What does a section supervisor do?

Section supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real section supervisor resumes:
- Supervise ammunition resupply operations ensuring all jobs are accomplish on time.
- Lead division payroll meetings and maintain documentation available in share directory and portal to facilitate communication and standardization of payroll procedures.
- Supervise and assist in the transportation, loading, and unloading of multiple types of hazardous materials between multiple DOD organizations.
- Handle subpoenas, court orders.
- Train variuos areas in HIPAA compliance.
- Supervise the design and build unique laser and electronic systems for DoD applications.
- Incorporate various principles of effective leadership to ensure accomplishment of mission and overall well-being of squad members.
- Authore multiple spreadsheets/databases and PowerPoint presentations.
- Supervise the activities of leadership and section operations in sustaining readiness preparedness.
- Demonstrate ability to troubleshoot creatively, solve problems effectively, and make inform decisions while successfully guiding others through constant change.
- Monitor USAF parts supply system, authorize parts requisitions and cannibalization actions.
- Demonstrate ability to troubleshoot creatively, solve problems effectively, and make inform decisions while successfully guiding others through constant change.
Section supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Section Supervisors are proficient in Safety Procedures, Direct Supervision, and Proficiency Testing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Section Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Safety Procedures, 16%
Leveraged knowledge of explosives in alignment with safety procedures.
- Direct Supervision, 12%
Developed all squadron disaster preparedness and base recovery plans to include direct supervision of response and contingency teams.
- Proficiency Testing, 6%
Perform accurate and precise diagnostic laboratory testing and quality control as well as proficiency testing (API & CAP).
- Chemistry, 5%
Served as Section Supervisor for Special Chemistry within the Pavilion Laboratory.
- Combat, 5%
Performed administrative and operational duties for a reception battalion ensuring shipment of over 27,000 Soldiers annually to Basic Combat Training.
- Career Development, 4%
Administered unit education and training program; managed career field education and training plans and career development course administration.
Most section supervisors use their skills in "safety procedures," "direct supervision," and "proficiency testing" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential section supervisor responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a section supervisor to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Section supervisors often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "trained 14 kuwaiti maintenance teams on proper electronics maintenance procedures for vehicle mounted communications systems. "
Leadership skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling section supervisor duties is leadership skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." According to a section supervisor resume, here's how section supervisors can utilize leadership skills in their job responsibilities: "provided leadership for mentoring, career development tools, and team building for field engineering. "
Problem-solving skills. section supervisor 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 supervisors do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "addressed and resolved personnel issues involving disciplinary actions up to and including termination. "
Time-management skills. Another common skill required for section supervisor responsibilities is "time-management skills." This skill comes up in the duties of section supervisors all the time, as "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." An excerpt from a real section supervisor resume shows how this skill is central to what a section supervisor does: "supervised ammunition resupply operations ensuring all jobs are accomplished on time. "
The three companies that hire the most section supervisors are:
- Corning Incorporated5 section supervisors jobs
- Kansas City Southern5 section supervisors jobs
- LifePoint Health4 section supervisors jobs
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Section supervisor vs. Quality assurance supervisor
A quality assurance supervisor oversees and leads the quality control operations within a manufacturing plant or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for crafting and implementing policies that prioritize the efficiency of products or services, supervising and evaluating the performances of the workforce, and setting standards and procedures that align not just with the goals of the company, but the national and international level of production standards. Furthermore, as a supervisor in the field, it is crucial to encourage and shape quality assurance workers into valuable members of the company.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a section supervisor are more likely to require skills like "safety procedures," "direct supervision," "chemistry," and "combat." On the other hand, a job as a quality assurance supervisor requires skills like "food safety," "product quality," "gmp," and "customer service." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that quality assurance supervisors earn slightly differ from section supervisors. In particular, quality assurance supervisors are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a section supervisor. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Section supervisor vs. Section chief
A section chief's job varies with the type of organization. In most cases, a section chief is the head of a given section in an organization that is tasked with performing certain duties. A section chief is the head of a unit and provides leadership, motivation, and management of a section of employees. Their duties and responsibilities include reviewing and overseeing budgets, expenditure, and section activities.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that section supervisor responsibilities requires skills like "direct supervision," "proficiency testing," "chemistry," and "career development." But a section chief might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "federal agencies," "battery," "computer system," and "performance reports."
Section chiefs earn similar levels of education than section supervisors in general. They're 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Section supervisor vs. Section manager
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.
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 supervisor resumes include skills like "safety procedures," "direct supervision," "chemistry," and "combat," whereas a section manager is more likely to list skills in "project management," "continuous improvement," "rf," and "process improvement. "
When it comes to education, section managers tend to earn higher degree levels compared to section supervisors. In fact, they're 6.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Section supervisor vs. Section leader
A section leader is responsible for supporting the musical director on delivering the highest quality on musical performance and recitals. Section leaders provide leadership to their assigned musical section, responding to the artists' inquiries and concerns, and organize rehearsals as needed to ensure excellence and satisfy the guests' musical experience. They also actively participate in production meetings, take initiatives on personal coaching, and demonstrate the usage of instruments to guide new musicians. A section leader must have excellent communication and leadership skills to provide production support, making sure that no one will be left behind.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between section supervisors and section leaders, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a section supervisor might have more use for skills like "direct supervision," "proficiency testing," "chemistry," and "career development." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of section leaders require skills like "non," "weapons systems," "reconnaissance," and "leadership. "
Section leaders reach similar levels of education compared to section supervisors, in general. The difference is that they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of section supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025











