Rank boss near useless! (8)
I believe the answer is:
baroness
'rank' is the definition.
(baroness is an aristocratic rank)
'boss near useless' is the wordplay.
'useless' is an anagram indicator.
'boss'+'near'='bossnear'
'bossnear' anagrammed gives 'BARONESS'.
(Other definitions for baroness that I've seen before include "Thatcher possibly" , "Noble" , "Noblewoman" , "Aristocrat" , "Woman life-peer" .)