What does a section manager do?
A section manager is responsible for supervising the overall production processes and operations of an organization. Section managers ensure that their designated sections run accurately and efficiently while following the highest standard protocols and internal regulations. They also identify opportunities to maximize the staff's productivity and perform quality control procedures that would enhance the current processes and fix any inconsistencies. A section manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to assist the staff and the business in achieving customer satisfaction.
Section manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real section manager resumes:
- Implement ISO quality procedures and lead internal audits
- Coordinate and manage the security operations of combat convoys moving and transporting equipment to different locations across hostile areas.
- Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
- Perform contract negotiations, vendor selection, product introduction, ISO quality adherence, cost reductions, and inventory balancing.
- Perform ongoing research and analysis of internal business requirements and project logistics.
- Plan and request signal logistics support for battalion level operations and maintenance.
- Supervise image acquisition and support executive briefings for combat readiness, research and development, and historical archival retention.
- Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
- Reduce the Medicare application time to ensure compliance with timely filing regulations that prevent any potential increase in Medicare accounts receivable.
Section manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Section Managers are proficient in Career Development, Project Management, and DOD. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Section Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Career Development, 9%
Created / authored Career Development D-Course training material test designed to assess an individual's knowledge of course material.
- Project Management, 9%
Coordinated planning, scheduling and project management activities in a very dynamic and challenging environment.
- DOD, 6%
Developed the conversion scheme to take a C4ISR Architecture Framework to a DoD Architecture Framework compliant product.
- Performance Reviews, 6%
Communicated and documented necessary information to support effective performance reviews and/or disciplinary action.
- Continuous Improvement, 5%
Implemented continuous improvement initiatives including drawing standardization, cross-functional training of Engineering personnel, and standardization of product designs.
- RF, 4%
Designed innovative method to implement RF spectrum analyzer feature for mid-tier communications service monitor.
Common skills that a section manager uses to do their job include "career development," "project management," and "dod." You can find details on the most important section manager responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a section manager to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what section managers do because "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Additionally, a section manager resume shows how section managers use communication skills: "managed a portable radio communication product development team responsible for developing a product meeting international specifications. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform section manager duties is leadership skills. Section managers responsibilities require that "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." Section managers also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "delivered effective program leadership of all management functions including technical, hr, resources, quality, and cost. "
Problem-solving skills. section manager responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." This resume example shows what section managers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "managed the deliverables, milestones, quality, backlog, defect resolution plans and customer support. "
Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in section manager job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what section managers do. Section manager responsibilities rely on this skill because "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." You can also see how section manager duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "managed manufacturing process to ensure product was delivered on time and under budget while maintaining quality standards. "
The three companies that hire the most section managers are:
- HDR38 section managers jobs
- Raytheon Technologies33 section managers jobs
- Burns & McDonnell26 section managers jobs
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Compare different section managers
Section manager vs. Manager, center operations
The duties of a manager of center operations depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing business operations, setting targets, assessing the workforce's performance, and performing corrective measures on any issues or concerns. Moreover, there are also instances where they have to produce progress reports, devise strategies for optimal business performance, delegate tasks, and even manage the budget. As a manager, it is crucial to lead and encourage the team to reach goals and sales targets while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, section manager responsibilities require skills like "career development," "dod," "rf," and "corrective action." Meanwhile a typical manager, center operations has skills in areas such as "infrastructure," "osha," "standard operating procedure," and "patients." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Managers, center operations tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $68,400. In contrast, section managers make the biggest average salary, $115,997, in the technology industry.The education levels that managers, center operations earn slightly differ from section managers. In particular, managers, center operations are 3.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a section manager. Additionally, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Section manager vs. 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. They coordinate the primary performance goals for direct reporting functions and set the strategies for the organization. It is their responsibility to communicate strategy as well as results to employees. They also engage with the corporate officers in the strategic planning and development of the organization or enterprise.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that section manager responsibilities requires skills like "career development," "project management," "dod," and "rf." But a general manager of operations might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "develop team," "financial statements," and "payroll."
In general, general managers of operations achieve similar levels of education than section managers. They're 4.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Section manager vs. Performance manager
As the name entails, performance managers are responsible for maintaining and improving employee performance based on organizational objectives. Their job may vary depending on the industry they work in, but common duties include collecting and analyzing performance data, developing effective systems for information collection, and performing statistical performance analysis. Additional duties of a performance manager may include organizing and conducting training and development on best practices and resolving workplace barriers to performance.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from section manager resumes include skills like "career development," "dod," "rf," and "powerpoint," whereas a performance manager is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "performance improvement," "visualization," and "sql. "
Performance managers make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $110,053. On the other hand, section managers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $115,997.performance managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to section managers. Specifically, they're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Section manager vs. Customer service/operations manager
A customer service/operations manager is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of a customer service team, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities include setting goals and objectives, establishing guidelines and schedules, managing the employees, creating new programs for customers, and developing strategies to optimize customer service operations. They may also participate in reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, resolving issues promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between section managers and customer service/operations managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a section manager might have more use for skills like "career development," "project management," "dod," and "continuous improvement." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of customer service/operations managers require skills like "customer satisfaction," "customer service," "payroll," and "human resources. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for customer service/operations managers, with average annual pay of $67,456. Comparatively, the highest section manager annual salary comes from the technology industry.In general, customer service/operations managers hold lower degree levels compared to section managers. Customer service/operations managers are 8.7% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of section manager
Updated January 8, 2025
