Understanding the Roles: How Does a Secretary to the Managing Director Differ from an HR Manager?

Please, what is the difference between Secretary to the Managing Director and Human Resource Manager?

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Hi,

Sure, I can help clarify the distinction between the roles of a Secretary to the Managing Director and a Human Resource Manager.

A Secretary to the Managing Director typically provides administrative support to the top executive in an organization. This may involve managing schedules, organizing meetings, handling correspondence, and other administrative tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the executive office.

On the other hand, a Human Resource Manager is responsible for overseeing the human resource functions within an organization. This includes recruitment, employee relations, training and development, performance management, and ensuring compliance with labor laws and company policies.

While both roles involve administrative responsibilities, the Secretary to the Managing Director focuses on supporting a specific executive, whereas the Human Resource Manager deals with broader HR functions that impact the entire organization's workforce.

I hope this clarifies the difference between the two roles. Feel free to ask if you have any further questions.

Secretary to the Managing Director and HR are two different positions, and there is no relationship between the two.

Role of a Secretary to the Managing Director

- Maintaining the daily itinerary of the MD
- Handling correspondences
- Fixing up meetings and preparing the minutes of the meetings
- Making travel and hotel arrangements (both within the country and abroad)
- Coordinating with clients/customers
- Handling other business-related issues of the MD
- Performing administrative work

Role of HR

- Recruitment
- Employee engagement
- Wages/Salary administration
- Dealing with compliance matters
- Maintaining statutory matters
- Handling overtime records
- Managing the bonus register, etc.

Regards

Secretary and Human Resource Manager are two different cadres.

Secretary: A secretary is the person who keeps secrets and heads an administrative department, particularly in government departments, e.g., Under Secretary, Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, etc. They also serve as the clerk to the managing director.

Human Resource Manager: A Human Resource Manager provides human resources in an organization for needs like recruitment, execution, departmental inquiries, etc. HRD is a ministry (Human Resource Development).

Both are separate departments; however, there can be an ego clash, especially when the secretary to the Managing Director acts like a Managing Director. These clashes can hinder the nature of work, and some individuals manipulate the intricacies of the positions they hold.

It seems you want to understand the work structure of a secretary to the Managing Director (presumably a personal secretary). It involves managing the MD's secrets, appointments, travel arrangements, file retention, etc.

Best of luck...

Thank you all for your comments. Please, I want to know, between the Secretary to the MD and the Human Resource Manager, which post is higher?

Secondly, in a case where the MD allows the secretary to attend to almost all issues concerning the top management level staff, and this is causing grievances between the top management staff and the secretary, how can this be resolved?

@Salus Tina,

The secretary to the Managing Director is not above other top management staff in the organizational hierarchy. By virtue of the position and being a trusted employee, he gains power beyond his official status. However, directing the secretary to attend conferences where other Heads of Departments are present is not in order.

When I refer to the term "secretary" here, I exclusively mean in the private sector.

Dear Salus Tina,

I do agree with Mr. Nathrao that Public/Govt. Undertakings are different from the Private Sector. However, they still maintain an official Hierarchy Designation/Post-wise Supremacy. If this is not in place, please rectify it so that conflicts between the MD, Secretary, and HR Manager/HOD can be avoided.

Regards

Understanding the Roles: Secretary to MD vs. Manager Human Resource

This is an issue faced in almost all sectors, irrespective of government, PSU, private, quasi-government, state corporation, etc.

Role of Secretary to MD

1. The Secretary to the MD is not the person to preside over meetings.
2. He/She is a communicator and not a decision-making authority.
3. He/She presents the orders of the MD to the Head of Staff/Organization and circulates the wishes of the MD.
4. Collects the progress of issues but is not a decision-making authority; reiterates the decision-making authority.
5. In the absence of the MD, some Heads of Officials can make decisions within the organization on a permissible amount. I hope this clarifies who a secretary is.

Role of Manager Human Resource

1. In many organizations, he/she becomes the appointing authority, referring to the vacancy position and filled position of the organization.
2. Some inquiries may be conducted by the HRM under delegated power and orders may be passed on behalf of the organization.
3. Refers financial issues for revenue requirements to the financial manager related to staff increments and other privileges.
4. Held responsible to the MD for the human attrition rate of the organization.
5. He/She has no power for dismissing in some cases unless the MD delegates the power.
6. He/She is not above certain Heads; I am addressing certain issues.

Thus, the Secretary and Manager Human Resource are different cadres; they are not equal. Unless the HRM is Secretary to the MD, the situation may take a new dimension. As far as you are concerned, the Secretary is not above the Manager Human Resource.

Regards