Top operations manager skills to look for in candidates
1. Communication skills
Included in 46.42% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers oversee team members and interact with customers regularly, which means they need to communicate effectively. It’s also important for an operations manager to have strong writing skills. Incorporate this skill into your job description with phrases like “ability to write detailed reports” and “must be able to collaborate with others.”
To assess a candidate’s communication skills, ask scenario-based questions that require various communication skills during interviews..
2. Management
Included in 32.67% of operations manager job postings
Operations management is all about planning, organizing and monitoring work activities to ensure a team reaches its objectives. Therefore, the role requires excellent management skills. Use phrases like “ability to delegate tasks effectively” and “must be able to develop efficient work processes” to get the message across in your job description.
If you want to assess a candidate’s management skills, consider having them complete a situational judgment test as part of the hiring process.
3. Microsoft Office
Included in 19.84% of operations manager job postings
Many operations managers rely on Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets and more. It’s important to include this skill in your job description if you need someone who has intermediate or advanced Office skills. Attract quality candidates with specific phrases like “ability to create pivot tables in Excel” or “strong Microsoft PowerPoint skills required.”
To assess a candidate’s Microsoft Office skills, conduct a skill-based interview or have them complete a skills test.
4. Analysis skills
Included in 18.67% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers must be able to analyze complex business problems, so consider including this skill in your job description. Make your expectations clear with phrases like “strong data analysis skills required” or “ability to analyze complex financial data as part of the decision-making process.”
One way to assess a candidate’s skills in this area is to have them explain how they used their analysis skills to solve a recent problem.
5. Microsoft Excel
Included in 17.90% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers play an important role in maintaining a profitable enterprise, so they often use spreadsheets to track financial metrics. Include this skill in your job description if you need someone who excels at using spreadsheets for accounting, budgeting or data visualization. Use phrases like “expert-level Excel skills required” or “ability to use HLOOKUP and VLOOKUP functions.”
Assess each candidate’s Excel skills by administering a skills test. Another option is to ask Excel-related interview questions.
6. Leadership
Included in 17.62% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers must be able to motivate and influence their team members to achieve collective goals, so leadership skills are essential. Mention leadership in your job description and phrases like “must be able to motivate employees” and “transformative leadership abilities required.”
To assess leadership skills, ask each candidate to explain their leadership style and describe how they motivate team members to succeed.
7. Supervising experience
Included in 17.4% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers use a variety of supervisory skills, such as problem-solving, conflict management and communication. Include these skills in your job description if the new hire will oversee at least one employee’s daily activities. Incorporate highly specific phrases, such as, “How do you prioritize and delegate tasks to your team during peak periods?” or “Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines. How did you ensure timely completion and quality control?”
To assess a candidate’s supervising experience, ask how they would handle a conflict between two employees or solve a complex problem.
8. Computer skills
Included in 16.69% of operations manager job postings
If you decide to include computer skills in your job description, be specific. Phrases like “ability to create presentation slides” and “intermediate spreadsheet skills required” tell prospective employees exactly which skills they need to have.
To assess a candidate’s computer skills, administer a pre-employment skills test as part of your hiring process.
9. Customer service
Included in 12.03% of operations manager job postings
Some operations managers have direct contact with customers, so they need to be able to put people at ease and resolve conflict when needed. Include this skill in your job description if the person you hire will provide customer service on a regular basis. Incorporate phrases like “ability to resolve customer complaints according to company policy.”
If you want to verify a candidate’s customer service skills, incorporate scenario-based exercises into your interview process.
10. Retail management
Included in 11.74% of operations manager job postings
In a retail environment, an operations manager needs to have skills related to warehouse management, merchandising and inventory management. Include this skill in your job description if you’re hiring someone to work for a retail company. To attract quality applicants, use phrases like “three years of retail management experience required.”
To assess a candidate’s retail management skills, ask behavioral interview questions to help you understand how they approach common retail problems.
