Head vs. Director: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 4, 2023
A "Head" often leads a specific department or team, while a "Director" typically oversees larger organizational segments or the whole entity, holding a more senior role in corporate hierarchies.
Key Differences
The term Head often denotes leadership within a confined scope, such as being in charge of a department, unit, or team. For instance, one might hear "Head of Marketing" or "Head of Engineering." Director, on the other hand, tends to imply a more overarching responsibility, where one might have multiple departments or teams under their purview.
Head is a more versatile term. Outside of corporate settings, it can reference leaders of academic departments, sections of institutions, or even leaders of small groups. Director, while versatile in its own right, often carries a more formal connotation and can be associated with board-level positions or those who make higher-level organizational decisions.
Hierarchically, a Director is generally positioned above a Head in many corporations. While the "Head of a Department" focuses on departmental specifics, a Director may oversee multiple departments, ensuring they align with the organization's broader objectives.
Experience and tenure often differentiate the roles. A Head might be someone with significant experience in a specific domain, while a Director often has broader experience, encompassing multiple domains, and has proven their ability to make strategic decisions.
In terms of influence, while a Head might influence departmental strategies, policies, and operations, a Director has a say in the organization's overarching strategies, ensuring all departments synchronize to achieve common goals.
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Comparison Chart
Scope of Responsibility
Leads a specific department or team.
Oversees larger organizational segments or entire entity.
Hierarchical Position
Often positioned below a Director.
Generally holds a more senior role.
Experience and Tenure
Domain-specific experience.
Broader experience, often strategic.
Formality
Versatile, used in various settings.
More formal, often associated with board-level positions.
Influence Level
Influences departmental strategies and operations.
Influences overarching organizational strategies.
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Head and Director Definitions
Head
The top or foremost part of something.
He bumped his head on the door frame.
Director
A person who oversees and guides an organization or department.
Sarah is the Director of Operations.
Head
The forefront or leading position.
She's at the head of her class.
Director
A member of a board of people that manages or oversees an institution.
He's a Director at the bank.
Head
The individual who leads or commands.
He was appointed head of the committee.
Director
Someone who supervises the production of a film or show.
The movie's success was attributed to the Director.
Head
The uppermost or forwardmost part of the body of a vertebrate, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws.
Director
One that supervises, controls, or manages.
Head
The analogous part of an invertebrate organism.
Director
A member of a group of persons chosen to control or govern the affairs of an institution or corporation.
Head
The length or height of such a part
The horse lost by a head. She is two heads taller than he is.
Director
A person who supervises the creative aspects of a dramatic production or film and instructs the actors and crew.
Head
The seat of the faculty of reason; intelligence, intellect, or mind
I did the figuring in my head.
Director
The conductor of an orchestra or chorus.
Head
Mental ability or aptitude
She has a good head for mathematics.
Director
An electronic device that continually calculates and displays information used for firing weapons at moving targets, such as missiles or aircraft.
Head
Freedom of choice or action
Give the child his head and see how well he solves the problems.
Director
One who directs; the person in charge of managing a department or directorate (e.g., director of engineering), project, or production (as in a show or film, e.g., film director).
Head
A habitual drug user. Often used in combination
A dopehead.
Director
A member of a board of directors.
Head
An enthusiast. Often used in combination
A chilihead.
Director
A counselor, confessor, or spiritual guide.
Head
A person considered foolish or contemptible. Often used in combination
A chowderhead.
Director
That which directs or orientates something.
Head
A portrait or representation of a person's head.
Director
(military) A device that displays graphical information concerning the targets of a weapons system in real time.
Head
Often heads (used with a sing. verb) The side of a coin having the principal design, often the profile of a political leader's head.
Director
(chemistry) The common axis of symmetry of the molecules of a liquid crystal.
Head
(Informal) A headache
Had a bad head early this morning.
Director
One who, or that which, directs; one who regulates, guides, or orders; a manager or superintendent.
In all affairs thou sole director.
Head
An individual; a person
Charged five dollars a head.
Director
One of a body of persons appointed to manage the affairs of a company or corporation; as, the directors of a bank, insurance company, or railroad company.
What made directors cheat in South-Sea year?
Head
Pl. head A single animal
20 head of cattle.
Director
A part of a machine or instrument which directs its motion or action.
Head
A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director
The head of the corporation.
Director
A slender grooved instrument upon which a knife is made to slide when it is wished to limit the extent of motion of the latter, or prevent its injuring the parts beneath.
Head
A headmaster or headmistress.
Director
Someone who controls resources and expenditures
Head
The foremost or leading position
Marched at the head of the parade.
Director
Member of a board of directors
Head
A headwaiter.
