What does a Director of Operations do?
A Director of Operations is tasked with managing a company’s daily activities. This involves working closely with department heads and upper management personnel to identify ways to increase sales, boost employee retention and maintain customer satisfaction. When necessary, a Director of Operations will redirect department heads toward more efficient procedures that will ultimately promote business growth. They may also be responsible for setting budgets or financial goals for individual departments. Overall, they must ensure all members of the company are well-versed in the actions necessary for company success.
Director of Operations skills and qualifications
An effective Director of Operations must employ a variety of skills to meet their goals. When evaluating prospective candidates, keep an eye out for these qualifications:
- Excellent leadership and organizational abilities
- Superior knowledge of industry regulations and operational guidelines
- In-depth knowledge of data analysis software packages
- Working knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) packages
- Outstanding negotiation skills
- Excellent written and oral communication
- Proven knowledge of performance evaluation metrics in a business setting
- First-class people skills
Director of Operations experience requirements
Typically, a candidate for the role of Director of Operations should have at least 7-10 years of experience working in an operations role and a minimum of five years in a management or leadership capacity. The ideal candidate should be comfortable creating budgets and financial plans for large organizations. They should also have experience conducting both internal and external client negotiations. A suitable candidate will have demonstrated success in creating creative and practical solutions to increase employee productivity and maximize profitability.
Director of Operations education and training requirements
A Director of Operations typically holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration or another relevant field, although experience may be more important than a formal degree for some roles. A master’s degree in business administration, finance, personnel management or related fields would be a bonus. Professional certifications in personnel management, operations management, data analysis and supply chain management may come in handy. Leadership training in areas like decision-making, corporate governance, change management, negotiation, strategic leadership and business analysis are also useful.
Director of Operations salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Director of Operations is $100,986 per year. However, this figure can vary. Location, company size and candidate experience level are all factors that can influence the final salary offered to a candidate.
Director of Operations salary expectations
-
Common salary:
109707.26 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
18000.00 -283000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
This Director of Operations job description might not have all the information you’re looking for. If this is the case, here are some similar samples to consult instead:
Director of Operations job description FAQs
What is the difference between a Director of Operations and a General Manager?
The differences between a Director of Operations and a General Manager are mainly seniority and the scope of job responsibilities. General Managers typically oversee a particular department or company branch within a corporation. In contrast, the Director of Operations oversees all departments or branch locations within the organization.
Because the Director of Operations has a broader scope of responsibilities, they hold more seniority than General Managers. They may even direct General Managers when it comes to organizing the daily operations within their department or branch.
Who does a Director of Operations report to?
As a company executive, a Director of Operations usually reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer, or CEO. In some cases, they may report to a Chief Operating Officer, or COO, instead of the CEO.
What qualities make a good Director of Operations?
A good Director of Operations uses their years of industry experience to guide daily operations across a corporation. They have excellent verbal and written communication, allowing them to relay information between executives and lower-level management by writing emails and memos or speaking in meetings. They should also have an innovative mindset that allows them to solve problems relating to onboarding procedures or employee retention.
Does a Director of Operations have different responsibilities in different industries?
Because this is an executive role that generally takes place in the office, its day-to-day responsibilities tend to be consistent regardless of industry. With that said, the particulars of creating effective procedures will likely vary with the industry. For this reason, it can be useful to look for candidates with an established understanding of the industry they’ll be operating in.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.