what is an operations manager?
As operations manager, you are responsible for running the daily functions of an organisation. This involves planning and implementing production processes that improve quality, productivity and performance. Your main role is to oversee company procedures and enforce policies. For example, it is your job to find the perfect balance between expenses and income. This means you need to optimise costs to maintain a company’s financial health without compromising on quality or leaving customers dissatisfied.
In addition to formulating the company's processes and policies, it is also the operations manager who is responsible for all the company's resources. This includes raw materials, labour and capital. As operations manager, you supervise and control all factors in production to ensure maximum productivity. Sometimes you also have to take on HR functions to improve employee engagement and productivity.
what does an operations manager do?
An operations manager is crucial for every industry, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction and retail. Your job is to bring together the available resources to achieve a company's goals. For example, you are responsible for managing warehouse and sales representatives to increase sales in retail. When it comes to manufacturing, you oversee the production process and minimise costs without affecting the standard of quality. In construction, you make sure that all materials are used in the correct and expected way and are also responsible for those working on the site.
Would the job as operations manager suit your initiative skills? If so, read on to find out more about the skills and qualifications you need to thrive and flourish in the role of operations manager.
operations manager jobsaverage salary as operations manager.
How much an operations manager earns can vary. Partly depending on which industry you work in, but above all based on experience and competence. The starting salary for a newly appointed operations manager is therefore understandably quite a bit lower than for someone who has a lot of experience in the position. In addition to the salary itself, other forms of compensation may also be included. This can involve compensation for certain special areas of responsibility and some companies also cover accommodation and travel expenses. The role of operations manager also comes with paid holidays, pension and sometimes bonuses.
different factors that influence the salary as operations manager.
What you earn as an operations manager is often influenced by several different factors. For example, your position in the company hierarchy can affect your salary. If you are an operations manager responsible for a single department, you earn less than someone who is responsible for the entire company. When you are an operations manager for a single department, your area of responsibility is smaller and your qualifications are lower. Someone who is an operations manager for the whole company often handles complex tasks and therefore earns more. Your level of experience also affects your salary thanks to the knowledge you bring from previous roles, which can be applied to the company's work. Employers will pay more for your expertise when you have more years of experience working with business operations.
different types of operations managers.
There are different types of operations managers depending on which industry you work in. Some of these types are:
- Overall operations manager: As the operations manager, or overall operations manager, you oversee the operational activities of various departments. You need to make sure that the company's resources are optimised to improve business results by working towards efficiency and productivity.
- Operations manager in sales: As an operations manager in sales, you implement marketing and sales initiatives. This means you are responsible for hiring and training sales representatives, evaluating performance, and managing the logistics of marketing activities.
- Operations manager in care and nursing: Your role is to improve efficiency and service quality for patients. you make sure that hospitals stay within budget by optimising resources and solving operational issues.
- Operations manager in construction: As an operations manager in construction, you oversee various types of building projects and make sure that resources are allocated appropriately. You also develop effective ways to improve construction standards and increase the commercial value.
working as an operations manager.
Operations managers perform several different roles and functions to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible in the business process. Below you will find the tasks, areas of responsibility and working conditions that you can expect in the role.
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job description operations manager
Operations managers are the driving force behind the completion of successful projects. They perform the following tasks:
- Anticipate market demand: Your job is to improve business results by making sure that the products meet the requirements instead of producing products that take time to sell. you need to analyse the statistics to be able to determine the uptake of your company's products. with the information you collect, you can develop strategies that lead to increased sales.
- Supply chain management: As the operations manager, you oversee the business process, from sourcing raw materials and production to sales. You need to keep an eye on production, distribution and sales to achieve efficiency and low costs.
- Strategic planning: Operations managers are involved in the strategic planning for company goals and optimisation of business processes. For example, operations managers can determine and decide on the best marketing strategies to increase the amount of revenue or to find production methods that are cost-effective.
- Quality control: As the operations manager, you make sure that the company's products meet the required standards. This includes sourcing suitable raw materials and hiring qualified staff to ensure that the production process delivers high-quality products. You also identify ways to increase value for your customers, thereby creating a higher level of customer loyalty.
