Do you consider yourself a people person? Are you a well-organized professional with a knack for helping others in the workplace? A career as an operations manager may be in your future — enabling you to control production processes and ensure an organization is taking the proper steps to produce its goods and services.
What Is an Operations Manager?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the role of an operations manager is defined as a professional who plans, directs and coordinates the basic operations within a private or public organization. From creating policies and managing everyday tasks to assisting human resourcing and planning material usage, operations managers are responsible for overseeing the general operations of a business.
It is also important to note that an operations management position differs from a general management job. A general manager is typically responsible for overseeing all aspects of an organization, or an entity within it, and an operations manager is responsible for the production side of the business. General managers deal with strategy, human resourcing, and marketing for the company as a whole, while operational managers are responsible for the result within their sector.
Typical Duties of Operations Managers
General responsibilities and objectives that come with the job in a typical operations manager role, such as:
- Maintain communication with management staff members and other stakeholders, as well as vendors, to ensure smooth operations processes;
- Develop and maintain quality standards;
- Create new organizational processes and improve current structures to sustain the business;
- Pursue goals and company objectives with strategy;
- Streamline operations processes with an efficient schedule;
- Assist with staffing requirements by hiring and training employees;
- Become a team leader in a demanding and fast-paced work environment;
- Collect data to make operational decisions more efficient, such as by improving productivity and numbers, eliminating human error and providing the best possible customer service;
- Work directly with safety departments to meet compliance standards and regulations;
- Assist with inventory control and management;
- Report costs and budget variances to stakeholders.
Focusing on responsibilities related to cost management, technology, improved processes and environmental sustainability will also be a must for operations managers going forward.
Types of Operations Managers
Operations managers may fill a variety of specific roles, including:
- Supply chain management: Operations managers who deal with supply chain management work with inventory management and assess how products are sourced.
- Project management: Operations managers who deal with project management oversee specific projects from conception to completion. They ensure that the overall concept and goals are adhered to throughout the project process.
- Human resources management: Operations managers who specialize in human resources ensure that processes such as onboarding, continuing education, and regular assessments are conducted properly.
- Logistics management: Operations managers who specialize in logistics are concerned with efficiency and cost management.
- Budget planning and management: Operations managers who specialize in this create and manage budgets.
Operations managers can fill a variety of roles that oversee operations.
Operations Manager Salary
Someone pursuing an operations manager position in the U.S. can expect to make a decent wage. According to the BLS, the median salary of an operations manager as of 2022 was $98,100, but wages can fall between $43,470 and $221,270 based on a variety of factors. Education, certifications, experience and skills are among the determinants that can impact your salary as an operations manager. Bonuses and additional compensation and benefits may also come into play depending on your place of work.
The expectation for growth across management occupations comes from the development of new organizations across the country, as well as the expansion of existing companies. With company growth comes the need for more management, specifically in operational departments.
Skills and Qualities
To properly perform operations tasks and meet management expectations, operations managers need to hone the following skills that will help them be successful in the industry:
- Project management: The ability to delegate tasks and make strategic decisions regarding product development and risk management ensures each project runs smoothly. As an operations manager, it’s important to be able to command a strong team that can compete and collaborate on projects over time to meet deadlines.
- Flexibility and adaptability: Operations managers work in fast-paced environments. To be successful in the workforce, you must be flexible and adaptable to keep up with ongoing demands. It’s important to go into each workday with an open mind; being flexible when an unexpected event occurs can help you navigate the changing waters and regroup with your team.
- Technical proficiency: In operational management, you’ll be expected to work in a tech-heavy environment. Data entry, budget tracking and production automation are among the tasks you may be expected to complete on a day-to-day basis. Understanding technical applications early on will prepare you for the job; continuing education will give you the knowledge needed to transform as the industry — and technology in general — evolves.
- Data assessment: Collecting, entering, analyzing and processing data is a regular part of operations management. You will be expected to track functions across the business to assist with supply chain management.
- Leadership: As with any management position, leadership is a critical skill to have. An effective leader motivates their team members and is excited to collaborate on projects, but should also be willing to sit down to share insight and gain feedback to make the workplace more efficient and productive.
- Interpersonal understanding: Much like leadership, interpersonal skills are important communication qualities to have in a management position. The ability to understand your employees from their working perspective and help them create a safe and friendly work environment is essential. Self-awareness, as well as awareness of others, is also critical, as it will help with conflict management and resolution development.
- Time management: When you’re face-to-face with production deadlines, you must work with your employees to ensure all projects are completed promptly. Working with your team members to create a schedule that is possible shows you value their hard work and time.
- Problem-solving: A variety of issues can occur when you’re working as an operations manager — from staff conflict to challenges that arise when trying to meet a project deadline. Problem-solving ability allows you to provide relevant information that forms solutions in the face of a problem.
- Strategic planning: Critical thinking and strategic planning allow you to future-proof processes against potential issues that may arise. Operations managers must understand cause and effect and have the ability to assess information that could impact the business down the line.
- Organization: Attention to detail can make a world of difference as a manager. Keeping track of employee paperwork, as well as project schedules, details and data can give you peace of mind from a process standpoint. This can also help your employees stay organized and make their day-to-day workflows easier as well.
You can develop these critical skills through proper education and training.
Operations Manager Schooling
Generally, an operations management position requires you to have at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field of study, such as management or finance. However, further education such as a graduate degree may help you be more competitive in your field.
Experience and Training Requirements
Typically, you will start your career as a production worker with the intention of gaining more skills and experience. Many organizations prefer that you showcase your production skills within the company before moving to a management position. Someone who goes to school to become an operations manager with the hope of becoming a manager right out of college may start as a supervisor, then move their way up to a manager.
Beyond your work experience and education, companies will expect that you’ve dedicated time to additional training and certifications to become familiar with general production and operations processes. If you get hired, the organization will likely put you through additional rigorous training to learn company policies, safety regulations and other details necessary to successfully pursue the job.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022”