Business and administration
Team leader
Managing individuals, teams, or projects to meet private, public, or voluntary organisational goals.
Summary
This occupation is found in small, medium, large, and multinational organisations in private, public, and third sectors across all areas of the economy.
A team leader is found in organisations where there is a need for first-line management, supervision or support for teams and senior management.
The broad purpose of this role is to provide leadership with operational or project responsibilities. Team leaders manage or supervise individuals, teams, or elements of a project, or a combination of these. They offer direction, instructions, and guidance to achieve set goals. They are vital for the smooth running of an organisation’s functions and are often responsible for ensuring that these are correctly administered and maintained in line with legislation and the organisation’s procedures.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues from various internal departments, for example operations, human resources, finance, legal, IT, sales, and marketing. This role also can involve interaction with external stakeholders such as customers, clients, and suppliers. It may also include off-site and hybrid working.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for supporting, managing, supervising or developing individuals, or a combination of these. They often manage projects, plan and monitor workloads and resources, deliver operational plans, resolve problems and build relationships both internally and externally.
Team leaders may work as part of a network or in various team settings. They operate within agreed budgets and available resources, reporting to mid-level and senior managers. While they may occasionally make decisions, they more often guide or influence the decisions of others. This can include collecting and interpreting data to identify trends, analysing resources, and finding ways to save money and improve efficiency.
Team leaders understand how their role supports the broader organisational structure. They apply codes of practice, legislation, and regulations relevant to their organisation’s areas of operation. This includes not only legal and ethical responsibilities but also equity, inclusion, and the sustainability impacts of the organisation.
Typical job titles include
- Duty lead | Project lead | Shift supervisor | Supervisor | Team leader | Trading manager
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Performance management techniques.
K2:
How to identify the learning needs of others and solutions to address them.
K3:
Processes and policies which support the delivery of operational requirements.
K4:
Project management tools and techniques.
K5:
Relevant regulation, legislation, and compliance that impacts their role and the organisation.
K6:
Organisational strategy and objectives and how their role impacts on them.
K7:
How to manage resources to implement operational and team plans.
K8:
Time management and prioritisation tools.
K9:
Communication techniques including presentation skills, negotiation and influencing skills.
K10:
Policy and procedure relating to people and organisational culture.
K11:
Stakeholder management.
K12:
Problem-solving and decision-making principles.
K13:
Principles of change management and continuous improvement.
K14:
IT and software used to support the activities of the business.
K15:
External factors that affect the workplace, such as sustainability and net carbon zero, and how they are managed.
K16:
The impact that internal and external factors such as environmental impacts, have on their role.
K17:
Leadership and management approaches.
K18:
The purpose of their role within the organisation, including their level of responsibility and accountability.
K19:
The impact that cross-team working has in the delivery of organisational objectives.
K20:
How to collate, interpret and communicate data and information to meet the needs of different audiences.
K21:
The wider social and economic environment in which the organisation operates.
K22:
Approaches to managing budgets, and options and choices to maximise efficient use of resources.
K23:
Principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and their impact on the organisation and the team.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0384: Team leader (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0384
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,997 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 4142 Office supervisors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 4142/00 Office supervisors
- 4141/00 Office managers
- 7132/00 Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale
- 7220/00 Customer service supervisors
- 9261/00 Bar and catering supervisors
S1:
Use resources to implement operational and team plans.
S2:
Use tools to organise, prioritise and allocate daily and weekly work activities.
S3:
Able to collate and interpret data and information and create reports.
S4:
Identify and support the development of the team through informal coaching and continuous professional development.
S5:
Use information and problem-solving techniques to provide solutions and influence the decision-making process.
S6:
Use digital tools for planning and project management to monitor project progress, taking corrective action to deliver against the project plan.
S7:
Review work processes to identify opportunities to improve performance and for continuous improvement.
S8:
Use technology and software to produce documentation, such as spreadsheets and presentation packages to communicate information.
S9:
Manage individual or team performance by setting objectives, monitoring progress, and providing clear guidance and feedback.
S10:
Manage others through change by identifying challenges and the activities to resolve them.
S11:
Interpret organisational strategy and communicate how this impacts others.
S12:
Interpret and apply regulation and legislation, share best practices, and advise stakeholders on their application.
S13:
Communicate information through different media, such as face-to-face meetings, emails, reports, and presentations to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
S14:
Collaborate with stakeholders in the organisation to ensure the delivery of operational goals.
S15:
Manage and maintain relationships with a diverse workforce and stakeholders.
S16:
Negotiate with and challenge stakeholders to manage change and reduce conflict.
S17:
Interpret policy and support the delivery of equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and monitor their impact on their team.
S18:
Identify future changes in the sector such as technology advances that may impact their organisation.
S19:
Monitor the use of technology and the potential to reduce energy consumption through their optimisation in day-to-day tasks, such as reducing the use of paper and switching off items when not in use.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0384: Team leader (Level 3) Approved for delivery
Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0384
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,997 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 4142 Office supervisors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 4142/00 Office supervisors
- 4141/00 Office managers
- 7132/00 Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale
- 7220/00 Customer service supervisors
- 9261/00 Bar and catering supervisors
B1:
Acts professionally, ethically and with integrity.
B2:
Supports an inclusive culture, treating colleagues and external stakeholders fairly and with respect.
B3:
Takes accountability and ownership of their tasks and workload.
B4:
Seeks learning opportunities and continuous professional development.
B5:
Works flexibly and adapts to circumstances.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0384: Team leader (Level 3) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0384
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,997 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 4142 Office supervisors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 4142/00 Office supervisors
- 4141/00 Office managers
- 7132/00 Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale
- 7220/00 Customer service supervisors
- 9261/00 Bar and catering supervisors