11. Microsoft Word
Included in 10.17% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers use Microsoft Word to produce employee handouts, policy manuals, annual reports and other documents. Include this skill in your job description if you need to hire someone who can use Microsoft Word independently instead of relying on other team members. Incorporate phrases like “intermediate Microsoft Word skills required” or “ability to create annual reports in Microsoft Word.”
Assess Microsoft Word skills by administering a pre-employment assessment as part of the interview process.
12. Project management
Included in 8.76% of operations manager job postings
Many operations managers have project management responsibilities. This means they must understand how to complete each project within scope, time and budget constraints. Include this skill in your job description if you need an experienced project manager to lead your team. Use phrases like “experience using project management software” or “ability to create project schedules.”
To assess a candidate’s project management skills, ask detailed questions like, “Can you walk me through a project you managed from start to finish? How did you handle budgeting, scheduling, and collaborator communication?” You can also have them complete a practical exercise, like resource allocation for a hypothetical project.
13. Military
Included in 8.11% of operations manager job postings
While “military” isn’t a skill, military experience can supplement job or educational requirements and provide valuable skills for operations manager roles. Include this skill in your job description if you need an operations manager who excels in a high-pressure environment.
To assess a candidate’s suitability, consider asking about relevant skills they developed during their service, such as leadership, teamwork and problem-solving, without explicitly requiring them to disclose their military background if they choose not to.
14. Microsoft PowerPoint
Included in 7.74% of operations manager job postings
An operations manager may have to give presentations to executives, investors or employees, making PowerPoint skills valuable. Include this skill in your job description if you’re looking to hire someone with experience creating attractive presentation slides. Phrases like “advanced PowerPoint skills required” may help you attract quality applicants.
To assess a candidate’s PowerPoint skills, have them create sample slides or show you recent examples of their presentations.
15. Time management
Included in 7.49% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers must be able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, so the role requires excellent time management skills. If you decide to add this skill to your job description, avoid generic phrases. Tell applicants what they need to succeed in the role, such as “ability to meet weekly report deadlines” or “ability to prioritize tasks ranging from routine administrative duties to complex project management.”
To assess time management skills, ask candidates to describe times when they had to manage multiple projects or deadlines and the results. You can also give them a list of tasks and ask them to prioritize them while explaining their reasoning and approach to handling multitasking.
16. Organizational skills
Included in 7.18% of operations manager job postings
Good organizational skills make it possible for an operations manager to prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines. Include this skill in your job description if you’re looking for an operations manager with advanced organizational skills. Use phrases like “excellent organizational skills” and “ability to stay organized in a high pressure environment.”
Assess each candidate’s organizational skills by having them complete a skills test that requires managing a project with multiple deadlines and resources. This method helps evaluate their ability to organize, prioritize, and execute tasks effectively in a real-world scenario.
17. English
Included in 7.03% of operations manager job postings
An operations manager needs to have effective written and verbal communication skills. In an English-speaking environment, this means that a new hire must be proficient in the English language. Consider using phrases like “English proficiency required” in the job description.
If you want to assess a candidate’s fluency level, consider asking them to complete a writing assessment.
18. Operations management
Included in 5.12% of operations manager job postings
Operations management involves a variety of tasks, such as planning, organizing, monitoring and leading. If you include this skill in your job description, be sure to use specific phrases instead of broad terms. For example, “ability to develop and implement efficient operational processes” or “proven experience in leading cross-functional teams to achieve project goals” indicates that you need someone with strong leadership and process management skills.
To assess a candidate’s operations management skills, ask in-depth interview questions about management experience and administer pre-employment skills tests as needed.
19. Microsoft Outlook
Included in 4.97% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers rely on email to communicate with employees and other collaborators. Include this skill in your job description if your organization uses Outlook and you want to hire someone who’s already familiar with the program. Use phrases like “ability to use Microsoft Outlook for calendar management” to communicate your needs.
If you want to verify a candidate’s Microsoft Outlook abilities, administer a skills assessment or ask the candidate to describe their experience with Outlook in detail.
