What is a Regional General Manager?

A regional general manager is a person who works for a company, large or small, managing one particular geographical territory. Generally, regional mangers have extensive work experience, a strong educational background, and demonstrated company knowledge. There are a number of different ways to get a job like this, depending on the type of company that one works for.

While most general managers have some type of formal education, this is not always the case. It is possible to become a regional general manager by working within a particular industry for a number of years. In most instances, general managers are hired from within a company, which is why it is not uncommon for a sales person or regular manager to be promoted to the position of regional general manager. In fact, most employers will not consider a candidate who does not have at least four years of job experience.

People who do not have managerial experience should obtain a post-secondary degree from an accredited college or university. Furthermore, a post-graduate degree in business or business administration will help a person to obtain a regional manager position. Employers seeking a regional manager will often hire those people who have extensive academic training over a person who does not have experience or training.

The tasks required of a regional general manager are numerous. These professionals are expected to lead junior sales personnel, expand a current market, evaluate employee abilities, train new employees, handle terminations, and participate in company meetings. Thus, any person wishing to obtain this job position must have excellent communication skills. In addition, the manager should be able to handle stress well, since this job can be highly stressful.

In most instances, general managers report directly to national managers or to the president of a company. Within a larger company, a regional manager may report to his superior, but not to the president or vice president of a company. Since this job position requires the careful and constant monitoring of an entire area, most general managers are expected to travel on a regular basis.

Salary-wise, the position of a regional general manager tends to be a lucrative one. Many companies offer appealing incentive packages in addition to a high base salary. Again, the amount of money earned by a regional manager depends on the size of the company at hand. Even though this position is appealing in a number of different ways, it is also a position that is physically and mentally demanding. Those considering a regional general manger position should carefully weigh the pros and cons prior to accepting any job offer.