A regional director is in charge of a major corporation’s operations in a specific geographic area. A regional director may serve on the board of directors of a corporation in some cases, but most companies simply use the term “director” to distinguish senior management from site or departmental supervisors. Because they are ultimately responsible for revenue generation within their designated area of responsibility, regional directors typically have some autonomy.
A regional director is usually in charge of the company’s operations in a specific region. The regional director reports directly to the managers in charge of production in those locations. Managers are hired, coached, and fired the director, while each manager is typically responsible for hiring and firing his or her own staff. A regional director may report to the CEO, chairman, or president of the company. Some large corporations have an additional level of management, and the regional director may report to a supervisor who oversees the company’s operations across a larger geographic area.
Annual sales and budget forecasts are released corporations, and each regional director is responsible for assisting the company in meeting or exceeding these targets. Based on the previous year’s results, revenue generation goals are divided among regional directors. After that, the director divides the overall goal between the local offices and company locations. Directors must ensure that revenue goals are correctly assigned so that each manager receives a goal that is realistic based on factors such as staffing, previous performance, and local economic trends. In most cases, directors have the authority to re-assign goals in the middle of the year if certain branches outperform others.
Regional directors must find new ways to increase revenue, whether through increased sales or improved efficiency through cost reduction. If a department of the company fails to make enough money, the director may be able to cut costs eliminating staff positions or even closing down underperforming locations. Directors are in charge of the regional budget and are responsible for making strategic decisions such as how much to spend on marketing and advertising. Regional directors frequently receive performance-based bonuses and thus stand to benefit directly from sound business decisions.
Many companies demand that regional directors have a bachelor’s degree in business or finance. Some companies even demand that directors hold advanced degrees and have several years of management experience. Companies frequently hire outside directors, while others prefer to promote successful managers to the position of director.