Responsabile vs. incaricato
While both responsabile and incaricato can be translated as responsible or in charge in English, they carry different nuances regarding the scope of the duty. The word responsabile implies ultimate accountability and leadership, whereas incaricato refers to someone who has been delegated, appointed, or tasked with a specific, often narrower, action or duty.
Responsabile
The word responsabile refers to a person who has ultimate accountability, liability, or leadership over a project, department, or situation. This person is the one who answers for the outcomes, whether they are good or bad. It is often used to mean manager or head of a department.
Lui è il responsabile delle vendite per tutta la regione.
(He is the person responsible for sales for the whole region.)
Chi è il responsabile di questo terribile errore?
(Who is responsible for this terrible mistake?)
Il responsabile del progetto ha deciso di cambiare la scadenza.
(The project manager decided to change the deadline.)
I genitori sono responsabili del comportamento dei propri figli.
(Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children.)
Abbiamo bisogno di parlare con il responsabile del negozio.
(We need to speak with the store manager.)
Incaricato
The word incaricato refers to someone who has been appointed, delegated, or tasked with a specific duty or job. Rather than holding broad accountability, an incaricato is simply the designated person executing a particular assignment, and they often report to a responsabile.
L'incaricato alla consegna arriverà tra pochi minuti.
(The person in charge of the delivery will arrive in a few minutes.)
Sono l'incaricato per il controllo della qualità in questo turno.
(I am the person tasked with quality control on this shift.)
Hanno nominato un nuovo incaricato per la gestione dei reclami.
(They appointed a new person in charge of handling complaints.)
Il dipendente incaricato di questa mansione è attualmente in ferie.
(The employee assigned to this task is currently on vacation.)
Per maggiori informazioni, contatti l'incaricato alle vendite.
(For more information, contact the appointed sales representative.)
Summary
In short, use responsabile when referring to the person who holds the overall accountability and leadership for a department or an outcome. Use incaricato when referring to the specific person delegated or appointed to execute a precise task or duty.