Executive Assistant vs Director of Operations vs Vice President

Primary Role:

Executive Assistant: Administrative and organizational support for executives

Director of Operations: Oversees day-to-day operational activities within an organization

Vice President: Senior executive role, overseeing a specific division or function

Reporting Relationship:

Executive Assistant: Reports directly to the executive they support

Director of Operations: Typically reports to the COO or CEO

Vice President: Reports to CEO or higher executive level

Scope of Responsibilities:

Executive Assistant: Focused on day-to-day tasks and administrative duties

Director of Operations: Broad operational scope, including managing resources, processes, and budgets

Vice President: Wide-ranging, depending on the specific area of responsibility

Decision-Making Authority:

Executive Assistant: Limited to administrative decisions

Director of Operations: Considerable operational decision-making authority

Vice President: High level, strategic decisions within their area

Strategic Planning:

Executive Assistant: Limited involvement, support capacity

Director of Operations: Participates in operational strategy and its execution

Vice President: Integral to strategic planning in their area of responsibility

Team Management:

Executive Assistant: Manages administrative staff

Director of Operations: Oversees operational teams and departments

Vice President: Manages a large team or department

Meeting Involvement:

Executive Assistant: Scheduling, preparing materials, taking minutes

Director of Operations: Leads operational meetings and strategy sessions

Vice President: Leads meetings within their area of responsibility

Project Management:

Executive Assistant: Manages small projects within their role

Director of Operations: Responsible for operational project oversight

Vice President: May oversee strategic projects within their area

Communication:

Executive Assistant: Facilitates internal communication

Director of Operations: Oversees operational communication within the organization

Vice President: Responsible for high-level communication within their area

Professional Development:

Executive Assistant: Focused on improving administrative and organizational skills

Director of Operations: Focuses on operational management and process improvement

Vice President: Focuses on leadership and management skills in their domain