Executive Directors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of executive directors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for executive directors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of executive directors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for executive directors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Executive Directors?
Do executive directors need a degree? What kind of experience do executive directors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for executive directors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Executive Directors
Jobs Postings for Executive Directors By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 36,443 (36%)
- No Education Listed: 30,353 (30%)
- Master's degree: 18,609 (18%)
- High School or GED: 12,045 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 4,774 (5%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of executive directors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 36% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 18% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Executive Directors
Jobs Postings for Executive Directors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 7,617 (17%)
- 2-3 Years: 11,729 (26%)
- 4-6 Years: 13,491 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 4,921 (11%)
- 10+ Years: 6,693 (15%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for executive directors. In 30% of job postings for Executive Directors, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 26% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for executive directors.
What Kind of Degree Do Executive Directors Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for executive directors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 31 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective executive directors, and in 2023 a total of 1,129,992 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective executive directors.
Top Degree Programs for Executive Directors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Executive Directors (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 34,318 |
| Management Science. | 30,890 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | 29,564 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other. | 19,243 |
| Public Administration. | 15,683 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Environmental Studies. | 10,429 |
| Environmental Science. | 9,888 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,274 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. | 9,123 |
| International Business/Trade/Commerce. | 7,469 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | 4,872 |
| Sustainability Studies. | 4,382 |
| Natural Resources/Conservation, General. | 3,026 |
| Small Business Administration/Management. | 2,948 |
| Construction Trades, General. | 2,589 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. | 2,481 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General. | 1,679 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. | 685 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other. | 335 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other. | 247 |
| Construction Trades, Other. | 232 |
| Social Entrepreneurship. | 84 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Executive Directors
Expand your leadership capabilities to change the business of doing business.
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Executive Directors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by executive directors to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for executive directors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Executive Directors
Based on 83,738 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Executive Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | 11,966 | 14% |
| Marketing | 10,182 | 12% |
| Project Management | 10,178 | 12% |
| Accounting | 7,391 | 9% |
| Auditing | 7,086 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Executive Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 40,176 | 48% |
| Management | 38,874 | 46% |
| Leadership | 33,615 | 40% |
| Operations | 28,056 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 21,966 | 26% |
Based on 83,738 job postings related to executive directors, finance was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 14% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for marketing, project management, accounting, auditing and public administration were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for executive directors, followed by management, leadership, operations, customer service and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | 11,966 | 14% |
| Marketing | 10,182 | 12% |
| Project Management | 10,178 | 12% |
| Accounting | 7,391 | 9% |
| Auditing | 7,086 | 8% |
| Public Administration | 5,462 | 7% |
| Merchandising | 5,151 | 6% |
| Financial Statements | 4,701 | 6% |
| Fundraising | 4,546 | 5% |
| Financial Management | 4,096 | 5% |
| Public Relations | 4,047 | 5% |
| Process Improvement | 3,784 | 5% |
| Purchasing | 3,716 | 4% |
| Selling Techniques | 3,541 | 4% |
| Risk Management | 3,475 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 3,430 | 4% |
| Cash Register | 3,426 | 4% |
| Effective Communication | 3,412 | 4% |
| Operational Excellence | 3,401 | 4% |
| Cash Handling | 3,386 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 40,176 | 48% |
| Management | 38,874 | 46% |
| Leadership | 33,615 | 40% |
| Operations | 28,056 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 21,966 | 26% |
| Planning | 18,215 | 22% |
| Sales | 17,278 | 21% |
| Writing | 15,768 | 19% |
| Problem Solving | 13,663 | 16% |
| Coordinating | 13,525 | 16% |
| Research | 11,224 | 13% |
| Budgeting | 11,106 | 13% |
| Presentations | 10,534 | 13% |
| Strategic Planning | 10,442 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 9,262 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 8,987 | 11% |
| Decision Making | 8,319 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 8,115 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 7,931 | 9% |
| Accountability | 7,781 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about executive directors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for executive directors.
What do executive directors do?
How much do executive directors make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.