What does an associate team leader do?

Associate team leaders typically participate in tasks alongside their teammates while completing duties related to guiding and supporting their peers, such as providing feedback or resources where needed.

For example, in a call center, an associate team leader might answer customer calls and, in slow periods, observe a new hire’s calls to offer supportive feedback. They might also answer employee questions about challenging calls or produce daily reports on the team’s call volume.

On a team of graphic designers, an associate team leader may produce their own designs and support other graphic designers or illustrators. They might also review a junior designer’s work and gather the team’s time-tracking data for the manager.

Associate team leader skills and qualifications

Hiring an associate team leader means searching for a candidate who can earn their teammates trust and demonstrate leadership skills. Serving in this role can help employees transition into management, so a willingness to learn and soft skills can be more important than prior leadership experience.

Skills for your associate team leader job description may include:

• Strong work ethic that helps motivate the team
• Clear communication and active listening skills to address workers’ questions and concerns
• Ability to provide supportive, informal coaching and feedback and adjust management style based on employee preference or needs
• Organizational skills to help supervisors monitor tasks and schedules
• Strategic planning skills to identify potential delays and meet deadlines
• Data analysis skills to evaluate performance metrics, such as productivity or customer satisfaction scores

Associate team leader experience requirements

A skills-first hiring approach can help you hire internally for this position. For example, you might evaluate employees who have shown initiative by helping colleagues understand a procedure or those with a growth mindset. A person who expresses interest in the team’s achievements may also successfully transition into the role.

Relevant abilities for internal or external hires may also include problem-solving and self-motivation skills.

Assistant team leader education and training requirements

Associate team leaders don’t generally need formal education. A candidate’s performance in their current role and their demonstrated potential are often more important qualifications. You might offer leadership development training, covering how to respectfully give constructive feedback, delegate tasks and ensure compliance with company policies.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this associate team leader job description isn’t a match for your company’s needs, you can explore these descriptions for other junior leadership roles:

• Team leader
• Supervisor
• Key holder