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Area operations manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Karen Kus,

Nina Woodard

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical area operations manager skills. We ranked the top skills for area operations managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.2% of area operations manager resumes contained logistics as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an area operations manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 area operations manager skills for your resume and career

1. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how area operations managers use logistics:

Performed daily management duties including all record keeping, inventory, logistics and installations for security systems.
Assumed complete responsibility for inbound and outbound operations for the reverse logistics operations.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how area operations managers use customer service:

Coordinated activities and strategic planning for Customer Service as necessary consisting of over 30 locations to achieve optimum end results.
Increased client retention and occupancy levels within their area by ensuring center teams were delivering exceptional standards of customer service.

3. Process Improvement

Here's how area operations managers use process improvement:

Provide ongoing analysis and evaluation of services provided as well as employee performance to establish activities aimed at continuous process improvement.
Developed process improvement programs and strategies based on subject matter expert input resulting in best practices shared and policy revisions.

4. Direct Reports

Here's how area operations managers use direct reports:

Maintained relationships with peers, direct reports and senior management through effective communication.
Supervised 16 direct reports utilizing performance management reviews to meet goals and objectives.

5. OSHA

Here's how area operations managers use osha:

Heightened safety management and awareness, closely adhering to OSHA and corporate objectives.
Executed the highest standards of OSHA, local health and safety codes, and company safety and security policy.

6. Corrective Action

Here's how area operations managers use corrective action:

Reviewed and educated cost control opportunities taking corrective action as needed and suggested alternative courses of action.
Implemented managerial live work performance observations on low performing technicians, identified and addressed corrective action measures.

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7. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how area operations managers use oversight:

Performed financial management and oversight functions including maintaining and evaluating account activity, paperwork, and payroll and budget reports.
Established individual compliance results tracking system that improved management oversight capabilities for NY and NE.

8. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how area operations managers use continuous improvement:

Attained corporate goals for profitability by generating innovative business strategies through the execution of production system plans and continuous improvements.
Developed and lead multiple continuous improvement cycles that improved Safety, Quality, and Productivity.

9. Loss Prevention

The steps taken by a business to prevent theft is called loss prevention. There are multiple methods for loss prevention for example usage of automated cash handling, secure physical location, product security staff buy-in, and attentive customer service.

Here's how area operations managers use loss prevention:

Coordinated Market Manager, Loss Prevention Managers, HR Managers facilitating teamwork and ensured exceptional training of employees.
Optimized inventory and oversaw loss prevention.

10. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how area operations managers use customer satisfaction:

Provide leadership, direction and motivation to all team members while providing quality service and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Provided leadership for multiple-level management of focused facilities and customer focus to ensure contractual performance and customer satisfaction.

11. Safety Program

Safety programs are a series of measures to protect employees from any mishaps and make the work environment safer. Safety programs include checklists, guidelines, and direct procedures that a specific area or department must follow. Safety programs take care of office space safety, maintenance and repairs, and identification of frauds as well.

Here's how area operations managers use safety program:

Instituted driver safety program that reduced worker compensation costs and improved service time deliveries by modifying dispatch schedules.
Implemented a comprehensive safety program and conduct all post-accident investigations and reporting.

12. Performance Management

Here's how area operations managers use performance management:

Developed and Implemented performance management plan and methodology to enable team to meet value-added and prescriptive performance expectations.
Implemented wide range of advancements including, automation, just-in-time service delivery, and performance management systems.

13. Kaizen

Kaizen is a Japanese term derived from the words "kai-" which means "Change" and "zen" for good. In short, Kaizen means "change for the better," or it could also mean "continuous improvement." It is a term used for the process that continuously improves all employees. Kaizen believes in the improvement in productivity in a gradual and methodological approach. This improvement could happen by making the workplace more efficient and effective by improving team atmosphere, making the job less tiring and fulfilling and safer for the employees. Members of a company are expected to suggest an improvement when they encounter a problem.

Here's how area operations managers use kaizen:

Facilitated Kaizen events to analyze, optimize & design new processes to increase productivity and efficiency.
Performed Kaizen test to improve operational efficiency in imaging center.

14. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how area operations managers use human resources:

Collaborate with Human Resources department regarding hiring and terminations, annual performance reviews, employee complaint investigations, and work injuries.
Managed all store operations, human resources for 40 associates and 3 managers, exceeding $6 million in sales.

15. Financial Performance

Here's how area operations managers use financial performance:

Develop and present communications to Regional leadership associated with the deployment of strategic plans designed to improve store level financial performance.
Provided efforts in the improvement of operational issues and financial performance.

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What skills help Area Operations Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on area operations manager resumes?

Karen Kus

Assistant Director of Career Services, SUNY Potsdam

Employers hiring candidates with a history degree are seeking transferable skills that can be applied in various roles and settings. These skills include writing, communication, research, organization, computer-based skills, and problem-solving. The best thing a candidate can do to increase marketability is to elaborate on how they obtained or utilized those skills, rather than simply listing them. Employers need to have an understanding of how you made use of your skill and what results came from your actions. Make these skills shine on your resume by giving them substance.

What area operations manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Nina Woodard

Senior Career Development Specialist, Belmont University

For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.

What type of skills will young area operations managers need?

Craig Nathanson Ph.D.

Adjunct Lecturer, Sonoma State University

I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.

What technical skills for an area operations manager stand out to employers?

Dr. Mary Kern Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College - City University of New York

- Clearly, the ability to use different forms of communication technology has become key, and as these forms evolve rapidly, employers are look for an ability to adapt, adopt, and teach them to their colleagues.

- Evidence-based management and decision-making are playing a much larger role in organizations, and thus the ability to work with quantitative data to understand situations and to help make decisions is crucial.

What soft skills should all area operations managers possess?

Steven Bauer

Visiting Professor of Marketing, Pepperdine University, Seaver College

The new hybrid world will make leading teams more challenging. This reality will put a premium on interpersonal skills. When the NASA astronaut, Richard Arnold, spoke at Pepperdine in 2019, he mentioned that team building was the single most important ability undergraduates could develop to become a good astronaut. The same holds for graduates wanting to go into business, particularly in the post coronavirus era. As part of their skills in this area, graduates will also need to be able and committed to addressing issues in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Do you want to know more?

List of area operations manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an area operations manager resume and required skills for an area operations manager to have include:

Logistics
Customer Service
Process Improvement
Direct Reports
OSHA
Corrective Action
Oversight
Continuous Improvement
Loss Prevention
Customer Satisfaction
Safety Program
Performance Management
Kaizen
Human Resources
Financial Performance
Regulatory Compliance

Payroll
FDA
Sortation
Project Management
Professional Development
ISO
Performance Reviews
Customer Relations
Performance Evaluations
Revenue Growth
Sigma
Quality Standards
Business Development
Operational Performance
Distribution Centers
Inventory Control

Staff Development
YOY
Cost Control
Disciplinary Actions
Guest Satisfaction
Inventory Management
Operational Efficiency
Store Operations
Cost Savings
Guest Service
Customer Complaints
Commercial Cleaning
Retail Store
Labor Costs
EBITDA

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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