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work environment
As an operations manager, your working environment depends on which industry you work in and what your main areas of responsibility are. In production, operations managers work in offices but spend a lot of their time at the factory or production facility. In construction, your work revolves around different building sites because you need to lead and supervise the workers and make sure that raw materials are delivered. When you work on building sites or in factories, you need to wear personal protective equipment even when you are not handling objects and tools on site. In some industries like retail and information technology, your work is mainly done in the office with minimal travel.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on the employer and the industry, your colleagues in the role of operations manager can be, for example, project managers and those responsible for the supply chain. You also often work closely with people in high-ranking positions within the company and various types of specialists. In addition, you may meet, for example, the HR department and employees who work in recruitment. On construction sites, you also work with and oversee the work of different types of construction workers.
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work schedule
As an operations manager, you work a 40-hour week but work also takes place on weekends and evenings. Most companies hire operations managers on a full-time basis. It is also possible to find part-time opportunities, usually in the role of a consultant. Some operations managers also take on jobs with short-term contracts. As an operations manager, you will travel to construction sites and to meetings with suppliers.
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job opportunities
There are different ways to advance in the role of operations manager depending on which industry you work in and what career ambitions you have. As an operations manager, you can specialize to work within a specific type of industry. For example, if you started as a site manager or logistics manager, you can specialize in production operations or logistics and become an expert in the field. An operations manager has a senior role and there are opportunities to advance to higher positions within the company you are employed at. After years of experience, you can also choose to become a consultant or start your own business.
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advantages of finding a job as operations manager via randstad
There are several major advantages to finding a job as an operations manager via Randstad.
- a broad range of education and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person who can help when you are looking for a job
- many different open jobs in your area
- monthly salary from your employer
- temporary and permanent employment
Do you have hopes for a permanent position? A good way to get a permanent job as an operations manager is to first try a temporary position. It can be the natural step towards later being offered a permanent full-time job. Every year, thousands of people do exactly that through Randstad. In addition, there are many companies that hire full-time employees directly through Randstad too!
education and qualifications as operations manager.
The role of the operations manager is multifaceted and requires industry-specific qualifications and an ability to lead and manage. With that in mind, you should aim for a degree that gives you a basic understanding of budgeting, the supply chain and concepts that are important for operational efficiency.
- In general, you should choose a university or college education in business Administration or leadership and other related areas such as economics.
- In some industries you need basic knowledge about the specific sector to become an operations manager. for example, you need a background in computer science or as an engineer to be qualified for the role of operations manager in it or car manufacturing.
- Since it is a senior role, many companies require you to have a master's degree to be hired for the position of operations manager.
knowledge and skills.
Becoming an operations manager requires expertise and technical knowledge to be able to navigate between different areas of responsibility. Some of these areas are:
- Leadership skills: As an operations manager you take on many different leadership roles. You need good leadership skills to be able to set goals, as well as help, motivate and lead other employees. Leadership skills come in handy when you need to lead employees and set a good example yourself to make sure the company's goals are met.
- Communicative ability: Operations managers interact with different types of stakeholders, from suppliers and customers to people in high positions in the company. Communicative ability helps you to effectively give instructions and provide feedback to various stakeholders.
- Organisational skills: As an operations manager, you oversee several different business aspects. without organisational skills, you won't manage to complete all assignments and tasks within the set timeframe. You need to organise your work and create a timeline for each project in order to achieve the desired outcome.
- Sense for economy: As operations manager you make sure that all business activities stay within the set budget. With financial insight you can evaluate the daily operations of each department and ensure that they meet the company's profitability goals without exceeding the budget.
FAQ.
Frequently asked questions about working as an operations manager.
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what does an operations manager do?
An operations manager's task is to steer a company's activities, from production processes to distribution and sales. The operations manager keeps track of each department's performance and what they contribute to achieving the company's goals.
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what does operations manager mean?
An operations manager is a professional who manages what is considered best practice to create the highest possible standards of efficiency and performance for the company.
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where does an operations manager work?
As an operations manager, you can work in different places depending on the industry. Most of the time, you work from an office, but if you work in, for example, construction, it also includes visiting various construction sites and travelling to meetings with different suppliers.
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how do you become an operations manager?
You can become an operations manager by completing a university or college education in, for example, business administration or another relevant field. Getting a master's degree also increases your career opportunities and gives you a better chance of getting the job as an operations manager.
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how do I apply for a job as operations manager?
It’s really easy to apply for a job as operations manager through Randstad. Create a profile to benefit from everything offered at Randstad and then prepare your application. You can search for vacant jobs as operations manager directly via Randstad and then apply for the job by sending in your CV and cover letter.