what is an operations manager?
As an operations manager, you run an organisation's daily functions. That involves planning and implementing production processes to improve quality, productivity and performance. Your primary role is to oversee company procedures and enforce policies. For instance, you identify the perfect balance between expenses and revenue. That means you must optimise costs to maintain a company's financial health without compromising the quality or short-changing customers.
Apart from formulating company processes and policies, operations managers also oversee company resources. These include raw materials, labour and capital. As an operations manager, you supervise and control all production elements to ensure maximum productivity. Sometimes, you have to carry out human resource functions to improve employee engagement and productivity.
what does an operations manager do?
An operations manager is crucial in every industry, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction and retail. Your job is to manage the resources available to achieve a company's goals. For instance, you oversee inventory and sales representatives to increase sales in retail.
In manufacturing, you supervise production processes and minimise costs without affecting quality standards. In construction, you ensure all materials are utilised as expected and manage workers on-site to ensure you complete projects within the scheduled time.
operations manager jobsaverage salary of an operations manager
The average salary of an operations manager is $110,000 per year. The remuneration package usually ranges from $90,000 to $130,000 per year, depending on the company's payment policy and your experience level.
The remuneration package also includes allowances and non-monetary benefits. For instance, operations managers often get medical insurance and various allowances to facilitate their responsibilities. Some companies also provide house and car allowances. Paid annual leave days and bonuses are among the perks operations managers enjoy.
what factors affect the salary of an operations manager?
Your salary as an operations manager relies on various factors. For instance, your position in the company hierarchy can influence your pay. If you are an operations manager in charge of one department, your salary is lower than someone overseeing an entire company. As an operations manager for a single department, your responsibilities and qualifications are minimal.
An operations manager in the whole company often carries out complex tasks. Your experience also influences your remuneration due to the transferrable skills you bring to the company. Employers will pay more for your expertise when you have years of experience in operations.
want to know what you will earn as an operations manager?
Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of operations managers
Operations manager roles vary depending on the industry they work in. Some include:
business operations manager
- As a business operations manager, you supervise various departments in a company. You must ensure company resources are optimised to improve business outcomes by promoting efficiency and productivity.
field operations manager
- As a field operations manager, you implement field marketing and sales initiatives. You are responsible for training and hiring field sales representatives, evaluating performance and managing the logistics of marketing activities.
healthcare operations manager
- Your job is to improve the efficiency and quality of patient services. You ensure the hospital operates within budget by optimising resources and resolving workflow issues.
construction operations manager
- As a construction operations manager, you supervise various building projects and ensure the proper allocation of resources. You also develop efficient ways to improve construction standards and enhance commercial value.
working as an operations manager
Operations managers work in industry and manufacturing and perform various functions to ensure the smooth running of business processes.
Below are the tasks, duties and working conditions typical of the role:
-
operations manager job description
Operation managers are the driving forces behind successful project completion. They perform the following tasks:
developing new product designs
- As the operations manager, you ensure the products and services sold to consumers meet their needs. You generate new ideas to fill gaps in the market or change the production processes to improve your product's quality. You also study market trends and ensure the product designs align with consumer preferences.
forecasting market demand
- Your job is to improve business outcomes by analysing statistics to determine the uptake of your company's products. You develop strategies based on this information to increase sales.
managing the supply chain
- As an operations manager, you direct business processes, from acquiring raw materials and production to sales. You need to monitor production, distribution and sales to ensure efficiency and low overhead costs.
strategic planning
- Operations managers are involved in the strategic planning of company goals and optimising business processes. For instance, they determine the best marketing strategies to increase revenue or find cost-effective production methods.
quality control
- As the operations manager, you ensure company products meet the required standards. That includes sourcing suitable raw materials and recruiting qualified personnel to ensure the production process yields high-quality products. You also identify ways to increase value to your customers to improve loyalty.
-
work environment
As an operations manager, your work environment depends on the industry you work in and your primary responsibilities. In manufacturing, operations managers work from an office but spend most of their time at the factory or manufacturing plant.
