What does a corporate operations manager do?
A corporate operations manager oversees an organization's initiatives to ensure productivity and efficient workflow. Their duties usually include heading planning and production operations, establishing budgets, coordinating departments to reach project goals, and monitoring procedures. They generally also lead staff to achieve daily objectives and implement the organization's workflow policies.
Corporate operations manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real corporate operations manager resumes:
- Lead a small team who create and implement ISO 9001 , 20000 , 27000 quality practices.
- Manage numerous functions of a mid-size regional carrier that specialize in refrigerate and dry box logistics.
- Create and manage numerous cross-functional corporate logistics initiatives through policy creation, team development, and program oversight.
- Finance and billing accountability across Medicaid, manage care commercial insurance, insurance verification, contract management, and benefits administration.
- Provide oversight, guidance and training in the area of lean techniques and continuous improvement practices.
- Support housekeeping managers with associate scheduling, payroll and client communications.
- Provide operational oversight for multiple national chain store companies and locations.
- Create team base payroll program to ensure company-wide payroll equity and minimize management costs.
- Design company website, PowerPoint presentation, brochure, profile, machinery list & factory production capacity information for marketing purposes.
- Optimize processing and ensure accuracy of accounts payable function using QuickBooks.
Corporate operations manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 34% of Corporate Operations Managers are proficient in Project Management, Business Operations, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Corporate Operations Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 34%
Established project management structures and developed comprehensive plans including overall goals, resource allocations, and cost roll-ups.
- Business Operations, 22%
Managed all business operations, focused on improving corporate processes and policies in support of organizational goals.
- Customer Service, 5%
Developed and implemented a HRIS computer scheduling program that increased customer service and productivity within the company.
- Financial Statements, 4%
Reconciled/prepared financial statements, review, approve credit applications & set trade account.
- Quality Standards, 3%
Planned, developed and evaluated programs in the areas of quality standards using ISO 9000 standards.
- Payroll, 3%
Created team based payroll program to ensure company-wide payroll equity and minimize management costs.
Common skills that a corporate operations manager uses to do their job include "project management," "business operations," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important corporate operations manager responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a corporate operations manager to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what corporate operations managers do because "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Additionally, a corporate operations manager resume shows how corporate operations managers use communication skills: "managed and coordinated telecommunication systems at all the sites, including contract negotiations with local and long distance phone companies. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform corporate operations manager duties is leadership skills. Corporate operations managers responsibilities require that "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." Corporate operations managers also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "apply leadership and decision-making authority to ensure efficient management of all aspects of corporate treasury operations to highest quality standards. "
Problem-solving skills. corporate operations manager responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." This resume example shows what corporate operations managers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "managed projects for the implementation of various bank services including positive pay/payee, ach filters and host-to-host payment solutions. "
Time-management skills. Another common skill required for corporate operations manager responsibilities is "time-management skills." This skill comes up in the duties of corporate operations managers all the time, as "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." An excerpt from a real corporate operations manager resume shows how this skill is central to what a corporate operations manager does: "project management and implementation of practice management software based on required deadlines. "
The three companies that hire the most corporate operations managers are:
- Domino's Pizza6 corporate operations managers jobs
- Caesars Entertainment2 corporate operations managers jobs
- Morgan Stanley2 corporate operations managers jobs
Compare different corporate operations managers
Corporate operations manager vs. Assistant manager of operations
An assistant operations manager is responsible for supervising staff performance and operation processes under the guidance of an operations manager. The assistant operations manager ensures the efficiency and accuracy of project management to boost client satisfaction, drive revenues, and achieve the company's objectives and profitability goals. They also help with developing strategic procedures to increase productivity and identify business opportunities to build a strong company reputation. An assistant operations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially when meeting with existing and potential clients, close partnerships, and lead teams towards project goals.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a corporate operations manager are more likely to require skills like "project management," "business operations," "customer service," and "payroll." On the other hand, a job as an assistant manager of operations requires skills like "sales floor," "front end," "cash handling," and "store associates." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Assistant managers of operations tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $65,818. In contrast, corporate operations managers make the biggest average salary, $93,859, in the manufacturing industry.On average, assistant managers of operations reach similar levels of education than corporate operations managers. Assistant managers of operations are 4.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Corporate operations manager vs. General manager of operations
General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management. They coordinate the primary performance goals for direct reporting functions and set the strategies for the organization. It is their responsibility to communicate strategy as well as results to employees. They also engage with the corporate officers in the strategic planning and development of the organization or enterprise.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, corporate operations manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "employee development," "training materials," and "corporate operations." Meanwhile, a general manager of operations has duties that require skills in areas such as "develop team," "personnel processes," "loss prevention," and "r." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
General managers of operations earn similar levels of education than corporate operations managers in general. They're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for corporate operations managers in the next 3-5 years?
Eric Olsen
Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business
Corporate operations manager vs. Manager, center operations
The duties of a manager of center operations depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing business operations, setting targets, assessing the workforce's performance, and performing corrective measures on any issues or concerns. Moreover, there are also instances where they have to produce progress reports, devise strategies for optimal business performance, delegate tasks, and even manage the budget. As a manager, it is crucial to lead and encourage the team to reach goals and sales targets while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, corporate operations managers are more likely to have skills like "business operations," "customer service," "financial statements," and "payroll." But a manager, center operations is more likely to have skills like "infrastructure," "osha," "standard operating procedure," and "patients."
Managers, center operations earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $68,400. Comparatively, corporate operations managers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $93,859.When it comes to education, managers, center operations tend to earn similar degree levels compared to corporate operations managers. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Corporate operations manager vs. Assistant store manager/operations manager
An assistant store manager/operations manager is responsible for supervising the overall store operations, ensuring the highest customer satisfaction, and managing the staff's performance. Assistant store managers/operations managers strategize techniques to enhance the team's productivity and efficiency. They also identify business opportunities by conducting market research that would generate more revenue resources for the business and increase profits. An assistant store manager/operations manager assists the customers with their inquiries and concerns, resolve complaints, and process replacements and refunds as necessary.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between corporate operations managers and assistant store manager/operations managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a corporate operations manager might have more use for skills like "project management," "financial statements," "quality standards," and "payroll." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of assistant store manager/operations managers require skills like "front end," "loss prevention," "sales floor," and "direct supervision. "
Assistant store manager/operations managers reach lower levels of education compared to corporate operations managers, in general. The difference is that they're 7.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of corporate operations manager
Updated January 8, 2025
