$58.12	32
   11	Mercy Children's Hospital	$114,301	$54.95
   12	Children's Hospital Colorado	$111,154	$53.44
   13	Bobrick	$110,649	$53.20
   14	Taylor Morrison	$110,195	$52.98	12
   15	Barnes Group	$109,260	$52.53	3
   16	Goodwin Recruiting	$108,450	$52.14
   17	Ventura County Community Foundation	$106,273	$51.09
   18	Encompass Health	$103,933	$49.97	16
   19	Rosendin Electric	$103,023	$49.53	5
   20	Celenia	$102,938	$49.49

4. Writing a division manager job description

   A division manager 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 a division manager job description:

   Division manager job description example

   You're looking for an opportunity to lead a division and make the company better. We're looking for a Division Manager to join our leadership team and make an impact in our business. We provide the stability of a long-standing, employee-owned company with the progressive nature of a growing, improvement-minded future.
   Who You Are...
   
   + Empowering Leader: supports the team and encourages them to share ideas
   
   + Integrity: in business and relationships
   
   + Accountable: willing to commit to a goal and see it through
   
   + Sound Judgement: stays calm and responds in emergency situations
   
   + Business Acumen: experienced professional who understands the full scope of managing a large team
   
   What You will Need...
   
   • Minimum of five years experience in utility vegetation management, at least two of which includes Supervisor or Area Manager or have related experience.• High school Diploma or GED, ISA Certified Arborist or Degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, or a closely related field.• Demonstrate strong leadership and organization skills.• Ability to read and comprehend and implement appropriate plans and actions to ensure compliance.• Ability to coordinate, direct, supervises and evaluates management personnel.• Able to compose and complete necessary reports and provide summaries of the reports to upper-level management.• Have a valid driver's license.• Willing and able to work extended hours.• Able and willing to travel by air or ground.• Must have the ability to operate a personal computer and work with applicable computer software programs.• Ability to read, write and understand English • Work with computers/technology • Lift under 50 lbs.; repetitive and set motions (keystroking, sitting at length)
   
   What You Will Do...• Ascertain that all personnel reporting to the division manager understand and accept the responsibilities and authorities described in their job description.• Recommend to and consult with the Human Resources department on employing, dismissing, disciplining and promoting personnel.• Foster good working relationships and develop a good working environment that ensures high employee morale.• Review accident reports and property damage claims, encourage employees to perform work of the highest quality and promote safety.• Maintain / develop knowledge of the latest developments in utility vegetation management equipment and procedures.• Participate in trade associations and organizations involved in vegetation management• Market appropriate vegetation management services to utilities in conjunction with the regional vice president.• Maintain open lines of communication and a good working relationship with all members of the Operational Management Group.• Promote the image of Lewis Tree Service, Inc.Lewis Tree Service is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity for both applicants and employees. Lewis Tree Service prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment of employees and applicants on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age (40+), religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic, all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, apprenticeship, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Lewis Tree Service's practices and policies are administered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
   
   .
   
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to and indoor and has some exposure to an outdoor environment. The noise level in the work environment is most often moderate but sometimes loud.
   
   Lewis Tree Service (Carolina Tree Care) is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity for both applicants and employees. Lewis Tree Service prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment of employees and applicants on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age (40+), religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic, all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, apprenticeship, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Carolina Tree Care's practices and policies are administered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right division manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with division managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit division managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting division managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 division manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect division manager 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.

   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 division manager. 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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