A little history
The supervisor profession began its rapid development in the second half of the 20th century in the United States, where, along with the growth in the number of companies, certain job responsibilities of a supervisor were highlighted. Subordinate to this representative of the company is his own group of promoters, managers, sales consultants, merchandisers and other specialists.
Company directors have high hopes for supervisors, since they are the ones who manage the entire team, are in search of new clients, places to work for their subordinates, explore every retail outlet and look for ways to improve the business, increase sales and increase competitiveness. Depending on the field of activity in which a company representative will work, he will perform specific job responsibilities, which include several points, the implementation of which affects the entire work.
Classification
In the trading sector, the following types of supervisors are distinguished:
- Supervisor in a retail chain . Ensures the effective work of consultants and salespeople in groups of 10–15 workers in supermarkets and large stores. Each group is assigned a supervisor who is responsible for the effectiveness of his team. The supervisor creates the best shift schedule for employees, trains them and controls the level of discipline;
- Merchandiser supervisor . Merchandising specialists arrange the display of goods on store shelves, monitor the availability of products, the correctness of price tags, and sales volumes. The supervisor, in turn, takes control of the work of his subordinates, assessing the effectiveness of the display and the achievement of sales targets;
- Promoter supervisor . The responsibilities of promoters include demonstrating products and their benefits, distributing product samples, conducting tasting events and other promotional events. The supervisor organizes training for promoters, coordinates a schedule of incentive events with the head of the trading company, distributes promoters to retail outlets and gives them all the necessary materials.
- Sales representative supervisor . A sales representative or agent is a specialist at a wholesale company who is responsible for drawing up agreements with stores. And the supervisor conducts training events for sales agents, assigns responsibilities, provides staff with the necessary materials, and provides management with sales reports.
Differences between a supervisor and a manager
In the structure of a company, a manager manages a division or department. The specialist performs the following functions: plans and organizes the work of the team, motivates employees and monitors their effectiveness.
There are managers at various levels:
- junior level - managers manage warehouse complexes and store departments;
- middle level - managers organize the activities of junior employees and are at the head of departments and workshops;
- senior level – occupy the positions of managers, general directors, top managers.
Thus, managers are managers at different levels. They are responsible for various processes in the company - from the financial part and production management to operational work and development of the company.
In turn, a supervisor is a manager who belongs to the junior level and is responsible for planning work, organizing business processes and controlling them. However, his area of responsibility is exclusively sales, which means the supervisor performs only a limited number of tasks.
Main responsibilities of a supervisor
The list of responsibilities assigned to the supervisor can be constantly adjusted and changed, but only if this is provided for in the relevant clause of the employment contract. The specifics of the activities of a particular company determine the main job responsibilities of the supervisor, which include the following points:
- conversation with candidates for a specific position to form a team;
- conducting trainings and educational programs;
- motivating company employees;
- carrying out negotiations with regular and potential clients;
- providing retail outlets with the necessary promotional products;
- searching for profitable places for promotions and the work of the promoters themselves;
- bearing responsibility for each subordinate employee;
- competent work with each newcomer, assistance in his adaptation, getting to know the team, the work in general, understanding his responsibilities, and so on;
- introducing all kinds of innovations for the productive work of the entire team, maintaining a constant attitude and creating a positive atmosphere that motivates success;
- objective assessment of each subordinate, individual conversation, assistance in development, dismissal or promotion;
- creating a work schedule, vacations, sick leave;
- conducting training courses;
- Preparation of reports for management, which will correctly reflect the result of the work performed, its quality, tasks completed and much more.
Supervisor
Shchur D.L.
,
Head of the Legal Department of Publishing and Consulting
Published in the issue: Personnel of the Enterprise No. 7 / 2002
Scope of work
Position " supervisor
" - an American invention of the early 70s, now of the last century.
The word itself has English roots - supervisor
(“overseer”, “supervisor”).
The emergence of such a position in American companies is caused by the development of technology and the need to strengthen control over personnel. supervisor
appeared and “took root” in Russia .
However, as always, in the context of the national specifics of doing business, the positions of managers of any rank, specialists, as well as the professions of workers were often called with a sonorous foreign word. But the fashion for everything foreign is passing, and bare practicality remains. What is the position of a supervisor
? Does it have any Russian analogue?