Director
Someone who supervises the actors and directs the action in the production of a show
Head
The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
Director
The person who leads a musical group
Head
The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
Director
A person who leads, guides, or supervises.
As the Director of the play, she made key decisions.
Head
The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas
A head of steam.
Director
A top-tier position in corporate hierarchy.
After years of hard work, he was promoted to Director.
Head
The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
Head
The froth or foam that rises to the top in pouring an effervescent liquid, such as beer.
Head
The tip of an abscess, boil, or pimple, in which pus forms.
Head
A turning point; a crisis
Bring matters to a head.
Head
A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object
The head of a pin.
A head of land overlooking the harbor.
Head
The working end of a tool or implement
The head of a hammer.
Head
The looped part at the end a lacrosse stick, to which the webbing is attached.
Head
The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
Head
The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
Head
A tuning machine.
Head
The rounded proximal end of a long bone
The head of the femur.
Head
The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
Head
An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
Head
The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
Head
The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
Head
A rounded compact mass, as of leaves or buds
A head of cabbage.
Head
(Botany) A flower head.
Head
The uppermost part; the top
Place the appropriate name at the head of each column.
Head
The end considered the most important
Sat at the head of the table.
Head
Either end of an object, such as a drum, whose two ends are interchangeable.
Head
The forward part of a vessel.
Head
The top part or upper edge of a sail.
Head
A toilet, especially on a ship.
Head
A passage or gallery in a coal mine.
Head
The top of a book or page.
Head
A headline or heading.
Head
A distinct topic or category
Under the head of recent Spanish history.
Head
Headway; progress.
Head
(Linguistics) The word determining the grammatical category of a constituent, often establishing relations of concord or agreement (such as subject-verb agreement) with other constituents.
Head
Vulgar Slang Oral sex.
Head
Of, relating to, or intended for the head. Often used in combination
Headshaking.
Headwrap.
Head
Foremost in rank or importance
The head librarian.
Head
Placed at the top or the front
The head name on the list.
Head
(Slang) Of, relating to, or for drugs or drug users.
Head
To be in charge of; lead
The minister headed the committee.
Head
To be in the first or foremost position of
Collins heads the list of job candidates.
Head
To aim, point, or turn in a certain direction
Headed the team of horses up the hill.
Head
To remove the head or top of.
Head
(Sports) To hit (a soccer ball) in the air with one's head.
Head
To provide with a head
Head each column with a number.
Headed the flagpole with a golden ball.
Head
To proceed or go in a certain direction
Head for town.
Head
To form a head, as lettuce or cabbage.
Head
To originate, as a stream or river; rise.
Head
(countable) The part of the body of an animal or human which contains the brain, mouth, and main sense organs.
Be careful when you pet that dog on the head; it may bite.
Head
(people) To do with heads.
Head
(animals) To do with heads.
Head
(countable) The topmost, foremost, or leading part.
What does it say at the head of the page?
Head
The end of a table.
Head
(countable) The principal operative part of a machine or tool.
Head
The foam that forms on top of beer or other carbonated beverages.
Pour me a fresh beer; this one has no head.
He never learned how to pour a glass of beer so it didn't have too much head.
Head
(engineering) The end cap of a cylindrically-shaped pressure vessel.
Head
(coopering) The end cap of a cask or other barrel.
Head
(geology) The uppermost part of a valley.
Head
Deposits near the top of a geological succession.
Head
(journalism) headline
Head
(medicine) The end of an abscess where pus collects.
Head
(music) The headstock of a guitar.
Head
(nautical) A leading component.
Head
(British) A headland.
Head
A leader or expert.
Head
The place of honour, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front.
Head
(metonymy) Leader; chief; mastermind.
I'd like to speak to the head of the department.
Police arrested the head of the gang in a raid last night.
Head
(metonymy) A headmaster or headmistress.
I was called into the head's office to discuss my behaviour.
Head
A person with an extensive knowledge of hip hop.
Only true heads know this.
Head
A significant or important part.
Head
A beginning or end, a protuberance.
Head
A component.
Head
Headway; progress.
We are having a difficult time making head against this wind.
Head
Topic; subject.
We will consider performance issues under the head of future improvements.
Head
Denouement; crisis.
These isses are going to come to a head today.
Head
(fluid dynamics) Pressure and energy.
Head
A buildup of fluid pressure, often quantified as pressure head.
Let the engine build up a good head of steam.
How much head do you have at the Glens Falls feeder dam?
Head
The difference in elevation between two points in a column of fluid, and the resulting pressure of the fluid at the lower point.
Head
More generally, energy in a mass of fluid divided by its weight.
