All You Need to Know About the Operations Manager Job Description

Most companies deal with several challenges in their day-to-day functioning in today’s ever-changing economic landscape. Therefore, a firm without an operations manager is bound to struggle to ensure a smooth and efficient functioning. An operations manager job description includes tasks like looking after a firm’s daily operations, optimizing processes, and driving strategic initiatives. As a result, it is a critical part of any company’s machine. The Bureau of Labour Statistics also projects that employment in management occupations, which includes operations manager, will grow faster than average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. It is thus important to reckon with the intricacies of the operations manager job description to adapt to a dynamic market. Our post aims to shed light on operations management, including insights into its responsibilities, requisite skills, and the average salary.

What is Operations Management?

There is a need to understand the concept of operations management before we move on to an operations manager job description. It is an integral feature through which businesses plan and control the processes required to produce goods or deliver services effectively. Hence, it is indispensable for organizations aiming to be profitable. 

It is impossible to transform inputs such as raw materials, labor, and capital into finished products or services without operations management. This system optimizes resources to meet organizational objectives such as efficiency, cost reduction, and quality control.

ALSO READ: How Can Supply Chain Management Help to Future-Proof Your Business

What are the Key Responsibilities of an Operations Manager?

1. Optimize Processes

Operations managers oversee operational processes to ensure quality, among other things. They also analyze the workflow, suggest improvements, and implement the changes. It is one of the most important responsibilities in an operations manager job description.

2. Allocate Resources

The roles and responsibilities of ops manager require them to assess and allot resources for various operational activities. For instance, they delegate resources such as manpower, materials, and budget, to manufacture products by maximizing productivity and reducing costs.

3. Maintain Quality

An operations manager must ensure product or service quality standards. This can be done by implementing quality control processes, monitoring performance, and taking corrective steps to address deficiencies.

4. Supervise Teams

An operations manager leads teams so they deliver on time. These teams look after functions such as production, inventory management, and quality control. Additionally, operations managers must guide their teams to discharge tasks in an optimum fashion.

5. Oversee the Inventory

The roles and responsibilities of ops manager also include streamlining inventory processes such as procurement, storage, and distribution of finished goods. Furthermore, they must check inventory levels to avert stockouts and excess inventory.

6. Manage the Supply Chain

To develop a smooth supply chain, a business must nurture relationships with suppliers and stakeholders. It relies on operations managers to facilitate logistics, negotiate contracts, and evaluate supplier performance to curb disruptions.

ALSO WATCH: Information session on Wharton Executive Education’s Management Development Program – Online Program

How Does an Operations Manager Contribute to Business Success?

1. Strategic Planning

The use of operational data and insights to devise strategies is part of an operations manager job description. The data allows managers to recommend aligning processes with the firm’s objectives.

2. Customer Approval

A business is only successful when it gains the trust of its customers. This is where operations managers play a key role. They ensure that products or services are delivered on time while upholding the highest standards of quality.

3. Risk Management

Every operations manager evaluates and navigates operational risks such as supply chain disruptions, regulatory compliance issues, and safety hazards. They therefore develop risk mitigation strategies to ensure a smoothly running business, which is essential for sustainable growth.

4. Innovation

A business must build a culture of innovation to achieve success. An operations manager encourages experimentation using methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma. This allows companies to embrace new technologies and stay ahead of the competition.

ALSO READ: How Supply Chain Analytics Can Boost Business Revenue

What Skills are Required to Excel in Operations Management?

An operations manager will need a combination of hard skills and soft skills, such as:

1. Planning

Operations managers should know how to schedule tasks, provide resources, and determine realistic deadlines. Familiarity with project management methodologies like Agile is useful.

2. An Analytical Mindset

The ability to leverage data is a must among other operations manager skills. It will allow them to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimize processes at large.

3. Leadership

Operations managers often lead various departments such as production or logistics. So they need to possess leadership acumen to motivate employees, delegate tasks, and foster collaboration.

4. Familiarity With Software

An operations manager should know how to efficiently use technology, whether it is inventory management systems or quality-control tools.

5. Communication

Clear and concise communication is one of the essential operations manager skills as they interact with team members, superiors, and clients or suppliers daily.

6. Problem-Solving

A manager is bound to deal with several crises regularly. As a result, problem-solving skills can help them navigate complex issues and find ways to address them swiftly and effectively.

ALSO WATCH: Online Course Preview | Management Development Program – Online at Wharton

What are the Common Challenges Faced by Operations Managers?

1. Supply Chain Disruptions

A disruption in the supply chain is a major concern because it can affect production schedules. So the operations manager needs to know how to deal with unexpected events or delays.

2. Resource Constraints

Lack of resources can also be a common problem operations managers face. They must know how to circumvent limitations to find a balance between people, equipment, materials, and budget. 

3. Labor Shortages

It is challenging to rope in qualified employees in today’s job market. An operations manager must know how to attract top talent and deploy strategies to retain them.

4. Customer Expectations  

It is undoubtedly one of the most tricky challenges as customer expectations are fickle and competition is high. Hence,  operations managers must produce quality goods at a competitive price consistently.

5. Changing Technology

A new technological update is always around the corner. It is not ideal to lose sight of such advances as not being updated can slow down your systems or leave them vulnerable.

6. Consistent Quality 

It can be difficult to achieve consistent quality every single time. However, that is a non-negotiable aspect of manufacturing. Consequently, an operations manager must develop processes to ensure quality control.

7. Red Tape

A firm must comply with various regulatory requirements, safety standards, and environmental regulations. A failure can attract hefty fines and loss of licenses.

What is the Average Salary of an Operations Manager?

An operations manager job description includes several duties and responsibilities. As such, the average annual salary of $73,592 can go as high as $122,392.  

An operations manager is likely to earn more in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Denver, Austin, and Baltimore. 

The top five industries employ professionals for this role are restaurants, management consulting services, enterprise management, computer systems design, and merchant wholesalers, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How Can Operations Managers Improve Operational Efficiency?

1. Identify Bottlenecks

It is important to include weeding out bottlenecks in the operations manager job description. They should inspect all processes and suggest areas for improvement using data. For example, they can introduce automation for repetitive tasks and free up human resources for strategic tasks.

2. Iterate Continuously

Operations managers must rely on data analytics to track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like production time, delivery speed, and error rates. The exercise can reveal kinks that must be corrected to enhance efficiency, and must be undertaken regularly.

3. Cut Costs

A firm’s budget must be kept in check by procuring raw materials at a competitive price. An operations manager must assign the right people with the right tasks and equipment. Furthermore, they should reduce waste and maximize material usage.

4. Promote Collaboration

A collaborative team is likely to be more productive and achieve better results than a team working in silos. An operation manager can foster collaboration with clear communication across departments.

5. Train Employees

The operations manager job description requires them to conduct regular training programs to upskill employees so they can discharge their jobs effectively. It is also useful to empower employees to take accountability and help them improve themselves through courses.

ALSO READ: What Does a Supply Chain Manager do? Everything You Need to Know

In conclusion, every firm needs an operations manager to succeed in a dynamic market. Emeritus offers a set of supply chain and operations courses designed to equip you with practical insights. These courses cater to everyone, from seasoned professionals looking to enhance their skills or newcomers eager to make a mark. Sign up for one of these courses to commence your journey of mastering the art and science of operations management.

Write to us at content@emeritus.org