Operations Manager Job Description, Salary, Duties

As the name suggests, so is his work: the operation manager is the one in charge of the operation. In business management, efficiency and effectiveness are key concepts; you cannot achieve the two without proper operation. Let us know about ‘Operations Manager Job Description, Salary, Duties’.

Operations Manager Job Description, Salary, Duties

Operations Manager Job Description, Salary, Duties:

Businesses in general depend on different sections to produce results. For instance, the purchasing department is responsible for the procurement and delivery of all the materials that are required for the production of goods. Production is responsible for manufacturing. The sales and marketing department ensures that what is produced is brought to market. Finance collects what is earned in the form of revenue and approves the financial requisition. The entire department works because there is one department at its center—the operations department.

An operations manager is the head of the operations department (if any). He works with other departments to ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day activities of the company. He sets standards and carries others along to achieve them collectively. He is aiming at optimizing profit and minimizing losses. His earnings depend on the industry he works in, his qualifications, and his years of experience. The top 25% of operation managers earn up to $160,000 per year, while the bottom 25% earn $67,000 per year.

In this article, we’ll discuss the operation manager’s job description, salary, duties, qualifications, and several other things about him in detail. Let’s begin to look at them one after the other. 

Operation Manager’s job Description:

The job description for an operations manager will depend largely on the industry where he wants to work. Also, it will depend on the urgent needs of the particular company and what objectives the company is set to achieve. An operations manager applying to work in a retail store like Walmart, Kroger, Target, and so on may have a job description that looks like the following:

Let’s assume the company places an advert that looks like this

Our company’s XZY department store, 005B Park Avenue, is in its expansionary stage. Therefore, we’re in urgent need of a suitable and qualified candidate to apply for the position of operations manager. Our preferred candidate must ensure that the company meets its annual target and achieves efficiency. Therefore, you’ll directly report to the company’s CEO. 

Your Responsibilities will Include:

  • Creating and implementing daily, weekly, and monthly goals for the stores under his operation
  • Develop policies and strategies that will help the individual local store managers to optimize their operations.
  • Monitoring the budgets of different stores and forecasting their yearly performance
  • Develop new processes of operations or improve on the existing ones.
  • Planning the company’s procurement, delivery, and dispatch to different local stores alongside other officers.
  • It will be his responsibility to maximize efficiency, to motivate and encourage local store managers to set personal goals and achieve them.
  • He will train the local store managers in retail store management and operations. You will also monitor their progress and report to the CEO.
  • You will develop strategies for growth and expansion
  • You will improve the quality of our existing customer service
  • Knowing supply chain and inventory management is an added advantage.

 Requirements and Qualifications:

  • Must have at least 3 years of experience in retail and supply chain operations
  • Must possess the ability to design projects and execute them
  • Must the managerial experience and expertise
  • Must be able to collaborate, develop, and train team members
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must have an educational background (i.e. a graduate) in operation management, Business administration, marketing, or supply chain.
  • Master in Business Administration (MBA) and any relevant professional bodies will be an added advantage.

Salaries of Operation Managers:

In a general sense, the salaries of operation managers vary significantly depending on certain factors:

  • Industry and the specific company’s payment scale: The positions of operation managers are available in different sectors. There is nearly no industry where the services of operation managers are not frequently required from the health to banking industries. What an operation manager earns depends on the industry he finds himself. Also, it depends on the salary scale of the company he is applying to.
  • Level of his experience and qualification: Apart from the industry and the salary scale of the company an operation manager works for, his salary will also depend on the level of his experience and his academic and professional qualifications. A 3-year experienced operational manager is likely to earn less than one with 15 years of experience. A young graduate will earn less than one with MBA and other qualifications.
  • Location: Another factor in determining the salary of an operation manager is the location of his work. If the work is situated in a less urban area, your salary may not be as high as that of someone situated in a metropolitan urban city.

However, a rough estimate of the salary of operation managers across various US cities is an average of $69,000 per year. A low-paid operation manager earns about $41,000 while a high-paying operation manager earns about $115,000.

Duties of Operational Manager:

The duties of an operational manager include but are not limited to the following

  • Preparing the company’s financial budget 
  • Preparing, analyzing, and interpreting the company’s data for discrete decision making
  • Providing support for other departments such as sales, marketing, accounting, purchasing, store, and so on.
  • Preparing, designing, and implementing the company’s approved programs for operations.
  • Providing advisory and technical support to equal and higher-level managers.
Conclusion:

Operation management is a sensitive position that cannot be committed to the hands of inexperienced individuals. Any laxity at the operational level will lead to a total collapse of the entire system.

The operation manager is expected to be armed with several qualities such as leadership acumen, communication skills, analytical mind, and interpersonal skills. He should know how to multitask and respond to urgency. 

Operation management is a lucrative career that has found its place in almost all industries. The earnings of an average operation manager are about $65,000. A high-paying operation manager earns up to $115,000 and a low-paying operation manager earns up to $41,000 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Do operation managers earn enough to live on?

Generally speaking, the answer is yes. However, depending on individual financial responsibilities.  

  • What is the major duty of the operation manager?

The core duty of an operation manager is to optimize resources, minimize losses, and achieve efficiency.  

  • What discipline qualifies me as an operation manager?

Acting as an operation manager depends more on your skill, personal qualities, and experience than your educational background. But most of the operation managers have a background in business administration, statistics, economics, accounting, and related courses.

Operations Manager Job Description, Salary, Duties

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