20. Spanish
Included in 4.24% of operations manager job postings
Many companies have Spanish-speaking employees and customers. Include this skill in your job description if the new hire will work in a Spanish-speaking environment. Use phrases like “Spanish proficiency required.”
To assess a candidate’s Spanish skills, administer a pre-employment assessment testing for reading and writing comprehension.
21. Manufacturing
Included in 3.86% of operations manager job postings
Working in a manufacturing environment is different from working in other industries, so an operations manager must be able to handle logistics, inventory management, warehouse management and other related tasks. Include this skill in your job description if you’re hiring someone to fill an operations manager position at a manufacturing company. For example, “expertise in optimizing supply chain logistics” or “ability to create and maintain detailed project schedules” highlight the specific skills you are looking for in a candidate.
You can assess a candidate’s manufacturing skills by asking behavioral interview questions about their prior experience.
22. Writing skills
Included in 3.67% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers write reports, performance reviews and more, so this role requires strong written communication skills. Include this skill in your job description if you’re looking for an employee with strong writing abilities. Use phrases like “must be able to write client-facing reports” and “ability to contribute to annual reports required” to attract quality applicants.
Assess each candidate’s writing skills by having them respond to a writing prompt during the interview process.
23. Budgeting
Included in 3.37% of operations manager job postings
Operations managers play an important role in running a profitable business, so they need to understand how to effectively manage budgets. Include this skill in your job description if your new operations manager will work closely with the accounting department or create budgets on their own.
If you want to verify a candidate’s budgeting skills, have them complete a sample budget as part of your hiring process.
24. Bilingual
Included in 3.15% of operations manager job postings
Many companies need bilingual employees to communicate with customers, vendors and investors. Include this skill in your job description if you have a bilingual work environment and need someone who can speak the language with ease. Be sure to specify which language you need with phrases like “French proficiency required.”
To assess a candidate’s bilingual skills, consider having them use their second language to complete a writing exercise.
25. Sales
Included in 2.76% of operations manager job postings
In some companies, operations managers play an important role in driving revenue through increased sales. Add this skill to your job description if the new hire will work closely with a sales team or come up with ideas for increasing revenue. Incorporate phrases like “proven ability to close sales deals” or “strong skills in customer relationship management” to specify the skills you are looking for in a candidate.
To evaluate a candidate’s sales skills, have them participate in a mock sales pitch during the interview.
Other operations manager skills in demand
26. Process improvement: Included in 2.47% of operations manager job postings
27. Logistics: Included in 2.38% of operations manager job postings
28. Marketing: Included in 2.32% of operations manager job postings
29. Conflict management: Included in 2.2% of operations manager job postings
30. Computer literacy: Included in 2.15% of operations manager job postings
31. Team management: Included in 2.03% of operations manager job postings
32. Mentoring: Included in 1.99% of operations manager job postings
33. Human resources: Included in 1.92% of operations manager job postings
34. Negotiation: Included in 1.9% of operations manager job postings
35. Contracts: Included in 1.82% of operations manager job postings
36. Windows: Included in 1.81% of operations manager job postings
37. Accounting: Included in 1.78% of operations manager job postings
38. OSHA: Included in 1.67% of operations manager job postings
39. Hospitality: Included in 1.64% of operations manager job postings
40. Warehouse experience: Included in 1.63% of operations manager job postings
41. Lean manufacturing: Included in 1.63% of operations manager job postings
42. Succession planning: Included in 1.58% of operations manager job postings
43. Hotel experience: Included in 1.53% of operations manager job postings
44. Continuous improvement: Included in 1.53% of operations manager job postings
45. SQL: Included in 1.48% of operations manager job postings
46. Financial acumen: Included in 1.44% of operations manager job postings
47. Administrative experience: Included in 1.37% of operations manager job postings
48. Construction: Included in 1.33% of operations manager job postings
49. Employee evaluation: Included in 1.3% of operations manager job postings
50. Restaurant experience: Included in 1.25% of operations manager job postings
¹Indeed data (US), January 2023 – Dec 2023
