What degree is needed for a director of operations?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

The director of operations role is often one of the highest-ranking positions in a company, so the minimum qualification is typically a bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or business management.

However, most companies require a master's of business administration (MBA) for their operations director role.

This is because directors of operations are responsible for everything from negotiations, budgeting, and purchasing. This means they need significant education and experience in order to be especially skilled at developing long-term operational strategies and working closely with senior management to meet company objectives.

The director of operations spends a significant amount of their time collaborating with executive-level management in the development of performance goals and long-term operational plans. Their focus in this collaboration will be how to maximize efficiency and productivity through extensive process analysis and interdepartmental collaboration.

They will then work with managers to implement strategic plans and other institutional goals in order to effectively maximize operational functioning. Additionally, they will analyze current operational processes and performance and recommend solutions for improvement when necessary.

Directors of operations need to build and maintain relationships with all department heads, external partners, and vendors to make decisions regarding operational activity and strategic goals. They also need to spend significant time upholding organization policies and standards and ensure that all legislative regulations are followed.