What does an Operations Manager do?
Operations Managers serve on a company’s leadership team to oversee the performance, efficiencies and satisfaction of employees. They analyze the company’s organizational process and find ways to enhance employees’ work quality and productivity. Operations Managers build operational policies and strategies that keep the organization functioning smoothly.
They often collaborate with Human Resources Managers to establish recruiting, training and hiring strategies. They also oversee financial processes, like auditing, reporting and budgeting, to ensure the company stays in great financial standing.
Operations Manager skills and qualifications
Operations Manager is a leadership position with many responsibilities. Necessary skills to include in a job description for operations manager positions include:
- “Big picture” thinking to address top-level concerns
- Interpersonal skills to communicate with executives and staff employees
- Understanding of financial and budgeting processes and principles
- Strong personal and professional judgment
- Adaptability to respond quickly to a shifting reality and adjust initiatives and priorities
- Organizational skills and the flexibility to jump from priority to priority
- Comfortable with legal and regulatory processes to ensure company compliance
- Problem-solving skills
Operations Manager salary expectations
An Operations Manager position is traditionally a full-time salaried position with an average salary of $72,091 per year. Operations Managers often receive additional compensation with cash bonuses and profit-sharing incentives. Specific salaries vary based on the location, industry and experience of the selected candidate.
Operations Manager education and training requirements
While there aren’t any standard educational requirements, an Operations Manager typically holds at least a bachelor’s degree, ideally in operations management, business or a related field. Certifications can also be helpful to demonstrate formal education and knowledge as well as investment in professional development.
A company may require management-level employees to participate in management training programs, either created by the organization itself or in a general managerial program. This training teaches supplementary tools for managing staff and optimizing the workplace.
Operations Manager experience requirements
Since the Operations Manager serves in a senior position, they need significant experience. While a small company may seek a minimum of three to five years of relevant experience, larger companies may require a decade or more. Industry-specific experience is often preferred since many processes are unique to the field, but it’s possible for Operations Managers to apply their managerial experience in other positions or industries to take on a role in a new field.
Operations Manager job description template
We are looking for a professional Operations Manager to coordinate and oversee our organization’s operations. The operations manager’s role is mainly to implement the right processes and practices across the organization. The specific duties of an operations manager include formulating strategy, improving performance, procuring material and resources and securing compliance. You should be ready to mentor your team members, find ways to increase the quality of customer service and implement best practices across all levels. Ultimately, we’ll trust you to help us remain compliant, efficient and profitable during the course of business.
Responsibilities
- Ensure all operations are carried on in an appropriate, cost-effective way
- Improve operational management systems, processes and best practices
- Purchase materials, plan inventory and oversee warehouse efficiency
- Help the organization’s processes remain legally compliant
- Formulate strategic and operational objectives
- Examine financial data and use it to improve profitability
- Manage budgets and forecasts
- Perform quality controls and monitor production KPIs
- Recruit, train and supervise staff
- Find ways to increase the quality of customer service
Requirements
- Proven work experience as an operations manager or similar role
- Knowledge of organizational effectiveness and operations management
- Experience budgeting and forecasting
- Familiarity with business and financial principles
- Excellent communication skills
- Leadership ability
- Outstanding organizational skills
Job description samples for similar positions
If this guide wasn’t able to answer all your questions, these pages for comparable jobs might be a better match:
Frequently asked questions about Operations Managers
Who reports to an Operations Manager?
The people who report to an Operations Manager vary across organizations depending on their sizes and industries. Larger companies usually hire several operations employees, such as Operations Coordinators, Operations Assistants and Operations Analysts. They report this to the Operations Manager, who provides guidance, instruction, mentorship and feedback. Department heads also typically report to the Operations Manager for company updates from the leadership team. Operations Managers may provide department heads with feedback on their job performances.
Who does an Operations Manager report to?
Operations Managers usually report to leadership and executive teams. In a larger company, they often report to the Chief Operating Officer. If there isn’t a Chief Operating Officer, the Operations Manager may also handle the duties that Chief Operating Officers usually perform. They also report to the senior stakeholders and board of directors and present reports of the company
Operations Manager duties and responsibilities
An Operations Manager manages the big picture and identifies areas of improvement. The average Operations Manager’s responsibilities include:
- Long-term planning to support the company’s goals
- Coordinating different teams to foster an exchange of ideas and provide cross-team learning opportunities
- Assessing and analyzing departmental budgets to find ways to optimize profitability
- Inspiring and motivating employees through positive encouragement and incentive initiatives
- Communicating with stakeholders about shifting company priorities and projects
- Identifying potential problems and points of friction and finding solutions to maximize efficiency and revenue
- Identifying opportunities to expand or shift course based on market changes
- Enforcing regulatory and safety standards
What does an Operations Manager do?
Operations Managers serve on a company’s leadership team to oversee the performance, efficiencies and satisfaction of employees. They analyze the company’s organizational process and find ways to enhance employees’ work quality and productivity. Operations Managers build operational policies and strategies that keep the organization functioning smoothly.
They often collaborate with Human Resources Managers to establish recruiting, training and hiring strategies. They also oversee financial processes, like auditing, reporting and budgeting, to ensure the company stays in great financial standing.
