Occupation · SOC 11-9131
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
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.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
277 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessCoordinationReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingTime ManagementManagement of Personnel ResourcesCritical Thinking
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageProduction and ProcessingCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareProcurement softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
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.Negotiate labor disputes.Select and train postmasters and managers of associate postal units.Inform the public of available services, and of postal laws and regulations.Issue and cash money orders.Collect rents for post office boxes.Confer with suppliers to obtain bids for proposed purchases and to requisition supplies, disbursing funds according to federal regulations.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Employee attendance records — review and record daily under direct supervisor guidance at a single postal facility.Incoming and outgoing mail flow — assist in organizing and sorting under close supervision in a mail processing area.Customer complaints — listen to and document initial details under the direction of a postmaster on duty.Work schedule templates — populate with pre-assigned shift data following established formats provided by management.Postal operations procedures — follow written protocols for opening, closing, and securing a post office facility.New employee orientation materials — assist in distributing and explaining basic job duties under trainer oversight.Activity summary reports — gather raw data and compile into standardized forms as directed by a supervising postmaster.Electronic mail software — use to receive and forward routine operational communications within the postal office.Time accounting software — enter employee hours into the system following instructions from a supervisor.Office suite software — use basic spreadsheet and word processing tools to support daily administrative tasks at the facility.
developing
Employee work schedules — prepare and distribute weekly shift assignments for postal staff with minimal oversight.Mail processing operations — coordinate incoming and outgoing mail activities to meet established daily deadlines.Customer complaints — resolve routine service issues independently by applying standard postal service policies.Payroll attendance data — monitor and verify employee work schedules and time records for accuracy before submission.Staff performance observations — document behavioral and productivity patterns to support routine evaluations.New hire training sessions — deliver structured on-the-job instruction covering mail handling and customer service procedures.Post office activity reports — prepare detailed and summary reports and submit to designated supervisors on schedule.Human resources software — use to track personnel records, schedule changes, and attendance across the facility.Procurement software — process routine supply orders following approved vendor lists and budget guidelines.Public safety protocols — apply established security and safety procedures during daily postal facility operations.
proficient
Postal facility operations — direct and coordinate all processing, delivery, and administrative services autonomously across one or more locations.Complex customer complaints — investigate, negotiate resolution, and implement corrective actions for escalated service disputes.Employee performance evaluations — conduct comprehensive assessments and provide structured feedback to improve staff productivity.Labor disputes — negotiate directly with union representatives or employee groups to reach workable resolutions at the facility level.Staff hiring process — lead candidate screening, interviewing, and selection to fill operational and supervisory vacancies.Operational performance reports — analyze detailed activity data and author summary reports identifying trends and recommending improvements.Multi-shift scheduling — develop optimized staffing plans that balance service demands, labor regulations, and budget constraints.Learning strategies — design and adapt training approaches to address varied skill gaps among postal staff members.Database and query software — use to extract operational data and generate reports supporting management decisions.Transportation and mail routing — evaluate and adjust delivery route assignments to improve efficiency across the service area.
advanced
Postal facility network — set strategic direction for operational, management, and supportive services across multiple facilities simultaneously.Organizational workforce development — establish training standards and mentorship programs that build leadership capacity throughout the postal district.Labor relations strategy — lead negotiation of labor agreements and dispute resolution frameworks that shape long-term workforce policy.District-level reporting — author and present comprehensive performance analyses to senior postal leadership to influence resource allocation decisions.Human resources policy — develop and implement personnel policies governing hiring, evaluation, and disciplinary processes across the district.Service quality standards — define and enforce customer service benchmarks and complaint resolution protocols organization-wide.Operational budget oversight — manage facility budgets and procurement strategies to maximize cost-effectiveness across the postal network.Change management initiatives — lead adoption of new technology, workflows, and regulatory requirements across multiple postal locations.Cross-functional coordination — align postal operations with transportation, public safety, and government compliance stakeholders at a regional level.Succession planning — identify and develop high-potential employees to ensure leadership continuity across the postal facility network.
Also known as
57 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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