noun

a person in charge of others; a boss.

street cleaners stopping for a smoke when their gaffer isn’t in the vicinity

boss,manager,manageress,foreman,forewoman,overseer,controller,supervisor,superintendent,ganger,bossman,number one,kingpin,top dog,bigwig,big cheese,Mr Big,skipper,governor,guv’nor,honcho,head honcho,numero uno,padrone,sachem,big wheel,big kahuna,big white chief,high muckamuck