managerial / conductive
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managerial
Holding a leading or responsible position, often in a company or organization.
Als leitende Angestellte hat sie Personalverantwortung für zwanzig Mitarbeiter.
As a managerial employee, she has personnel responsibility for twenty employees.
conductive
In physics, having the property of transporting energy, such as electricity or heat, or sound.
Kupfer ist ein gut leitendes Material und wird daher für elektrische Kabel verwendet.
Copper is a highly conductive material and is therefore used for electrical cables.
'Leitend' is the present participle of the verb 'leiten' (to lead/conduct). This origin explains both meanings: someone who 'leitet' (leads) a department is a 'leitender Angestellter' (managerial employee). A material that 'leitet' (conducts) electricity is a 'leitendes Material' (conductive material).
Er hat eine leitende Funktion im Unternehmen übernommen.
He has taken on a managerial role in the company.
The context makes the meaning clear. If people are talking about jobs, companies, and hierarchies, it refers to a leading position. If the topic is physics, technology, or materials, it refers to the ability to transport energy.
Als leitender Ingenieur ist er für das gesamte Projekt verantwortlich.
As the lead engineer, he is responsible for the entire project.
In the meaning 'führend' (leading), 'leitend' is almost always used before a noun. Typical combinations are 'leitender Angestellter' (managerial employee), 'leitende Position' (managerial position), or 'in leitender Funktion' (in a managerial role).
Nur leitende Mitarbeiter haben Zugang zu diesen Dokumenten.
Only managerial employees have access to these documents.
responsible
Verantwortlich can describe a person’s responsibility for a task or result even if they do not lead anyone. Leitend, by contrast, describes a position with leadership authority and decision-making power. Use verantwortlich for responsibility without leadership and leitend when the person leads a team or department.
Als leitender Mitarbeiter entscheidet Herr Weber über die Aufgaben des Teams.
As a senior manager, Mr. Weber decides on the team’s tasks.
Herr Weber ist für die Prüfung der Rechnungen verantwortlich, obwohl er niemanden führt.
Mr. Weber is responsible for checking the invoices, even though he does not lead anyone.
