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Service director vs department director

The differences between service directors and department directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a service director and a department director. Additionally, a service director has an average salary of $114,981, which is higher than the $97,804 average annual salary of a department director.

The top three skills for a service director include patients, healthcare and patient care. The most important skills for a department director are patient care, patients, and healthcare.

Service director vs department director overview

Service DirectorDepartment Director
Yearly salary$114,981$97,804
Hourly rate$55.28$47.02
Growth rate28%28%
Number of jobs64,27773,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does a service director do?

A service director is responsible for managing and implementing customer service policies and ensuring that all staff strictly adhere to reach the highest customer satisfaction. Service directors' duties include identifying business opportunities to improve customers' experience, monitoring the performance of the customer service team, developing strategic procedures on service delivery, creating new promotional offers and services, and coaching the team to increase business productivity. A service director must have excellent leadership and communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the customer service industry to lead the team and boost company sales.

What does a department director do?

A Department Director spearheads and oversees the operations of a department, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although their responsibilities vary upon the functions of a department, they typically have the power to decide on projects and programs. Their responsibilities include setting goals, establishing budgets and guidelines, representing the department at meetings and media coverages, liaising with external business partners, managing staff, and monitoring the progress of operations. Moreover, a Department Director leads and encourages staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Service director vs department director salary

Service directors and department directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service DirectorDepartment Director
Average salary$114,981$97,804
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $188,000Between $64,000 And $148,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMayo ClinicAnna Jaques Hospital
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between service director and department director education

There are a few differences between a service director and a department director in terms of educational background:

Service DirectorDepartment Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Service director vs department director demographics

Here are the differences between service directors' and department directors' demographics:

Service DirectorDepartment Director
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 57.2% Female, 42.8%Male, 52.8% Female, 47.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 7.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between service director and department director duties and responsibilities

Service director example responsibilities.

  • Lead and manage implementation and customization of SharePoint to replace legacy document approval system and document filing system.
  • Lead the training program for child psychiatry residents.
  • Manage social medias (Weibo, Facebook and etc . )
  • Assist in managing client accounts by managing HVAC alignments and ensuring contractual requirements are meet.
  • Manage a staff of 280 FTE s and a management team of 6 in a union environment.
  • Manage all daily operations, both clinical and support, during and after Medicare trials to ensure long-term business viability.
  • Show more

Department director example responsibilities.

  • Manage and direct bureau operations, and provide oversight of criminal investigations of statewide importance.
  • Establish and develop relationships with ERP and consulting vendors with the goal of maximizing comparative advantage and cost efficient solution development.
  • Ensure compliance with all CMS regulations.
  • Provide public education in the areas of fire department capabilities and history as well as CPR classes.
  • Follow up and coordination of rehabilitation services.
  • Cross-Train pre-operative and PACU staff to optimize efficiency.
  • Show more

Service director vs department director skills

Common service director skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Healthcare, 10%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • Surgery, 4%
Common department director skills
  • Patient Care, 15%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Healthcare, 13%
  • Oversight, 8%
  • Human Resources, 5%
  • Payroll, 4%

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