Head
Fellatio or cunnilingus; oral sex.
She gave great head.
Head
(slang) The glans penis.
Head
A heavy or habitual user of illicit drugs.
Head
(obsolete) Power; armed force.
Head
Of, relating to, or intended for the head.
Head
Foremost in rank or importance.
The head cook
Head
Placed at the top or the front.
Head
Coming from in front.
Head sea
Head wind
Head
(transitive) To be in command of. (See also head up.)
Who heads the board of trustees?
To head an army, an expedition, or a riot
Head
(transitive) To come at the beginning or front of; to commence.
A group of clowns headed the procession.
The most important items headed the list.
Head
(transitive) To strike with the head; as in soccer, to head the ball
Head
(intransitive) To move in a specified direction.
We are going to head up North for our holiday.
We will head off tomorrow.
Next holiday we will head out West, or head to Chicago.
Right now I need to head into town to do some shopping.
I'm fed up working for a boss. I'm going to head out on my own, set up my own business.
Where does the train head to?
Head
(fishing) To remove the head from a fish.
The salmon are first headed and then scaled.
Head
(intransitive) To originate; to spring; to have its course, as a river.
Head
(intransitive) To form a head.
This kind of cabbage heads early.
Head
(transitive) To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head.
To head a nail
Head
(transitive) To cut off the top of; to lop off.
To head trees
Head
To behead; to decapitate.
Head
To go in front of.
To head a drove of cattle
To head a person
Head
To get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose.
The wind headed the ship and made progress difficult.
Head
(by extension) To check or restrain.
Head
To set on the head.
To head a cask
Head
The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon.
Head
The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object; such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also, the larger, thicker, or heavier part or extremity, in distinction from the smaller or thinner part, or from the point or edge; as, the head of a cane, a nail, a spear, an ax, a mast, a sail, a ship; that which covers and closes the top or the end of a hollow vessel; as, the head of a cask or a steam boiler.
Head
The place where the head should go; as, the head of a bed, of a grave, etc.; the head of a carriage, that is, the hood which covers the head.
Head
The most prominent or important member of any organized body; the chief; the leader; as, the head of a college, a school, a church, a state, and the like.
The heads of the chief sects of philosophy.
Your head I him appoint.
Head
The place or honor, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front; as, the head of the table; the head of a column of soldiers.
An army of fourscore thousand troops, with the duke of Marlborough at the head of them.
Head
Each one among many; an individual; - often used in a plural sense; as, a thousand head of cattle.
It there be six millions of people, there are about four acres for every head.
Head
The seat of the intellect; the brain; the understanding; the mental faculties; as, a good head, that is, a good mind; it never entered his head, it did not occur to him; of his own head, of his own thought or will.
Men who had lost both head and heart.
Head
The source, fountain, spring, or beginning, as of a stream or river; as, the head of the Nile; hence, the altitude of the source, or the height of the surface, as of water, above a given place, as above an orifice at which it issues, and the pressure resulting from the height or from motion; sometimes also, the quantity in reserve; as, a mill or reservoir has a good head of water, or ten feet head; also, that part of a gulf or bay most remote from the outlet or the sea.
Head
A headland; a promontory; as, Gay Head.
Head
A separate part, or topic, of a discourse; a theme to be expanded; a subdivision; as, the heads of a sermon.
Head
Culminating point or crisis; hence, strength; force; height.
Ere foul sin, gathering head, shall break into corruption.
The indisposition which has long hung upon me, is at last grown to such a head, that it must quickly make an end of me or of itself.
Head
Power; armed force.
My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head.
Head
A headdress; a covering of the head; as, a laced head; a head of hair.
Head
An ear of wheat, barley, or of one of the other small cereals.
Head
A dense cluster of flowers, as in clover, daisies, thistles; a capitulum.
Head
The antlers of a deer.
Head
A rounded mass of foam which rises on a pot of beer or other effervescing liquor.
Head
Tiles laid at the eaves of a house.
Head
Principal; chief; leading; first; as, the head master of a school; the head man of a tribe; a head chorister; a head cook.
Head
To be at the head of; to put one's self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot.
Head
To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail.
Head
To behead; to decapitate.
Head
To cut off the top of; to lop off; as, to head trees.
Head
To go in front of; to get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose; hence, to check or restrain; as, to head a drove of cattle; to head a person; the wind heads a ship.
Head
To set on the head; as, to head a cask.
Head
To originate; to spring; to have its source, as a river.
A broad river, that heads in the great Blue Ridge.
Head
To go or point in a certain direction; to tend; as, how does the ship head?
Head
To form a head; as, this kind of cabbage heads early.