In construction, you work around various construction sites since you need to supervise workers and ensure the delivery of raw materials. You need personal protective equipment when working on construction sites or in factories. In retail and information technology industries, your job is predominantly office-based, with minimal travelling required.
-
who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry, your colleagues might include project managers, supply chain managers, cleaning supervisors and marketing coordinators.
You might also work close to contract administrators and chief executive officers, as well as other specialists that could include, but are not limited to, business development managers, finance analysts, finance assistants, human resource managers, human resource administrators and recruitment consultants.
-
work schedule
As an operations manager, your work routine runs weekly from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. Work takes at least 38 hours a week, but you should expect to work weekends and evenings. Most companies employ operations managers on a full-time basis. You can also find a few part-time opportunities, mainly in consultancy companies.
Some operations managers also take jobs on short-term contracts. You will travel to construction sites and supplier meetings as an operations manager. Interstate travel is also common; operations managers sometimes travel overseas for conferences or projects.
-
job outlook
Your advancement path as an operations manager depends on the industry you work for and your career ambitions. You can specialise in working for a specific sector. If you started as a facilities manager or logistics supervisor, consider specialising in manufacturing operations or logistics and becoming an expert in your field.
An operations manager is a senior role, and your career advancement opportunity is to become the director of operations, chief executive officer or managing director. After years of experience, you can become self-employed as a consultant.
-
advantages of finding an operations manager job through randstad
Finding your operations manager job through Randstad provides essential advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of options in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an operations manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent career. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
You need the following educational qualifications to become an operations manager:
a bachelor's degree
- Having a diploma in business operations management can get you started in the role. However, many employers require a bachelor's degree. You should pursue a bachelor's degree in operations management or business administration.
complete a postgraduate degree
- Having a postgraduate degree advances your skills and gives you useful knowledge to help you excel in the role. Consider pursuing a master's in business administration or graduate certificate in operational excellence.
gain work experience
- Your employment history is significant to your role as an operations manager. Having experience in business administration and supply chain management gives you the knowledge to excel in the role. You can get part-time or entry-level positions to gain work experience while studying.
skills and competencies
Becoming an operations manager requires expert technical knowledge and excellent managerial skills to navigate the responsibilities. These include:
leadership skills
- As an operations manager, you undertake many managerial duties. You need leadership skills to help you set goals, mentor, motivate and lead other employees. Leadership skills assist in guiding employees and leading by example to ensure company objectives are met.
communications skills
- Operations managers interact with various stakeholders, from suppliers and customers to senior management. Communication skills help you effectively deliver instructions and feedback to different stakeholders.
organisational skills
- As an operations manager, you oversee multiple aspects of a business. Without organisational skills, you cannot accomplish all the tasks at the stipulated time. You need to organise your workload and create a timeline for each project to ensure success.
financial acumen
- As an operations manager, you ensure all business operations are within budget. With financial insight, you can evaluate the daily operations of each department so that they meet the company's profitability goals without exceeding the budget.
FAQs about working as an operations manager
Here are the most asked questions about working as an operations manager:
-
what do operations managers do?
As an operational manager, you oversee or supervise all operational activities in the company. You also prioritise improving everyone's tasks to ensure better performance and productivity.
-
who qualifies as an operations manager?
An operations manager should be knowledgeable about consumer trends and management functions. They should be big-picture-oriented and have enough experience to lead a company towards its goals.
-
is an operations manager role a good job?
Becoming an operations manager can be an excellent profession for someone who enjoys working in a dynamic work environment. The role has a positive career outlook, promising reasonable remuneration and benefits.
-
what are the skills of a good operations manager?
As an operations manager, you need exceptional organisational skills to organise work activities and keep track of company goals. It would help if you also had solid financial acumen to optimise costs and manage the company's budgets.
-
is an operations manager job stressful?
Working conditions are sometimes stressful and demanding for operations managers. You spend long hours directing various activities and workers, which can be demanding. However, you can manage the role's demands if you have good organisational skills.
-
how do I apply for an operations manager vacancy?
Applying for an operations manager job is easy:
- create a Randstad profile and search our operations manager job offers for vacancies in your area.
- Then send us your CV and cover letter.
Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.