Chief Executives

Career Description: Determine and formulate policies and provide the overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within the guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

Industry: Management

Other Job Titles for Chief Executives:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Direct and coordinate an organization's financial and budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, and increase efficiency.
• Confer with board members, organization officials, and staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, and resolve problems.
• Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company and its staff in meeting objectives, and to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
• Direct, plan, and implement policies, objectives, and activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, and to increase productivity.
• Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding and implementation of programs.
• Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
• Negotiate or approve contracts and agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal and state agencies, and other organizational entities.
• Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
• Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
• Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans and activities, the selection of directors and other high-level staff, and establishment and organization of major departments.
• Preside over or serve on boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards.
• Prepare and present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes and rulings, and other items affecting businesses or program services.
• Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinate functions among departments and sites.
• Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, and other administrative control processes.
• Direct non-merchandising departments such as advertising, purchasing, credit, and accounting.
• Deliver speeches, write articles, and present information at meetings or conventions to promote services, exchange ideas, and accomplish objectives.
• Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations.
• Review and analyze legislation, laws, and public policy, and recommend changes to promote and support interests of both the general population and special groups.
• Nominate citizens to boards and commissions.
• Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, and laws to organizations, government and corporate officials, and individuals.
• Make presentations to legislative and other government committees regarding policies, programs, or budgets.
• Refer major policy matters to elected representatives for final decisions.
• Administer programs for selection of sites, construction of buildings, and provision of equipment and supplies.
• Direct and coordinate activities of businesses involved with buying and selling investment products and financial services.
• Direct and conduct studies and research on issues affecting areas of responsibility.
• Attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils and council committees.
• Organize and approve promotional campaigns.
• Conduct or direct investigations or hearings to resolve complaints and violations of laws, or testify at such hearings.
• Represent organizations and promote their objectives at official functions, or delegate representatives to do so.
• Prepare bylaws approved by elected officials and ensure that bylaws are enforced.
• Direct and coordinate activities between the United States Government and foreign entities to provide information and promote international interests and harmony.

Emerging Tasks

• Manage sales team, including setting goals, providing incentives, and evaluating employee performance.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• analyze financial data
• analyze operational or management reports or records
• analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
• analyze social or economic data
• assign work to staff or employees
• communicate technical information
• conduct legal hearings
• conduct or attend staff meetings
• confer with other departmental heads to coordinate activities
• consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
• develop budgets
• develop management control systems
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop records management system
• develop staff policies
• dictate correspondence
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate financial activities
• direct and coordinate human resource programs
• establish and maintain relationships with community organizations
• establish policy or laws
• evaluate management programs
• explain government laws or regulations
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• implement employee bargaining agreements
• implement employee benefit plans
• implement employee compensation plans
• interpret laws or legislation
• maintain safe work environment
• make presentations
• manage contracts
• manage industrial projects
• negotiate business contracts
• negotiate with federal and state agencies and other political organizations
• oversee execution of organizational or program policies
• plan or organize work
• prepare reports for management
• promote objectives of institution to associations, agencies, or community groups
• recommend solutions of administrative problems
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• resolve worker or management conflicts
• supervise advertising or public relations staff
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use negotiation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• verify investigative information
• write business correspondence
• write sales or informational speeches

Overall Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, physicists, school psychologists, and surgeons.

• n/a

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 2.05%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 8,232
• Employment (2006): 402,246

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