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President Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Last updated: September 27, 2023

A President, or Executive President, is a corporate employee that heads an executive board, department or company to guide its strategic vision and oversee its implementation. Their duties include communicating with shareholders about their expectations, setting and tracking goals for key operations and lobbying for funding for investors.

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President duties and responsibilities

A job description for a President may contain the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Establishing and carrying out organizational or departmental procedures, goals and policies
  • Directing and overseeing an organization’s budgetary and financial activities
  • Managing general activities associated with providing services and making products
  • Consulting with other board members, executives and staff about general operations
  • Negotiating and approving agreements and contracts
  • Appointing managers and department heads
  • Analyzing performance indicators, financial statements and sales reports
  • Identifying areas to cut costs while improving programs, performance and policies
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President Job Description Examples

What does a President do?

Presidents are usually the head of an executive board or leadership team in a corporate environment. They can work for companies of any size, with varying duties depending on the size and scope of the company’s corporate structure. The role of a President is to facilitate and guide company operations to ensure company goals are met. This can involve building business relationships, managing financial details, communicating with shareholders and determining what metrics to use to measure success. Presidents represent the company to business partners and explore different avenues for funding, determining the potential risks and rewards of each business opportunity.

President skills and qualifications

A job description for a President may contain the following skills and qualifications:

  • Communication skills to persuasively and clearly discuss issues and negotiating with direct subordinates while explaining their decisions and policies to those both outside and within the organization
  • Decision-making skills when managing an organization and establishing policies while assessing various options and selecting the best course of action
  • Leadership skills for leading an organization and coordinating resources, policies and employees
  • Management skills to direct and shape an organization’s operations including managing budgets, business plans and employees
  • Problem-solving skills for identifying and resolving organizational issues, recognizing shortcomings and carrying out solutions
  • Time-management skills for completing multiple tasks at the same time and usually under their own direction to make sure that they get their work done and meet goals

President salary expectations

A President makes an average of $70,321 per year. Salary may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.

President education and training requirements

Most individuals in the role of President have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in business administration or another related area specific to their work, including public administration, liberal arts or law. Presidents of large corporations typically have a master’s degree in business administration. Presidents often start their own companies and require no training, but others likely only reach the position after years training in lower-level roles.

President experience requirements

Some President positions require certification or licensure relevant to a specific area of management. For example, an organization may require their President to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Most individuals in a President position advance within a company, moving from lower-level management positions or supervisory roles. Other organizations prefer hiring outside qualified candidates.

Presidents generally need significant managerial experience along with experience in a company’s area of specialty. Individuals promoted to the President position from lower-level roles with less education may substitute work experience for educational degrees. Executive development programs and company training programs often benefit executives and Managers hoping to advance.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this job description is not exactly what you’re looking for, consider these job description samples for similar positions:

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Frequently asked questions about Presidents

What is the difference between a President and a CEO?

Presidents and Chief Executive Officers are both high-level corporate roles involved with making decisions about a company. Some businesses have one person hold both titles and handle the overall operations and vision of the company as a whole. At larger businesses, Chief Executive Officers have the highest rank and are responsible for making final strategic decisions. Presidents oversee operations and make sure they can achieve the CEO’s vision for the company by strategizing. CEOs and Presidents regularly collaborate to align their efforts and make plans for the company’s growth, development and response to competition.

What are the daily duties of a President?

Presidents can work long hours handling important business deals and overseeing operations. They spend time in an office environment reviewing reports, meeting with consultants and creating strategic models for different business scenarios. Presidents may travel to visit different points in the supply chain where they close deals with vendors, present business pitches and perform quality assurance. Presidents make sure that the company has the appropriate staff structure to accomplish their goals efficiently, making adjustments to optimize business operations.

Presidents consolidate large amounts of market research and budget analysis data to project profitability and production capabilities. They present this information to board members and explain their strategy for meeting and exceeding financial goals. Presidents also participate in press events for the company and represent the business to the public.

What are the characteristics of a good President?

Good Presidents must enjoy working in high-pressure situations and thrive under stress. They’re responsible for making decisions about how the company operates, so successful Presidents also need to have a high level of personal accountability and responsibility for their actions so they can make wise decisions about the direction of the company. Good Presidents have a logical mindset that helps them predict the result of their actions and envision the results of various choices about branding and logistics. They’re able to be objective and make hard decisions about staffing and business deals.

Job Description Examples

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