A deputy chief is the second-in-command in a variety of government and private-sector operations. The acting chief or leader usually describes the job description of a deputy chief. When the chief is unavailable, deputy chief officers may be commissioned to act as the leader. To facilitate vertical communication, many deputy chiefs also serve as liaisons between upper and lower ranks. Deputy chief positions are typically filled through an election or direct hire process.
Deputy chief executive officers usually communicate with the current head of operations on a regular basis. Chief officers and their deputies have good relationships in many successful companies and government agencies. A deputy’s job can change on a daily basis as he or she is expected to carry out the acting chief officer’s orders. A deputy chief’s failures and successes are typically viewed as indicators of how the person would lead if given the opportunity. Many deputy chiefs regard their time on the job as a proving ground for promotion to the position of chief executive officer.
A business firm’s deputy chief is frequently tasked with effectively coordinating the efforts of other company officers. On company-wide concerns and matters of great importance, department heads usually report directly to the deputy. The deputy chief of a corporation or office is usually in charge of staff meetings and individual briefings. Deputy chiefs monitor company workflow and employee productivity in order to inform their own and the chief’s management decisions.
Characters portraying deputy chiefs of police are well-known in Western films. In police forces, the position of second in command still exists. Small towns may only have one sheriff or chief of police, as well as a couple of deputy officers. Deputy officers are usually paired with new hires to ensure that they receive thorough training before working on their own.
The current deputy in charge’s job sometimes entails taking full responsibility for the group’s failures while taking no credit for its successes. This thankless task ensures that the chief is seen in the best possible light the lower ranks and the general public. The chief officer usually repays the deputy’s altruism defending the deputy’s authority and protecting the deputy’s job. The executive chief and deputy’s relationship requires a high level of trust.