woman with a notepad and phone on the table in front of her speaking to other people all seated around her at the table

Senior managers - public and private sector

(NOC 00018)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$125,000
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
Management
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
21,510

Career Overview

Senior managers in the public sector:

  • Oversee operations in government departments
  • Work with their middle managers to develop goals and policies according to legislation

Senior managers in the private sector:

  • Work in industries such as telecommunications, finance, insurance, real estate, data processing and business services
  • Work with their middle managers to develop goals and policies
  • Sometimes work with a board of directors

This NOC code consolidates NOC codes 00011, 00012, 00013, 00014 and 00015.

Job Titles

Academic affairs vice-president - post-secondary education
Academic association president
Academic business vice-president
Advertising agency president
Alumni association executive director
Ambassador
Arts and culture association chairperson
Arts association executive director
Assistant chief statistician - government services
Assistant comptroller general - government services
Assistant deputy minister
Assistant deputy minister - government services
Assistant executive director - financial, communications and other business services
Assistant executive director - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Assistant executive director - government services
Assistant executive director - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Assistant general director - government services
Assistant undersecretary of state
Association executive director
Automobile association executive director
Band manager - First Nations
Bank credit vice-president
Bank president
Broadcasting corporation president
Building construction general manager
Business association general manager
Business association president
Business general manager
Business school general manager
Casino general manager
Chairman/woman - financial, communications and other business services
Chairman/woman - government services
Chairman/woman - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chairman/woman - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chairperson - financial, communications and other business services
Chairperson - government services
Chairperson - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chairperson - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chancellor - education
Charitable organization director
Charitable organization executive director
Chief administrative officer - government services
Chief administrative officer - regional municipality
Chief coroner
Chief - disaster management
Chief diversity officer - financial, communications and other business services
Chief diversity officer - goods production, utilities, transport and construction
Chief diversity officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief diversity officer - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chief electoral officer
Chief executive officer (CEO) - financial, communications and other business services
Chief executive officer (CEO) - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Chief executive officer (CEO) - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief executive officer (CEO) - manufacturing company
Chief executive officer (CEO) - telephone company
Chief executive officer (CEO) - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chief financial officer (CFO) - advertising agency
Chief financial officer (CFO) - financial, communications and other business services
Chief financial officer (CFO) - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Chief financial officer (CFO) - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief financial officer (CFO) - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chief financial officer (CFO) - urban transit system
Chief learning officer - financial, communications and other business services
Chief learning officer - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Chief learning officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief learning officer - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chief medical examiner
Chief nursing officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief operating officer - airline
Chief operating officer - engineering firm
Chief operating officer - financial, communications and other business services
Chief operating officer - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Chief operating officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief operating officer - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chief privacy officer - construction, transportation, production and utilities
Chief privacy officer - financial, communications and other business services
Chief privacy officer - government services
Chief privacy officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief privacy officer - trade, broadcasting and other services
Chief statistician - government services
Chief sustainability officer - financial, communications and other business services
Chief sustainability officer - goods production, transportation and utilities
Chief sustainability officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Chief sustainability officer - trade, broadcasting and other services
City administrator
City hall clerk
City manager
City superintendent
Cleaning service general manager
Clerk of the House of Commons
Clerk of the Privy Council
College chancellor
College president
Commissioner - government services
Commissioner of inquiries
Commissioner of inquiries - government services
Community college president
Compensation vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Compensation vice-president - goods production, utilities, transport and construction
Compensation vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Compensation vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Comptroller general - government services
Comptroller general of Canada
Computing services company president
Construction general manager
Consul
Controller - financial, communications and other business services
Corporate banking vice-president
Corporate controller - financial, communications and other business services
Corporate controller - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Corporate controller - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Corporate controller - mortgage brokerage firm
Corporate controller - trade, broadcasting and other services
Corporate social responsibility vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Corporate social responsibility vice-president - goods production, utilities, transport and construction
Corporate social responsibility vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Corporate social responsibility vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Council secretary - government services
County clerk
Crafts guild executive director
Credit union executive director
Credit union general manager
Cultural association president
Department store president
Deputy chief executive officer (CEO) - trade, broadcasting and other services
Deputy chief executive officer - financial, communications and other business services
Deputy chief executive officer - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Deputy chief executive officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Deputy chief executive officer - life insurance company
Deputy commissioner - government services
Deputy minister
Deputy minister - government services
Deputy municipal clerk
Deputy provincial secretary - government services
Director general - government services
Director general - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Domestic banking operations vice-president
Educational institution chief financial officer (CFO)
Educators association chairperson
Electric power company president
Employment agency general manager
Employment insurance appeals board chairperson
Employment insurance commissioner
Energy operations vice-president
Engineering firm president
Engineering research general manager
Engineering vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Engineering vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Engineering vice-president - television broadcasting services
Engineering vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Environmental group executive director
Ethnic association president
Executive administrator - government agency
Executive administrator - government department
Executive director - emergency preparedness
Executive director - financial, communications and other business services
Executive director - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Executive director - government services
Executive director - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Executive director - teacher's federation
Executive director - trade, broadcasting and other services
