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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Operations Manager

💰 $65,000 - $140,000

OperationsManagementLogisticsSupply Chain

🎯 Role Definition

The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operational activities, driving process optimization, ensuring timely delivery of products and services, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve service level agreements (SLAs), cost targets, and quality standards. This role requires a blend of strategic planning, hands-on management, and continuous improvement discipline to scale operations while maintaining safety, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Operations Coordinator or Operations Supervisor with 2–5 years of experience in production, fulfillment, or service operations.
  • Logistics or Supply Chain Specialist transitioning into broader operational leadership.
  • Project Manager or Continuous Improvement Lead moving from program-level to site-level responsibility.

Advancement To:

  • Director of Operations
  • Head of Supply Chain / VP of Operations
  • General Manager or COO for mid-size business units

Lateral Moves:

  • Supply Chain Manager (procurement, distribution, planning)
  • Program or Project Management Office (PMO) lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement, and continuously refine end-to-end operational processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to increase throughput, reduce lead time, and improve first-pass yield while maintaining compliance with regulatory and quality standards.
  • Lead daily operations meetings and shift handovers, ensuring clear communication of KPIs, safety metrics, staffing needs, and production targets to supervisors and frontline teams.
  • Own P&L-related responsibilities for the assigned site or function by monitoring operating costs, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and driving initiatives to meet monthly and annual budget targets.
  • Design and implement capacity planning and workforce scheduling models to align labor resources to forecasted demand while minimizing overtime and agency spend.
  • Build, track, and report operational dashboards and KPIs (e.g., OTIF, cycle time, order accuracy, inventory turns, cost per order) to senior leadership and use data-driven insights to prioritize improvement projects.
  • Lead continuous improvement efforts using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen or other methodologies to reduce waste, improve quality, and shorten cycle times across production, warehousing, and fulfillment workflows.
  • Manage vendor and third-party logistics (3PL) relationships, negotiate contracts, monitor SLAs, and hold suppliers accountable for on-time performance and quality.
  • Oversee inventory control programs including cycle counts, variance analysis, root cause investigations, and corrective actions to maintain target inventory accuracy and minimize shrinkage.
  • Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with Sales, Product, Finance, IT, and Customer Support to align operational capabilities with commercial objectives and customer requirements.
  • Ensure regulatory, safety, and environmental compliance across operations by developing policies, leading safety programs, conducting incident investigations, and enforcing corrective actions.
  • Direct the rollout of new product introductions, production ramps, or process changes by creating launch plans, risk assessments, and readiness checkpoints to ensure smooth scale-up.
  • Implement and maintain ERP/WMS/TMS systems best practices, lead configuration and process mapping workshops, and partner with IT to deliver automation and reporting enhancements.
  • Conduct performance reviews, establish individual development plans, and mentor front-line supervisors to build a high-performing, accountable operations team and support succession planning.
  • Manage capital projects and continuous improvement investments by creating business cases, tracking ROI, and overseeing project timelines, contractors, and change management activities.
  • Drive customer-focused operational excellence by monitoring customer feedback, resolving escalations, and implementing preventive actions to improve Net Promoter Score (NPS) and reduce returns or complaints.
  • Create contingency and disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity, minimize downtime, and maintain service during supply chain interruptions or site incidents.
  • Monitor and optimize warehouse layout, material flow, slotting, and picking strategies to maximize productivity and reduce travel time and handling costs.
  • Lead root cause analyses (5-Why, fishbone, Pareto) and corrective/preventive action plans for recurring operational issues and track effectiveness of implemented solutions.
  • Champion sustainability and waste reduction initiatives by identifying opportunities to reduce packaging, energy, and material usage while maintaining operational efficiency.
  • Oversee onboarding and training programs to ensure new hires reach productivity targets quickly and maintain consistent, documented training records and competency assessments.
  • Develop and implement performance-driven incentive plans and recognition programs to align team behavior with operational goals and improve morale and retention.
  • Analyze and optimize cross-dock, inbound receiving, and outbound shipping processes to improve dock-to-stock and order cycle times while ensuring carrier compliance.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist with cross-functional audits, conducting operational readiness reviews, and implementing audit recommendations.
  • Support procurement and materials planning during supplier transitions or product supply disruptions.
  • Participate in strategic reviews evaluating site consolidation, capacity expansion, and equipment modernization proposals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Operations management and site leadership with measurable results in productivity, cost reduction, and quality improvement.
  • Process improvement methodologies: Lean, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt preferred), Kaizen, DMAIC.
  • Supply chain and logistics knowledge: inbound/outbound, 3PL management, carrier negotiations, freight optimization.
  • Inventory management and control: cycle counting, ABC analysis, demand forecasting basics.
  • Financial acumen: budgeting, P&L ownership, cost-to-serve modeling, ROI analysis.
  • ERP/WMS/TMS proficiency (examples: SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Manhattan, Blue Yonder), plus practical experience driving system adoption.
  • Data analysis and reporting skills: Excel (advanced), SQL basics, Power BI/Tableau or other BI tools for KPI tracking.
  • Project management skills (PMP or equivalent experience), including managing capital projects and cross-functional initiatives.
  • Health, safety, and regulatory compliance knowledge (OSHA, local EHS regulations) and incident investigation.
  • Quality management and root cause analysis tools (5-Why, A3, fishbone).

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people-management skills: coaching, feedback, performance management and building high-performing teams.
  • Excellent communication skills, able to present complex operational metrics and plans to executive leadership and frontline staff.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into executable operational plans and tactics.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking: ability to analyze complex operational issues and implement pragmatic solutions.
  • Stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills to influence peers across Sales, Finance, IT and Product.
  • Change management capability: drive adoption of new processes and technologies with minimal disruption.
  • Customer-focused mindset with empathy for external and internal customers and a bias for resolving escalations.
  • Time management and prioritization under pressure, with a track record of meeting deadlines and managing competing priorities.
  • Adaptability and resilience in high-growth or fast-changing environments.
  • Attention to detail while maintaining a big-picture orientation for continuous improvement initiatives.

(Combined count: at least 10 distinct skills mapped to real-job requirements.)

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree (MBA or MSc in Supply Chain/Operations) or professional certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, PMP.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Operations Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Business Administration
  • Logistics and Transportation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5–10+ years of progressive operations experience, including 2–5 years in a manager or senior supervisor role overseeing teams and P&L responsibility.

Preferred:

  • Experience managing multi-shift manufacturing, fulfillment, or distribution center operations.
  • Demonstrated track record in leading Lean/Six Sigma projects that delivered measurable cost, quality, or service improvements.
  • Prior experience working with ERP/WMS platforms and implementing operational technology or automation.
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