Team leader

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.