Head
The upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains;
He stuck his head out the window
Head
A single domestic animal;
200 head of cattle
Head
That which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason;
His mind wandered
I couldn't get his words out of my head
Head
A person who is in charge;
The head of the whole operation
Head
The front of a military formation or procession;
The head of the column advanced boldly
They were at the head of the attack
Head
The pressure exerted by a fluid;
A head of steam
Head
The top of something;
The head of the stairs
The head of the page
The head of the list
Head
The source of water from which a stream arises;
They tracked him back toward the head of the stream
Head
(grammar) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent
Head
The tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)
Head
The length or height based on the size of a human or animal head;
He is two heads taller than his little sister
His horse won by a head
Head
A dense clusters of flowers or foliage;
A head of cauliflower
A head of lettuce
Head
The educator who has executive authority for a school;
She sent unruly pupils to see the principal
Head
An individual person;
Tickets are $5 per head
Head
A user of (usually soft) drugs;
The office was full of secret heads
Head
A rounded compact mass;
The head of a comet
Head
The foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container;
The beer had a large head of foam
Head
The part in the front or nearest the viewer;
He was in the forefront
He was at the head of the column
Head
A difficult juncture;
A pretty pass
Matters came to a head yesterday
Head
Forward movement;
The ship made little headway against the gale
Head
A V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer;
The point of the arrow was due north
Head
The subject matter at issue;
The question of disease merits serious discussion
Under the head of minor Roman poets
Head
A line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about;
The heading seemed to have little to do with the text
Head
The rounded end of a bone that bits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint;
The head of the humerus
Head
That part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves
Head
(computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk
Head
(usually plural) an obverse side of a coin that bears the representation of a person's head;
Call heads or tails!
Head
The striking part of a tool;
The head of the hammer
Head
(nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship
Head
A projection out from one end;
The head of the nail
A pinhead is the head of a pin
Head
A membrane that is stretched taut over a drum
Head
Oral-genital stimulation;
They say he gives good head
Head
To go or travel towards;
Where is she heading
We were headed for the mountains
Head
Be in charge of;
Who is heading this project?
Head
Travel in front of; go in advance of others;
The procession was headed by John
Head
Be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel;
This student heads the class
Head
Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
Head
Take its rise;
These rivers head from a mountain range in the Himalayas
Head
Be in the front of or on top of;
The list was headed by the name of the president
Head
Form a head or come or grow to a head;
The wheat headed early this year
Head
Remove the head of;
Head the fish
Head
A leader of a specific department or unit.
John is the Head of the HR department.
Head
The source or origin of a river or stream.
We hiked to the head of the river.
FAQs
Can a school have a Head?
Yes, terms like "Headmaster" or "Head of Department" are common in academic settings.
Can a Director manage multiple departments?
Yes, Directors often oversee multiple departments or even the entire organization.
Do all companies have Directors?
Most incorporated companies have Directors, as they're essential for governance and decision-making.
Who reports to a Director?
It varies, but Heads, Managers, and other departmental leaders often report to Directors.
Can an organization have multiple Heads for one department?
It's uncommon, but larger departments might have co-heads.
Is a Head higher than a Director in corporations?
Generally, a Director is higher than a Head.
Is a Head always limited to one department?
Typically, a Head oversees a specific domain, but the exact scope can vary by organization.
Can "Head" refer to a physical part of something?
Yes, "head" can also refer to the top or foremost part of an object.
Is "Head" a formal title?
It can be, but "Head" is also used informally in various contexts.
What's the role of a Director in filmmaking?
In filmmaking, a Director supervises and controls the creative aspects, guiding the cast and crew.
What's the difference between a CEO and a Director?
A CEO is an executive role, often the highest-ranking officer, while a Director is typically a governance or oversight role, often part of a board.
Are all Directors part of a board?
Often, especially in larger corporations, but the term can be used more broadly.
How is a "Head of State" different?
A "Head of State" is a political term, referring to the highest-ranking official in a country.
Is the term "Head" used globally?
Yes, but its exact usage and meaning can vary by region and culture.
Does a Director always have decision-making authority?
Typically, but the extent of their authority can vary by organization and position.
Can someone be both a Head and a Director?
In smaller organizations, roles might overlap, so one person could hold multiple titles.
Is a Department Head the same as a Manager?
Not necessarily. While both have leadership roles, a Department Head is typically higher in rank.
Who typically appoints a Head?
Usually senior management or Directors.
Do Directors need specific qualifications?
It varies by industry and organization, but experience, expertise, and sometimes formal qualifications are required.
Are the roles of a Director consistent across industries?
Core responsibilities might be similar, but specific duties can vary widely based on the industry.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