Executive general manager - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Executive vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Executive vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Executive vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Executive vice-president - metal and metal products wholesaler
Executive vice-president - railway
Executive vice-president - real estate agency
Executive vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Feed and flour mills general manager
Finance and administration vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Finance and administration vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Finance and administration vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Finance and administration vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Finance vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Finance vice-president - food wholesaling
Finance vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Finance vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Finance vice-president - holding company
Finance vice-president - mining company
Finance vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Fire marshal
First Nations band manager
Funeral services general manager
Gas distribution general manager
General manager - financial, communications and other business services
General manager - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
General manager - government services
General manager - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
General manager - real estate management company
General secretary - government services
Government agency commissioner
Government agency president
Government agency senior administrator
Grain commissioner
Health care association president
Health commissioner
Health services institution executive director
High commissioner
Highway commissioner
Highway construction general manager
Hockey association general manager
Hospital administrator
Hospital executive director
Hotel chain regional vice-president
Hotel general manager
Human resources and organizational development vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Human resources and organizational development vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Human resources and organizational development vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Human resources and organizational development vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Human resources vice-president - bank
Human resources vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Human resources vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Human resources vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Human resources vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Human Rights Commission chairperson
Hydro-electric power station president
Information systems vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Information systems vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Information systems vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Information systems vice president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Inspector general of financial institutions
Insurance company general manager
International banking operations vice-president
Labour organization president
Laundry and dry cleaning general manager
Liquor commissioner
Lobby chief executive officer - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Local government manager
Logging company corporate controller
Logistics vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Manager - First Nations
Manufacturing company chief executive officer
Marketing vice-president - airline
Marketing vice-president - clerical staff services
Marketing vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Marketing vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Marketing vice-president - grocery store chain
Marketing vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Marketing vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Medical vice-president - health services
Membership organization general manager
Municipal administrator
Music guild president
Non-governmental organization (NGO) executive director
Nurse's association executive director
Nursing vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Ombudsperson - government services
Operations manager - trade, broadcasting and other services
Operations vice-president - electric power company
Operations vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Operations vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Operations vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Operations vice-president - radio broadcasting services
Operations vice-president - satellite communication services
Operations vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Parole board chairman/woman
Personal banking vice-president
Personnel vice-president - bank
Personnel vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Personnel vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Personnel vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Personnel vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Petroleum production company regional vice-president
Planning vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Planning vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Planning vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Planning vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Plant operations vice-president
Political organization general manager
Political party president
President and chief executive officer
President and chief executive officer - financial, communications and other business services
President and director - trade, broadcasting and other services
President and general manager - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
President and general manager - trade, broadcasting and other services
President - financial, communications and other business services
President - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
President - government services
President - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
President - trade, broadcasting and other services
Production general manager - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Professional association executive director
Professional sports club chief financial officer (CFO)
Project executive - construction
Protective services executive director
Publisher
Publishing house general manager
Radio station general manager
Railroad commissioner
Real estate management company executive director
Receiver general for Canada
Recreational association executive director
Rector - education
Regional municipality general director
Regional vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Regional vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Regional vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Regional vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Residential construction company president
Restaurant chain corporate controller
Retail establishment president
Sales and advertising vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Sales general manager - trade, broadcasting and other services
Sales vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Sales vice-president - pulp and paper manufacturing
Sales vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Scientific association chairperson
Secretary to the council - government services
Senior vice-president and chief economist
Sergeant-at-arms of the House of Commons
Social services institution corporate controller
Sports association president
Superintendent of financial institutions
Support services vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Support services vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Support services vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Support services vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Sustainability vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Sustainability vice-president - goods production, utilities, transport and construction
Sustainability vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Sustainability vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Telecommunications general manager
Territorial commissioner
Town clerk
Township clerk
Trade commissioner
Trade school general manager
Transit system general manager
Transport and communications general manager
Travel agency chief executive officer (CEO)
Treasury vice-president - banking institution
Trucking company general manager
Trust company general manager
Trust company regional vice-president
Undersecretary of state
Union association president
University president
Vice-consul
Vice-president and general sales manager - trade, broadcasting and other services
Vice-president - financial, communications and other business services
Vice-president - goods production, utilities, transportation and construction
Vice-president - government services
Vice-president - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
Vice-president - trade, broadcasting and other services
Voluntary organization executive director
Wholesaler - broadcasting
Young men's christian association (YMCA) executive director

