Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.
Also Known As
- Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO)
- Distribution Operations Manager
- Postmaster
- Remote Encoding Center Manager
Alternate Job Titles
- Delivery Supervisor
- Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO)
- Distribution Operations Manager
- Distribution Operations Supervisor
- Mail Delivery Supervisor
- Mail Superintendent
- Order to Delivery Supervisor
- Postal Service Sectional Center Manager
- Postal Superintendent
- Postal Supervisor
- Postmaster
- Postmaster Relief (PMR)
- Remote Encoding Center Manager
- Remote Encoding Operations Supervisor
- Service Delivery Supervisor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes.
- Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
- Resolve customer complaints.
- Prepare employee work schedules.
- Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
- Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance.
- Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Time Management
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Negotiation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Leadership Orientation
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Barcode scanners
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Credit card machines
- Date stamps
- Digital postal scales
- Electronic cash registers
- Mail delivery trucks
- Mail sorting equipment
- Measuring tapes
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Point of sale POS computer terminals
- Postage canceling machines
- Postage meters
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $81,430 |
| Median | $92,730 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $109,140 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 13,810
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Postal Service Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,630
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $102,010
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $66,140
Administrative Services Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $108,390
General and Operations Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $102,950
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.