A program supervisor oversees and frequently participates in the progression of activities in a variety of areas related to the administration of a set of classes, courses, or activities. A government-sponsored career skills class, a structured living situation for mentally ill patients, or a variety of other government, private, or commercial programs could be part of the program. A program supervisor is in charge of supervising staff in order to ensure that upper management’s objectives are met.
Program supervisors usually report to a manager who assigns them a specific set of responsibilities. In most cases, a program supervisor oversees the implementation and operation of programs rather than creating or writing them. Instructing staff, creating schedules, giving performance reviews, and dealing with participant complaints are all common program supervision responsibilities.
Some program supervisors are in charge of recruiting and hiring employees. Supervisors typically train employees so that specific program details are correctly implemented. For example, in a government-sponsored career skills class, participants may be required to take mandatory tools such as aptitude tests. Staff may need to be trained on how to administer the tests to participants the career program supervisor. The supervisor can emphasize program details in this way.
Supervisors of specific programs must constantly monitor their employees’ work and provide regular performance evaluations. Performance reviews can encourage employees to improve their work in order to keep the program running smoothly. If a program isn’t being run effectively or if there are too many complaints from participants, funding may be cut, especially in the case of nonprofit programs. Any complaints must be dealt with as soon as possible a program supervisor. Supervisors should be able to solve problems and communicate effectively.
To work as a program supervisor, you may need a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Supervisors with a combination of education and experience in the program’s subject may be hired managers. A parks and recreation program supervisor, for example, may be required to have a physical education degree or some courses in the subject, as well as work experience as a physical education teacher’s assistant. Additional qualifications, such as a lifesaving or first-aid certificate, may be required.
Supervisors of programs may be required to collaborate with supervisors or staff from other departments. They may be required to keep track of statistics about program participants and communicate with payroll about employee pay. Supervisors are frequently expected to attend meetings and industry events related to the program.