Business Operations Manager

Operations managers help the various departments within a company coordinate to meet the end goal. Their job is to hire the people and acquire the materials that are needed to provide the goods or services clients want. This generally involves making strategic decisions about what customers are likely to buy and communicating that goal to a wide variety of people within the organization. "Operations really is the heart of most companies, because the operations department actually gets the job that the company needs to get done, done," says Eric Schaudt, manager of operations programs, material planning, and analysis at Northrop Grumman. Operations managers may also strategize to help their employees work as efficiently as possible.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects operations management employment growth of 4.6 percent between 2010 and 2020. During that time period, an additional 81,600 jobs will need to be filled.

Operations managers made a median of $95,150 in 2011, according to the BLS. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made over $187,199 per year, while the bottom 10 percent made $47,580. The highest-paying jobs are in Trenton and Newark, N.J., and New York City.

Many operations managers have a bachelor’s or master's degree in business administration, but the specific degree required depends on the type of organization. Significant experience within an organization can also sometimes lead to a promotion to this position. The ability to make decisions quickly and communicate effectively within a large and diverse organization is essential. The Association for Operations Management offers certificate programs in production and inventory management and certifies employees as supply chain professionals. "A lot of companies use these certifications as search criteria and filter their candidates as whether they are certified or not certified," says Schaudt.

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Professional organizations could help you network your way to an operations manager job. "We encourage people to go to meetings, hand out their resume, and start to build a network among the operations management profession," says Schaudt, about the Association for Operations Management. "The best way to break into the profession is to build a professional network. A lot of the time, this can and does lead to a job interview."