Operations Manager skills and qualifications
Operations Manager is a leadership position with many responsibilities. Necessary skills to include in a job description for operations manager positions include:
- “Big picture” thinking to address top-level concerns
- Interpersonal skills to communicate with executives and staff employees
- Understanding of financial and budgeting processes and principles
- Strong personal and professional judgment
- Adaptability to respond quickly to a shifting reality and adjust initiatives and priorities
- Organizational skills and the flexibility to jump from priority to priority
- Comfortable with legal and regulatory processes to ensure company compliance
- Problem-solving skills
Operations Manager salary expectations
An Operations Manager position is traditionally a full-time salaried position with an average salary of $72,091 per year. Operations Managers often receive additional compensation with cash bonuses and profit-sharing incentives. Specific salaries vary based on the location, industry and experience of the selected candidate.
Operations Manager education and training requirements
While there aren’t any standard educational requirements, an Operations Manager typically holds at least a bachelor’s degree, ideally in operations management, business or a related field. Certifications can also be helpful to demonstrate formal education and knowledge as well as investment in professional development.
A company may require management-level employees to participate in management training programs, either created by the organization itself or in a general managerial program. This training teaches supplementary tools for managing staff and optimizing the workplace.
Operations Manager experience requirements
Since the Operations Manager serves in a senior position, they need significant experience. While a small company may seek a minimum of three to five years of relevant experience, larger companies may require a decade or more. Industry-specific experience is often preferred since many processes are unique to the field, but it’s possible for Operations Managers to apply their managerial experience in other positions or industries to take on a role in a new field.
Operations Manager job description template
We are looking for a professional Operations Manager to coordinate and oversee our organization’s operations. The operations manager’s role is mainly to implement the right processes and practices across the organization. The specific duties of an operations manager include formulating strategy, improving performance, procuring material and resources and securing compliance. You should be ready to mentor your team members, find ways to increase the quality of customer service and implement best practices across all levels. Ultimately, we’ll trust you to help us remain compliant, efficient and profitable during the course of business.
Responsibilities
- Ensure all operations are carried on in an appropriate, cost-effective way
- Improve operational management systems, processes and best practices
- Purchase materials, plan inventory and oversee warehouse efficiency
- Help the organization’s processes remain legally compliant
- Formulate strategic and operational objectives
- Examine financial data and use it to improve profitability
- Manage budgets and forecasts
- Perform quality controls and monitor production KPIs
- Recruit, train and supervise staff
- Find ways to increase the quality of customer service
Requirements
- Proven work experience as an operations manager or similar role
- Knowledge of organizational effectiveness and operations management
- Experience budgeting and forecasting
- Familiarity with business and financial principles
- Excellent communication skills
- Leadership ability
- Outstanding organizational skills
Job description samples for similar positions
If this guide wasn’t able to answer all your questions, these pages for comparable jobs might be a better match:
Frequently asked questions about Operations Managers
Who reports to an Operations Manager?
The people who report to an Operations Manager vary across organizations depending on their sizes and industries. Larger companies usually hire several operations employees, such as Operations Coordinators, Operations Assistants and Operations Analysts. They report this to the Operations Manager, who provides guidance, instruction, mentorship and feedback. Department heads also typically report to the Operations Manager for company updates from the leadership team. Operations Managers may provide department heads with feedback on their job performances.
Who does an Operations Manager report to?
Operations Managers usually report to leadership and executive teams. In a larger company, they often report to the Chief Operating Officer. If there isn’t a Chief Operating Officer, the Operations Manager may also handle the duties that Chief Operating Officers usually perform. They also report to the senior stakeholders and board of directors and present reports of the company’s organizational progress. From there, the stakeholder and board of directors provide their feedback, which the Operations Manager uses to build goals and strategies.
What’s the difference between an Operations Manager and a General Manager?
Though General Managers and Operations Managers typically share similarities, there are key differences between the roles. General Managers are usually in charge of one specific area of an organization. They may oversee one department or several of them. They oversee the daily operations of these departments. Operations Managers typically work in a more senior-level role, as they oversee the operations of the entire organization rather than certain departments. They usually work closely with other executives and shareholders, while the General Manager usually works hands-on with other mid-level Managers.
What makes a good Operations Manager?
A strong Operations Manager should have great leadership skills to inspire, motivate and guide their employees to submit valuable work and stay productive. They should have extensive knowledge and experience working in business to understand how it functions and provide accurate and effective operations policies. Operations Managers need advanced experience in handling finances and building budgets. Strong communication and interpersonal abilities help them collaborate with and listen to the needs of employees and department heads.
s organizational progress. From there, the stakeholder and board of directors provide their feedback, which the Operations Manager uses to build goals and strategies.
What’s the difference between an Operations Manager and a General Manager?
Though General Managers and Operations Managers typically share similarities, there are key differences between the roles. General Managers are usually in charge of one specific area of an organization. They may oversee one department or several of them. They oversee the daily operations of these departments. Operations Managers typically work in a more senior-level role, as they oversee the operations of the entire organization rather than certain departments. They usually work closely with other executives and shareholders, while the General Manager usually works hands-on with other mid-level Managers.
What makes a good Operations Manager?
A strong Operations Manager should have great leadership skills to inspire, motivate and guide their employees to submit valuable work and stay productive. They should have extensive knowledge and experience working in business to understand how it functions and provide accurate and effective operations policies. Operations Managers need advanced experience in handling finances and building budgets. Strong communication and interpersonal abilities help them collaborate with and listen to the needs of employees and department heads.