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Operations Manager
Business

How to become an Operations Manager

What does an Operations Manager do?

Being a smooth operator just got a whole new meaning…

Operations Managers monitor, analyse, and improve a business’s production systems, in order to achieve the highest level of productivity.

They’re an important part of almost every industry, meaning Operations Managers could work in anything from healthcare and hospitality, to manufacturing and retail.

Whilst their role may vary depending on the industry and organisation they work in, they’re typically tasked with financial, staff, and resource management, as well as communications, safety measures, quality control, and setting goals/objectives.

Typical tasks and duties for an Operations Manager include:

  • Developing operations strategies
  • Planning and handling change
  • Researching new technologies
  • Preparing action plans and audits
  • Managing the recruitment and training of staff
  • Analysing and improving workflow
  • Enforcing health and safety procedures

Is a career as an Operations Manager right for me?

As an Operations Manager’s role is particularly broad, you’ll need a wide range of skills to be successful.

First and foremost, great communication and leadership skills are a must – which will help you to ensure teams are working well together towards a strategic goal. You’ll also need to be an excellent decision maker and business negotiator.

Because you’ll focus on long-term goals as well as the day-to-day running of a business, an ability to see both the big and small picture is key.

Operations Managers will also need to be:

  • Organised
  • Good problem solvers
  • Process driven
  • An excellent leader
  • A great delegator
  • A team player
  • Innovative
  • Diplomatic

Explore your opportunities

People also search for

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Career progression and salary expectations for an Operations Manager

1

Entry-level Operations Manager

| Up to £28,000
2

Operations Manager

| Up to £35,000
3

Chief Operations Officer

| Up to £65,000

Get qualified as an Operations Manager

Recommended Operations management courses

  • Operations Management Level 5 Funded programme

    Itec training solutions Ltd
    Funded management qualification for senior managers
    • 330 enquiries
    • Online
    • 18 months · Part-time
    • Regulated qualification
    • Exam(s) included
    • Tutor support
    The Operations Management programme is an 18-month qualification designed to equip you with advanced management skills essential for senior positions. The programme offers a blend of workshops and one-on-one mentoring. This allows you to gain new skills and a qualification meanin …
    £450
  • IWFM Level 4 Diploma in Facilities Management

    The Business School
    Online learning with assignments and full expert tutor support leading to globally renowned professional qualification.
    • 23 enquiries
    • Online
    • 24 months · Self-paced
    • Regulated qualification
    • Exam(s) included
    • Tutor support
    This course is delivered via our well-established Virtual Learning Environment. All course content is fully available via the screen or for download and can be accessed anytime, anywhere so you can plan your own schedule. Additional specialist units are also available via the IWF …
    £1,925

What's it like to be an Operations Manager?

"I’m an Operations Manager for a small manufacturing company, and I’m a big fan of the variation my job gives me. In a nutshell, I’m responsible for (almost) everything that affects productivity – whether it’s recruitment, stock, safety, processes (or anything else that seems to come up!) I’ve always been good at organisation, which makes the role a good fit. Being a good mediator is also key. Of course, it can be stressful at times, especially when things aren’t going well – but that only pushes me to try harder to find viable solutions to get things back on track."
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