What does an Operations Manager do?
Operations Managers can directly contribute to a company’s efficiency and profitability. For example, they might introduce lean practices, a process assessing non-value adding activities, and potentially reduce resources. These non-value adding activities may include unnecessary time or materials, such as recurring meetings.
Their focus on cross-functional collaboration can help your company achieve its goals and create a culture of continuous improvement.
Operations Manager skills and qualifications
A successful Operations Manager candidate likely has a combination of leadership, analytical and organizational skills to drive process improvements. Consider including these skills in your Operations Manager job description:
- Familiarity with types of management, such as pacesetting or democratic styles
- Ability to budget and allocate resources using financial management software, such as QuickBooks or SAP
- Time management skills to address competing priorities
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Data-driven decision making
- Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
- Experience using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems or other tools for analyzing data and managing operations
- Familiarity with quality control (QC) to introduce new procedures
Operations Manager experience requirements
Operations Managers oversee other employees, so you may look for candidates with several years of experience coordinating projects or collaborating with department heads. Experience as an Operations Coordinator, Project Manager or Sales Manager may also introduce transferable skills, such as organization and project management.
If your company operates within the healthcare, finance, retail or manufacturing industry, consider requiring candidates to have industry-specific experience.
Operations Manager education and training requirements
It’s possible for Operations Managers to learn the required skills through on-the-job training, so you might use a skills-first hiring approach when filling this role. To attract quality Operations Manager candidates, consider prioritizing transferable skills over degrees and certifications. For example, strategic planning or supply chain management might be applicable skills for your open position.
Several organizations offer a Certified Operations Manager (COM) program that may help candidates succeed at your company.
Operations Manager salary expectations
The average salary for an Operations Manager in the United States is $78,544 per year, according to data from Indeed Salaries. This figure may vary based on your location and company policies, along with the candidate’s experience.
Operations Manager salary expectations
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Common salary:
80590.74 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
20000.00 -180000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
If an Operations Manager isn’t what your company needs, here are job description samples for similar positions:
Operations Manager job description FAQs
How do Operations Managers differ from General Managers?
Operations Managers generally focus on process improvement and daily activities. A General Manager may oversee a site’s or business unit’s overall performance. Operations Managers also typically make decisions about day-to-day operations, while General Managers may set long-term goals and help execute a company’s strategic vision.
What KPIs should I use to evaluate an Operations Manager?
Depending on your company’s goals, you might use net profit margin and operational expenses to evaluate an Operations Manager’s effectiveness. Net profit margin measures how much net income your company earns for every dollar of revenue generated and is expressed as a percentage. Operational expenses are the costs associated with running a business.
If your Operations Manager is responsible for increasing efficiency, reducing costs and maximizing productivity, consider whether these metrics apply to your organization.
What challenges do Operations Managers typically face?
Supply chain disruptions, technological changes and internal conflict can be common challenges in operations management. An Operations Manager decides how to allocate resources, so supply chain disruptions can limit resources needed to perform job duties. Technological changes might require an Operations Manager to update a process or replace certain equipment.
Should the Operations Manager report to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?
It depends on your company’s size and structure. Your Operations Manager might report directly to the CEO, or the Director of Operations might oversee your Operations Manager. Other companies may have the Operations Manager report to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).
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