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Operations Manager / Director

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First things first and in case you didn't know...

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An Operations Manager or Director oversees the daily activities of a business, ensuring efficiency, productivity, and compliance with company goals. They are fully ‘end goal’ orientated and manage resources, streamline processes, and lead teams to meet operational targets and achieve goals. 

 

Their role spans industries, from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and retail; or in Caroline’s case creativity and imagery. The role focuses on improving systems and driving organisational success.

 

People in these roles can also perform a variety of tasks for multiple departments, to ensure higher productivity and efficiency. A successful Operations Manager candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications, these typically include:

  • Experience with statistical analysis and data processing

  • Practical knowledge of budgeting, cash-flow regulation, maintaining balance sheets and monitoring the profit and loss statements

  • Ability to create a good plan and determination to accomplish goals

  • Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills

  • Good data analysis, planning and organisational skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Good leadership qualities with the ability to provide direction

 

For more information on operational duties and responsibilities, see the bottom of the page.

Key skills/talents

The following are a few key skills you should have if you’re looking to become an Operations Manager/Director:

  • Leadership – Ability to manage and motivate teams.

  • Strategic Planning – Setting long-term operational goals.

  • Problem-Solving – Quickly resolving workflow or logistical issues.

  • Financial Acumen – Budgeting and cost-control skills.

  • Communication – Clear, effective interaction with staff and stakeholders.

  • Project Management – Coordinating tasks and deadlines efficiently.

  • Analytical Thinking – Using data to improve processes.

  • Negotiation – Dealing with suppliers, clients, and employees.

  • Adaptability – Responding to industry changes and disruptions.

  • Risk Management – Identifying and mitigating operational risks.

  • Resilience - Facing and overcoming a plethora of problems.

  • Cross-functional thinking - Being able to work with different teams on different problems.

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​Qualifications required

While most operations managers work their way up with experience, many employers prefer degrees in Business Management, Operations, or Supply Chain (e.g., BSc/MSc in Operations Management).

 

Professional certifications such as:

Chartered Management Institute (CMI):  www.managers.org.uk 

Institute of Operations Management (IOM): www.iomnet.org.uk 

APICS/ASCM (Supply Chain & Operations): www.ascm.org 

PRINCE2 or Agile (Project Management): www.axelos.com

 

Below are some universities based throughout the UK offering degrees in these subjects:

University of Warwick (Business & Operations): www.warwick.ac.uk 

University of Cambridge (Institute for Manufacturing): www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk 

London School of Economics (LSE): www.lse.ac.uk 

University of Manchester (Alliance Manchester Business School): www.mbs.ac.uk 

 

But as always, UCAS is the best place to start with any Uni course enquiries: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/all?query=operations

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Rules and regs

As an operations manager/director in the UK, you must comply with several key regulations, including the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, which ensures workplace safety, and Employment Law, governing fair hiring, wages, and working conditions (guidance available at: www.gov.uk/employment-law). 

 

You will also need to follow UK GDPR for secure handling of employee and customer data:: https://ico.org.uk

 

Additionally, industry-specific rules may apply, such as manufacturing standards or logistics safety requirements, depending on your sector. Staying compliant with these laws is essential for smooth and lawful operations.

 

As an operations manager or director, having the right insurance coverage is crucial to protect your business from potential risks. Professional Indemnity Insurance safeguards against legal costs arising from operational errors or professional negligence, while Public Liability Insurance covers claims from third parties for injury or property damage. 

 

If you employ staff, Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, covering workplace injury or illness claims. 

 

Additionally, Business Interruption Insurance helps mitigate financial losses caused by operational disruptions, such as supply chain delays or unexpected closures. 

 

Leading UK providers like Hiscox: www.hiscox.co.uk and AXA: www.axa.co.uk offer tailored policies to suit different business needs, ensuring comprehensive protection.

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Remuneration framework

In the UK, the average salary for an Operations Manager is around £45k per year, with entry-level positions starting at around £25k.

 

Experienced workers can work through the ranks and earn up to £60k for senior Manager/Head of roles. 

 

Top of the tree Directors and VPs can earn well into six figures, plus have substantial share and bonus benefits.

 

Salaries will vary based on location (with major cities like London often paying more), sector, employer size and type, and experience level. The type of Operations you manage will also impact your earnings, i.e. high-churn big money manufacturing will pay more than lower-churn, lower money industries.

 

Many roles offer additional benefits that can increase your overall compensation, such as performance-related pay, commission, bonuses, pensions, sick pay, and various types of leave.

