A nation-wide survey was conducted among 282 directors of community college occupational education to determine their individual backgrounds and roles in their institutions. Most commonly called director or dean (84%), the respondents generally had a masters degree (92%), had no teaching responsibilities (nearly 80%), and had spent an average of 8.4 years employed in non-educational areas. Duties receiving highest priority were initiation of occupational programs, evaluation of overall occupational education programs, and administration of occupational education instruction. Those respondents with more advanced titles, hierarchically, possessed more degrees, did less teaching, interacted more with administrators and less with students. As more education was acquired, less time was spent in non-educational jobs and more time interacting with faculty. Respondents spending more time in non-educational activities were associated with larger institutions and interacted less with faculty. Directors at smaller institutions did teach, interacted less with administration and more with students, had less responsibility toward occupational education and perceived faculty as less influential. Directors at larger institutions interacted more with administrators and less with faculty and students, and had a higher degree of responsibility for occupational education. (LH)