Duties

Senior government managers and officials:

  • Create goals for the organization following government legislation and policy
  • Develop or approve and assess programs and procedures alone or working with senior government committees
  • Advise elected representatives on policy questions and refer any major policy matters to these representatives for final decision
  • Recommend, review, assess and approve documents, briefs and reports submitted by middle managers and senior staff members
  • Ensure appropriate systems and procedures are developed and used to provide budgetary control
  • Co-ordinate department activities with other senior government managers and officials
  • Make presentations to legislative and other government committees regarding policies, programs or budgets
  • Assign human and financial resources to produce policies and programs

Senior managers of financial, communications and other business services:

  • Help to determine the company’s mission, strategic direction, goals, plans and policies
  • Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate company operations
  • Identify human resource needs, including promotion opportunities and creation of new positions
  • Hire and manage staff
  • Oversee budgets within their department or company
  • Develop or approve policies and programs, including managing assets, staff and operations

Senior financial managers are primarily focused on the financial areas of a company.

Senior communications managers oversee elements such as marketing, public relations, social media and the company’s brand reputation. 

Senior managers in other business services may be involved with human resources, company culture and employee morale.

Senior managers of:
Health, education, social and community services and membership organizations may specialize in areas such as finance, marketing, human resources or in a particular service area
Trade, broadcasting and other services may specialize in areas such as finance, marketing or human resources or in the sale of a particular product or provision of a particular service.
Construction, transportation, production and utilities may specialize in areas such as finance, marketing or human resources, or in a particular product area.

  • Create goals for the organization or institution and make or approve policies and programs
  • Approve and organize the creation of major departments and associated senior staff positions
  • Assign material, human and financial resources to carry out organizational policies and programs
  • Establish financial and administrative controls
  • Create and approve promotional campaigns
  • Approve overall personnel planning
  • Select middle managers, directors or other executive staff
  • Coordinate the work of regions, divisions or departments
  • Represent the organization or institution, or assign representatives to act on behalf of the organization, in negotiations or other official functions

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$125,000

Provincial Hourly Rate

HighNot available
MedianNot available
LowNot available
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

30,365

% Employed Full Time

79%
Source: 2021 Census

Work is usually performed in a conventional controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school.

Career Pathways

Overall, there is mobility among senior management occupations.

Senior financial manager with experience or additional education can move up to director of finance, vice-president of finance or chief financial officer.

Senior managers of communications who gain several years of experience or with additional education, can be promoted to communications or marketing director, vice-president or senior vice-president. People in this career sometimes open their own agency.

For other business services such as human resources, being in this job means that with additional experience or education, there may be the opportunity to move into a director or vice-president position or to open their own human resources agency.

The boundaries of the remaining manager groups are defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which include:

  • Educational services, health care and social services and membership organizations
  • Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, Accommodation and Food Service, and Other Services
  • Fishing, forestry and logging, mining and oil

Related Careers

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Data not available

Education, Training and Skills

Senior government managers and officials:

  • A university degree or college diploma is usually required.
  • A graduate degree in a related field may be required.
  • Several years of managerial experience in the public or private sector are required

Senior managers: 

  • A university degree or college diploma
  • Several years of experience as a middle manager are usually required
  • Specialization in a particular functional area or service is possible through specific university or college training in that area or through previous experience
  • Senior managers in finance usually require a professional accounting or financial designation, such as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)

Financial, communications and other business services:

  • Degree in business administration, commerce, computer science or other discipline related to the service provided is usually required

Health, education, social and community services and membership organizations:

  • Degree or college diploma in business administration, hospital administration, finance or other discipline related to the service provided is usually required

Trade, broadcasting and other services:

  • Degree or college diploma in business administration, finance or other discipline related to the service provided is usually required

Construction, transportation, production and utilities:

  • Degree or college diploma in engineering, business administration, commerce or other discipline related to the company's product is usually required

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Public Administration
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Data not available

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

30,365
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 500 1.6%
Kootenay 520 1.7%
Mainland/Southwest 21,405 70.5%
North Coast and Nechako 315 1.0%
Northeast 195 0.6%
Thompson-Okanagan 2,715 8.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 4,715 15.5%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)

21,510
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 280 0.3%
Kootenay 340 0.5%
Mainland/Southwest 15,430 1.8%
North Coast and Nechako 100 0.5%
Northeast 110 0.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 2,170 1.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 3,070 1.0%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services5,790
Construction2,030
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate2,020
Health Care and Social Assistance1,440
Manufacturing1,350
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Senior managers need to have people skills. They may need to speak to employees at different levels throughout the company and they need to do it in a way that makes people feel comfortable. As well, senior managers make presentations to investors, a board of directors or at conferences. They may also have to attend networking events with senior executives.

Resources