For example, some employers may refer to an operations manager as director of operations or vice president of operations. There are several jobs in Operations Management. This is because organizational management is a broad field and the roles of operations managers are numerous. Project planning is often an important part of operations work.
You'll need to create flowcharts and allocate the right resources to projects of all sizes. It may be useful to consider appointing a PMP (project management professional). As Vice President of Operations, you'll have earned a seat on your employer's Executive Committee. Any place that needs to maintain efficient operations has enough employees to justify hiring an operations specialist.
Work with people at different levels in each department to gather information and see how they do their jobs. Basically, an Operations employee helps the employer's wheels work less expensively, with fewer squeaks and bumps. In this case, you're likely working for a more experienced operations person, where your role will include helping to plan productivity-improvement projects, collecting basic information and statistical data, and preparing workflow diagrams for existing operations. While a general degree in business administration may be sufficient, there are specialized diplomas and certificates in areas such as airport operations, hotel operations, tourism operations and more.
For example, if Elliot's employer consistently meets the delivery times for the products he manufactures, if there are fewer breakdowns in the manufacturing process, and departments come together to increase their purchasing power for supplies, there's no doubt that Elliot is doing his job well. Operations employees must communicate their observations to senior management using language that can be easily understood and act accordingly. At the operations director level, you will oversee several operations managers, each of whom will oversee their specific area. It's no surprise that Elliot works as an operations assistant at a medium-sized manufacturing company.
As you move up to the position of chief operating officer, you'll discover that you're providing product and system support, planning the distribution chain, hiring and training employees, and managing staff. A job like Elliot's in Operations is often found in organizations that have more than 30 or 40 employees in total. Operations positions can be found in almost any type of company, from airports to chain restaurants, from hotels to car factories, from banks and insurance companies to cleaning services, universities and theme parks.
