Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Business unit manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Bonnie Tiell,

Kristy Berak McDonald

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical business unit manager skills. We ranked the top skills for business unit managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.7% of business unit manager resumes contained continuous improvement as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a business unit manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 business unit manager skills for your resume and career

1. 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 business unit managers use continuous improvement:

Delivered a 300% increase in business unity capacity through outsourced contract manufacturing, capital equipment acquisition and continuous improvement initiatives.
Key responsibilities - continuous improvement, new product/process introductions/validations, implement new technologies, and day to day manufacturing support.

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 business unit managers use customer service:

Administer all aspects of national and international logistics, including packing operations, ground transportation, customer service and process improvement.
Complete accountability for all engineering, customer service, production control, quality and manufacturing to support business unit.

3. Product Line

Product line is a collection of similar or related products that may be under a single brand manufactured by the same company. It may include different varieties of a specific product of a brand which comes in different categories. In other cases, the product line may differ in some characteristics despite being from the same manufacturer.

Here's how business unit managers use product line:

Spearheaded the development, design, implementation and management of a Customer Relationship Management performance based system across all product lines.
Managed product line during a period of reorganization and restructuring to establish and implement fair and consistent business policies and procedures.

4. Project Management

Here's how business unit managers use project management:

Developed strategic plan won the endorsement of management to move from contract programming business model to fixed price project management organization.
Developed long range strategic planning and capital equipment replacement/investment Project Management team leader Production planning from raw material to finished product.

5. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how business unit managers use customer satisfaction:

Launched various pro-active service program to improve customer satisfaction, retention and opportunity for add-coverage product sales to existing customer base.
Developed and implemented several new improvements for the field, significantly improving product cost and customer satisfaction levels.

6. Financial Performance

Here's how business unit managers use financial performance:

Outsourced manufacturing to improve business financial performance.
Functioned as design lead on select projects, scheduling of staff and the overall financial performance of the department.

Choose from 10+ customizable business unit manager resume templates

Build a professional business unit manager resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business unit manager resume.

7. 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 business unit managers use human resources:

Coordinated physical and human resources to meet aggressive semi-automated production line pace.
Led 16-person team in Human Resources/Training/Safety/Quality departments at 125-person chemical plant.

8. Direct Reports

Here's how business unit managers use direct reports:

Managed 6 direct reports responsible for attaining operational improvement objectives in productivity, quality, delivery, cost and safety.
Managed 2 direct reports and directed operational excellence initiative for two plants in business unit.

9. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how business unit managers use on-time delivery:

Implemented strong customer focus to provide timely and accurate information used to provide on-time delivery.
Cut labor costs 50% while improving on-time delivery of key products from 10% to more than 90%.

10. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how business unit managers use sigma:

Participated in and utilize a matrix organization to achieve customer and business objectives through manufacturing quality initiatives and Lean/Six Sigma principles.
Led the integration of Six Sigma methodologies in order to optimize portfolio delivery capabilities to increase productivity gains.

11. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how business unit managers use lean manufacturing:

Maintain quality control and client satisfaction for established customer base during transformation to lean manufacturing process through development of outsourcing opportunities.
Led the effort that transitioned the facility from a standard push-manufacturing environment to a Lean Manufacturing/Team based operation.

12. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how business unit managers use business development:

Facilitated account management and business development with grocery store accounts, promoted personal care and household products throughout Alabama and Georgia.
Created and presented technical sales presentations for business development and expansion, as well as internal and external technical training seminars.

13. Quality Standards

Quality standards are a specific level of standards of products that are set by the companies for the customers that have to be met and maintained throughout the process until the time of delivery. Quality standards are information that includes the customer's requirements, guidelines, and characteristics for the needed final product or service.

Here's how business unit managers use quality standards:

Managed vendor and subcontractor relationships; negotiated pricing, defined and monitored compliance with performance and quality standards.
Established and verified quality standards through auditing of plant locations across business unit.

14. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how business unit managers use product development:

Devised and executed product strategies and designed product development initiatives vertically integrating SYNOPTICS' products into higher-order, value-added systems.
Experienced in new product development and marketing; involved with numerous successful projects which addressed both company and customer constraints/expectations.

15. Cost Reduction

Here's how business unit managers use cost reduction:

Managed manufacturing contracts including online bidding, continuous cost reduction programs, and contract renewal negotiations.
Developed and delivered annual budgets, detailing required expenses and accommodating corporate cost reduction initiatives.

5 Business Unit Manager resume examples

Build a professional business unit manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your business unit manager resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Business Unit Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on business unit manager resumes?

Dr. Bonnie Tiell

Professor of Sport Management, Tiffin University

Experience and proven record of accomplishments, achievements, and added value to an organization (e.g., demonstration of increasing market shares, sales quotas, membership acquisition, etc.).

What hard/technical skills are most important for business unit managers?

Kristy Berak McDonald

Experiential Learning Institute Director, Northwestern Michigan College

All students should have strong computer skills, accounting basics, and marketing knowledge.

What business unit manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Kim Roberts

Professor of Operations Management, Website

Business professionals lead organizations by focused efforts that revolve around products/services, processes, and people. Business professionals work to ensure the firm's products and/or services meet customer expectations, with an eye toward an ever-changing market. They manage processes that produce or support the firm's products. This requires the ability to analyze data to make informed decisions, to drive continuous improvement, and to solve problems through critical thinking. Successful business professionals must also create climates that promote teamwork and foster collaboration.

What soft skills should all business unit managers possess?

Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.

Professor, Program Director of the MBA, Brandeis University

When we talk to employers, they usually tell you they want students who know how to listen and drive. They want someone who is going to be happy to be in the company, who is going to participate actively in meetings and teams, and who is going to be good at listening and the following guidance.

Do you want to know more?

List of business unit manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a business unit manager resume and required skills for a business unit manager to have include:

Continuous Improvement
Customer Service
Product Line
Project Management
Customer Satisfaction
Financial Performance
Human Resources
Direct Reports
On-Time Delivery
Sigma
Lean Manufacturing
Business Development
Quality Standards
Product Development
Cost Reduction
Business Plan

Process Improvement
Strategic Direction
Corrective Action
Product Management
Program Management
Kaizen
Strategic Plan
OEM
Market Research
Revenue Growth
KPIs
Product Quality
Cost Savings
Value Stream
FDA
CNC

TPM
Contract Negotiations
Simplification
OEE
PPM
ERP
QA
Kanban
Ebit
Inventory Control
Sales Growth
OTD
Strategic Sourcing
Americas
Production Planning
JIT

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

Browse executive management jobs