what is a deputy manager?
As a deputy manager, you are responsible for supporting and assisting the general manager in administrative duties. The general manager assigns most of your tasks and gives you the authority to stand in their place when unavailable. While your assignments are based on the company type, they are related to training employees involved in administration and budgeting the allocated funds for a project.
When you are a deputy manager, you often work in administration and operations departments, handling customer relations and project development. Sometimes you have to meet the company executives and stakeholders to develop company goals and new work practices that affect the entire organisation.
what else does a deputy manager do?
Deputy managers are also involved in the strategic planning of organisational programmes and coordinating projects. Opportunities for deputy managers are available in all industry sectors with a general manager, but their specific responsibilities vary. For instance, deputy managers in banks perform different duties compared to those in insurance or manufacturing companies. Since you will play a supportive role to the general manager, you need exceptional leadership skills, passion and interpersonal skills.
Would working as a deputy manager suit your passion and leadership skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a deputy manager role.
average salary of a deputy manager
Your deputy manager's salary mainly depends on the organisation you work for and the duties you perform. According to ONS, the average salary of a deputy manager is £30,000 annually. At entry-level, you will earn an average of £24,014 annually, while experienced deputy managers earn over £42,500 per year. Aside from the basic pay, deputy managers receive health insurance, house allowance and transport allowance. You may also earn bonuses depending on your industry.
how to increase your salary as a deputy manager
A deputy manager's salary often fluctuates depending on the company and the industry sector. For example, deputy managers in the financial industry are likely to earn more than those in retail. The size of the organisations also determines your wage bracket, and a medium-sized business may not pay as much as large multinational corporations. You can also boost your earnings if you have additional experience and educational qualifications that make you a valuable addition. Some deputy managers perform many roles, and the salary often increases based on the duties. The location also affects the amount you earn. The average salary for deputy managers in London is high compared to smaller cities.
types of deputy managers
As a deputy manager, you will work in various industry sectors performing diverse roles. Some of the areas include:
- deputy store manager: when you are a deputy store manager, your role is to deputise the store manager in coordinating work practices. Aside from standing in for your boss, you are involved in developing programmes and policies that ensure the store's smooth running.
- deputy manager care: a deputy manager care assists the general manager in a care home with administrative duties. You will handle nurse scheduling, payroll and planning programmes in the care home in a supportive capacity.
- deputy bank manager: when you are a deputy manager in a bank, your job is to monitor operations and ensure compliance with industry practices.
working as a deputy manager
Before you begin your career as a deputy manager, let's look at your daily tasks, responsibilities and work schedule:
-
deputy manager job description
A deputy manager's daily duties and tasks depend on the industry sector and the organisation. Some of the common responsibilities you are likely to undertake include:
- training employees: during the onboarding process, your job is to train the new employees on the organisation goals. That means you should bring them up to speed with the existing procedures and the expected work standards. It is also vital to promote a positive company culture by training all personnel and keeping them updated on policy changes.
- budgeting and finance functions: as a deputy manager, you work alongside the general manager to create budgets for the organisation and ensure disbursement of allocated funds to the respective department. You also review project contracts and financial reports to ensure they are in line with strategic decisions.
- administrative functions: you will perform all primary administrative duties to free the general manager to do other vital roles. That includes scheduling employees and determining payroll allocation for each worker. You also handle scheduling and payroll complaints to ensure all parties receive fair treatment.
- other duties: these include merchandising, strategic planning and interviewing employees. That means it is your job to prepare and distribute company procedures and policies. In your administrative capacity, you welcome visitors and potential clients to the business premises.
- assisting the general manager: aside from the administrative duties above, you will stand in for the general manager and provide support. If the general manager isn't available for a client meeting, you have to attend it on their behalf. You also manage other workers and contractors when the boss is not available.
-
work environment
As a deputy manager, you will work wherever the job takes you. Almost every industry sector requires a deputy manager to support the manager. Hence, it is possible to secure a job in finance, information technology, care homes and retail. Most deputy managers work from a personal office with minimal offsite visits. Since your work often involves working closely with employees, finding work-from-home or remote work opportunities is rare.
-
work schedule
When you are a deputy manager, your job begins at 9 am to 5 pm and often covers 40 hours a week. Occasionally, you may need to work for longer hours in the evenings and weekends. Working late is expected when you are a deputy manager in a care home, especially during emergencies and company events. Most deputy manager roles are full-time positions, and part-time jobs are rare due to the supervisory nature of the work. Fortunately, you have full vacation benefits when you want to slow down or take a break. If you work for a big organisation, your job includes travelling to visit projects or train employees at an offsite location.
-
job outlook
Becoming a deputy manager is the first step to managerial careers and executive positions. Besides, various industries have diverse roles for deputy managers, and you can specialise in a specific sector and become a management consultant. The career progression for deputy managers is defined in most companies depending on the organisational hierarchy. For instance, from the deputy manager, you become the general manager or project manager before progressing to vice president title or chief operations officer. In some companies, you can move from deputy manager to manager and eventually director.
-
advantages of finding a deputy manager job through randstad
Finding your deputy manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a deputy manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
The educational qualifications for becoming a deputy manager vary depending on the industry. While most deputy managers have a bachelor's degree or qualifications in business administration or management, you can qualify for the role with any degree. For example, if you work in the manufacturing sector, you need an engineering degree to understand the operations in the industry. If you want to join a managerial position without a degree in business management, complete a short managerial or leadership course to familiarise yourself with the career.
skills and competencies
When you are a deputy manager, you have strong leadership skills and also need the following skills and competencies to succeed:
- interpersonal skills: being a good deputy manager involves building successful relationships with your teams. That means you need to be an exceptional team player and know your team members professionally or personally. Learning how to deal with each employee earns you respect, and your workers are motivated.
- communication skills: your work involves training employees and guiding them on ways to implement changes passed down from upper management. You should master all communication methods to ensure seamless information dissemination. Your job also involves interacting with various people within and outside the organisation during meetings, phone calls and presentations. Without good communication skills, you cannot accomplish your duties as a deputy manager.
- organisation skills: aside from juggling your tasks, you need to complete the manager's workload when they're unavailable. If you don't have organisation skills, you will not accomplish your duties. Effective organisation skills save you time, minimise stress and ensure that you meet deadlines.
- • conflict resolution: when issues arise in employee scheduling or payroll, it is your responsibility to solve the problems amicably and ensure everyone is happy. With conflict resolution skills, you can think on your feet and solve problems creatively to avoid conflicts.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a deputy manager
-
what is the role of a deputy manager?
When you are a deputy manager, your primary responsibility is to support the general manager in running a company. That means you will perform management functions and make important decisions on project developments and programmes.
-
what is the salary of a deputy manager?
As a deputy manager, you earn an average salary of £30,000 per year. Your income depends on your skills, qualifications and experience. Some companies also pay more due to the responsibilities that come with the position.
-
are assistant managers and deputy managers the same?
They are not the same. Deputy managers are backups or substitutes to the general manager and can execute all manager's duties. On the other hand, an assistant manager is below the deputy since they only handle delegated work.
-
is deputy higher than assistant?
Yes. A deputy manager holds a higher rank than the assistant manager does. While a deputy manager comes second in command after the manager, an assistant assists a manager.
-
what does a deputy manager mean?
A deputy manager is a person who deputises as opposed to assisting the general manager. That means when the manager is absent, a deputy can step into their shoes.
-
how do I apply for a deputy manager vacancy?
Applying for a deputy manager job is easy: create a randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!