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How to get started

Assuming you know (and have others testimony to the fact) that you’re a naturally organised and efficient person, then to build a successful career as an operations manager or director, start by gaining hands-on experience in supervisory or logistics roles, which provide essential insights into workflow management and team leadership. Evening or weekend work in a factory or manufacturing facility could be a really good ‘ground-level’ way to test your skills and see if ‘logistics’ is definitely for you.

 

Alternatively, Caroline started in an operational sales-based role, and then moved into Business Analytics. Which meant, although not the person doing the selling or the sales work, she sorting the ‘deals’ thereafter and meant that each deal/order/transaction was executed properly and effectively.

 

Strengthen your credentials by pursuing relevant qualifications, like the ones listed, ideally while in a logistical/operations role.

 

Developing key skills such as interpersonal skills, teamwork, problem-solving, planning and leadership can enhance employment opportunities.

 

Networking is always key (and yes, we harp on about this A LOT), so look to connect with industry professionals through LinkedIn and attend sector-specific events to uncover opportunities. 


In terms of job applications, begin by applying for entry-level operations roles, such as Operations Coordinator, to develop core skills before advancing to lower-management and then middle-to-upper management positions through experience and further training. This structured approach ensures steady career progression in operations.

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Job site links

When searching for operations management roles, start by exploring general job boards like IndeedL www.indeed.co.uk and ReedL www.reed.co.uk, which list a wide range of opportunities across industries. 

 

For more specialised positions, check Supply Chain Online: www.supplychainonline.co.uk, or Logistics UK Jobs: www.logistics.org.uk/careers, which focus on operations, procurement, and distribution roles. 


If you're targeting senior or executive-level positions, LinkedIn Jobs: www.linkedin.com/jobs is pretty much where it’s at, and is an excellent platform for discovering high-level opportunities and networking with industry leaders.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

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Progression pathway​

An Operations role career progression typically involves moving from entry-level roles to managerial positions, potentially specialising in areas like supply chain or risk management, and eventually leading to roles like Group Manager, Head of, Director of, or even (eventually) Vice President of Operations. 

 

Operations Assistant/Analyst

These roles provide foundational experience in operations, often involving data analysis, process improvement, and supporting the work of operations managers. 

 

Operations Manager

This is a key managerial role, overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, and managing teams. 

 

Senior Operations Manager / Head of Operations

With experience, Operations Managers can move into Senior Operations Manager roles, managing larger operations or teams. 

 

Director of Operations

Directors of Operations take on a more strategic role, overseeing multiple departments or functions within an organisation. 

 

Vice President of Operations

This is a high-level leadership position, responsible for the overall strategy and performance of an organization's operations. 

 

Specialised Career Tracks to consider…

 

  • Supply Chain Operations Manager: Focuses on the flow of goods and materials from suppliers to customers.

  • Project-Based Operations Manager: Manages operations related to specific projects or initiatives.

  • Risk Management Operations Manager: Identifies and mitigates risks within operations.

  • Transformational Operations Manager: Drives innovation and change within operations.

  • Startup Operations Manager: Manages operations for early-stage companies.

  • Compliance-focused Operations Manager: Ensures operations comply with regulations and standards. 

  • Other Potential Career Paths:

  • Program Manager: Similar skills and experience can lead to program management roles. 

  • Financial Director: Operations Managers with strong financial skills can move into financial leadership roles. 

  • Sales Manager: Operations experience can be valuable in sales management roles. 

  • Operational Specialist: Specializing in a particular area of operations can lead to specialist roles. 

  • Finance Manager: Operations Managers with strong financial skills can move into finance management roles. 

  • Account Manager: Operations Managers with strong customer relationship skills can move into account management roles. 

  • Service Manager: Operations Managers with strong service skills can move into service management roles. 

  • Salesperson: Operations experience can be valuable in sales roles. 

  • Chief Operating Officer (COO): With extensive experience and a strong track record, Operations Managers can move into executive leadership roles like COO.

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Additional Information/links

Operations Manager duties and responsibilities

Operations Managers are often responsible for the management of the overall operations of an organisation. These include essential labour management duties such as training new hires on complex quality and safety control measures. They also provide leadership to improve important policy and strategic decisions.

 

Some of their duties and responsibilities include:

  • Performing HR duties such as recruiting, selecting, scheduling, counselling and disciplining employees

  • Helping the company to promote high morale and communicate the company’s operating policies, customer issues and safety measures

  • Performing financial predictions by preparing the annual budgets, scheduling expenditures, analysing variance and initiating corrective actions

  • Developing operations policies by evaluating and enforcing policies for products and inventory receipts

  • Reviewing and approving operational invoices and forwarding them to payment

  • Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations

  • Making sure that all employees fill out the required legal documents

 

Additional Links…

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