Operations Manager

General and operations managers plan, direct, and coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. They formulate policies, manage daily operations, and plan the use of materials and human resources to improve efficiency. The BLS reports a median salary of $101,280 with 4% projected growth. This is one of the largest occupations in the country, with opportunities across virtually every industry.

A Day in the Life

A typical day starts with reviewing production reports and KPI dashboards from the previous day. Mid-morning involves a meeting with department heads to address staffing needs and workflow issues. After lunch, the operations manager reviews vendor contracts and negotiates pricing on supplies. Late afternoon includes walking the floor to observe processes firsthand, discussing a quality concern with the team lead, and preparing a budget variance report for the executive team meeting tomorrow.

Key Stats

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Salary Range

Entry: $55,000

Median: $101,280

Senior: $168,000

Job Growth

4%Growing

Required Skills

Operations ManagementLeadershipBudgetingProcess ImprovementDecision Making