An operations manager is responsible for the daily operations of the organization. His job includes ironing out all the problems that hinder the day to day activities of the firm. He is not only responsible for finding a solution to the problems but also for finding out better ways of doing the task by avoiding such problematic scenarios. The responsibilities vary depending upon the organization and its requirements. Generally, the operations manager needs to prepare budgets, revise the daily schedules, control the inventory, supervise employees, and take care of the handling of interviews and new recruitment. He also devises procedures and processes for executing work efficiently.
In a manufacturing unit, the manager is responsible for the production and the quality of the product. An Operations Manager is expected to have daily or weekly updates from both the quality and production teams and provide necessary inputs or feedback and apprise them of the projected tasks ahead. He is supposed to do his task in the stipulated time frame using the resources at his disposal efficiently. In a service oriented organization he is responsible for managing the customer service, the payment processing and the day to day issues related to customers.
Whichever kind of organization a person is working in, the job may vary a little but the overall aim remains the same with effective management skills and proper operation planning.
An operations management job is basically a managerial job requires a minimum graduation degree along with a degree in management. While one can take up an internship to gain experience, campus recruitment also is an option that corporations are looking into currently. Newcomers get lured by the pay checks even though the work pressure is high and the competition strong.
Carrying out a job efficiently on a daily basis needs perseverance. Also, to see the flaws in the current working plan and improvising on it to yield better results, needs insight and the capability to find alternative ways of doing the same task in a better manner. One needs to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to be able to convey his ideas across to the other people in the organization. Having a leadership streak helps further as one needs to set an example to the different teams he or she handles. Apart from this, the operations manager also needs to promote the concept of providing the work force an ideal work environment to work in. This consists of providing instructions to the HR to get employee feedback on various company policies and instilling inspiration in the employees to work towards the goals of the organization. One also needs to be proactive and a team player. Having computer skills and process management knowledge is also a prime requisite.
One can easily take up an operations management job after completing the degree course. All institutions try giving a placement initially and one can even try his hand at campus interviews. Looking for placements online and in the dailies often helps in landing with the right job.
The pay check in a managerial job depends on the post held and this applies here too. While higher posts involve more responsibilities the remuneration is also higher. Experience also counts and is a decisive factor in determining what you take home. On average, your salary can range anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 per year.