Creating a resignation letter with a professional tone is no easy task. Direct reports and managers rely on your leadership to keep key initiatives moving forward. Anyone who leaves a director-level position needs to carefully resign and think of a solid plan for a smooth transition.If you are a director, chances are that you report to an executive at your organization. Your letter needs to keep the interests of your department in mind as you communicate your resignation. A simple mistake could tarnish your reputation with your well-connected boss, and you don’t want to burn a bridge at this critical juncture in your career.Spend time worrying about the other details specific to your job, and use these director resignation letter templates to craft your message. The accompanying tips will help you organize your presentation.
Director Resignation Letter Template
Carolina Markowitz wrote this message after landing a new management position at another organization. While Carolina had disagreements with the new department vice president’s budget cuts, these conflicts remain under the surface. She does a great job of keeping the tone professional and focuses on the positive aspects of her tenure.
Dear Marilyn,
This letter serves as my formal resignation from Ornamental Technologies.
I am resigning from my position as Director of Marketing at Ornamental Technologies, and I am giving notice based on the terms of my contract, which states that all director level positions give, at minimum, two weeks’ notice. This means my last day at Ornamental Technologies is October 22nd.
I have learned so much about developing a marketing department in the B2B space at Ornamental Technologies. Having grown the department from two to five employees means the organization is well positioned to take on competitors in the enterprise software space. In addition, it was fantastic to start the organization’s first automation program for social media advertising with key agency partners. The relationships I built with my team and other leaders in the organization will hopefully stay with me throughout my career.
The remaining time I have here is important for the smooth operations of the marketing department. I plan on instructing our senior marketing manager, Mark, in best practices for running team meetings while you find a replacement. In addition, I will train him to generate reports for the finance and sales departments. I will also be in communication with Lindsay, the director of sales, about maintaining key marketing communication with her reps.
I wish all of the leaders and employees at Ornamental Technologies the best. The organization has a bright future, and I can’t wait to see what everyone accomplishes.
Respectfully yours,
Carolina Markowitz
How To Write a Director Resignation Letter
A director resignation letter lets employers know that you are leaving your position in a straightforward yet professional manner. The message is also the appropriate time to thank your boss for the opportunity and to communicate an action plan to transition your responsibilities to other employees. Your supervisor relies on you to run a department or unit, and it is important to say the right thing in your resignation letter.
It is important to remain direct in your resignation letter. Start off your letter by saying that you are resigning from the position. Then, list your last day of work. If you are unsure about how much notice you have to provide, review your agreement or speak with an HR manager. The resignation template directly refers to the contract, and this shows the employee did her homework.
Even if you are eager to leave your role, make sure to include a paragraph that outlines the positive aspects of your time at the company. Mention any lessons you learned from your boss, and state them with sincerity. You may want utilize your direct supervisor as a reference in the future, and you don’t want to burn bridges.
Close by proposing a plan to tie up all loose ends before your final day. Name colleagues whom you plan to train, if necessary, and identify projects you will complete. The purpose of this section is to set up the framework for a smooth transition. Don’t assume that other people will take care of this part for you. It’s your responsibility to set the wheels in motion, as the writer of our director resignation letter template does.
What To Avoid in Your Director Resignation Letter
The biggest mistake that you can make is burning a bridge. Even if you would like to have nothing more to do with your former employer, understand that industry rumors can tarnish your reputation and prevent you from getting a great job in the future. No matter what, focus on the positives. If you truly can’t recall any positive aspects of your job, then ask yourself what you learned and turn that into something good. Read your letter to a friend to ensure that it doesn’t sound rude or passive-aggressive.
If you must resign for personal reasons, then consider how much you wish to share with your employer. It’s okay to be completely honest, but take personal inventory of your own needs and consider how much you wish to reveal.
Regardless of your reason for leaving, it’s important to sound sincere. Phony, over-the-top gushing about how great your employer is will come off as disingenuous. Stick to the (positive) facts and express gratitude simply.
How To Follow Up After Sending Your Director Resignation Letter
Employees in a director level role need to take extra care to keep the department moving along after submitting a resignation letter. Ideally, you already had a face-to-face meeting with your boss to discuss a transition plan.
If your boss gets very busy and ignores your letter after you submit it, remain proactive. Schedule daily meetings to go over progress, and make sure you stick to a timeline for handing over your projects. Check in regularly to see how you can further help with assigning key tasks.
It is customary to tell your direct reports once you submit your resignation letter. While you don’t have to go into detail about why you are leaving, you can let them know that you are moving on for other opportunities. Letting your direct reports know also helps them transition to responsibilities they need to carry out in your absence.
Top 5 Director Resignation Letter Writing Takeaways
1. Start off with a statement about your resignation
The director resignation letter gets right to the point and announces the resignation. This is not the time to be vague or unclear with your message.
2. Review your contract or employee agreement and follow any terms
Read contracts and employee agreements before announcing a resignation date. Failing to pay attention to those details and resigning too soon could leave you on bad terms with the organization. Directly address the terms of the contract or agreement in your letter.
3. Thank your employer, and avoid a condescending tone
Sincerity matters right now, and so does focusing on the positive growth you experienced in the position. Focus on any growth points your boss helped you achieve within the department. Even if you spent most of the time feeling utterly frustrated in the position, make sure to include a simple line thanking your boss for the opportunity.
4. Provide concrete information about assisting with the transition, and follow through
Directors are responsible for running departments. Make sure you communicate the basic transition plan for your absence in the resignation letter. Then follow up with your boss to arrange an efficient implementation.
5. Double-check your document for grammar and spelling errors
Keep the transition smooth by reviewing your document for spelling and grammar errors. You don’t want your boss to judge you for simple writing mistakes.
