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What is a director of business operations and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Eric Olsen
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A director of business operations is an individual responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a company. They develop and implement strategies to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. This involves managing budgets, analyzing financial data, and identifying areas for improvement. They also oversee various departments such as HR, IT, finance, and marketing to ensure they are functioning effectively. A director of business operations must be an excellent communicator and possess strong leadership skills.

What general advice would you give to a director of business operations?

Eric OlsenEric Olsen LinkedIn profile

Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business

Times of change are also times of great opportunities. We are going to need new technical solutions to address problems we are just learning about. You have to lean into the issues. Don't be a technologist - be a problem solver. That is why we also emphasize soft skills like lean six sigma, teamwork, and change management.
ScoreDirector Of Business OperationsUS Average
Salary
7.9

Avg. Salary $111,945

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.39%

Black or African American 6.21%

Hispanic or Latino 15.27%

Unknown 4.34%

White 67.33%

Gender

female 37.24%

male 62.76%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a director of business operations?

Pros

  • High level of responsibility and decision-making power

  • Lucrative salary and benefits package

  • Chance to implement changes and improvements in the organization

  • Ability to shape the company's strategy and direction

  • Chance to lead and inspire a team of professionals

Cons

  • High level of stress and pressure to perform

  • Long hours and demanding workload

  • Need to balance competing priorities and demands from various stakeholders

  • Potential for conflict with other departments or teams

  • Need to constantly adapt to changing market conditions and industry trends

Director of business operations career paths

Key steps to become a director of business operations

  1. Explore director of business operations education requirements

    Most common director of business operations degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.0 %

    Master's

    20.2 %

    Associate

    6.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of business operations skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Business Operations13.69%
    Project Management7.17%
    Customer Service4.96%
    Patients4.62%
    KPIs4.44%
  3. Complete relevant director of business operations training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of business operations learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of business operations based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of business operations resumes.
  4. Gain additional director of business operations certifications

    Director of business operations certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific director of business operations certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for directors of business operations include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Green Belt.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research director of business operations duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and provide assistance in the development of the tools, information and processes used in daily business to maximize ROI.
    • Manage operations team responsible for company's manufacturing, production and logistics.
    • Provide operational oversight for manage contract services delivery and practice management supervision and expansion.
    • Finance and billing accountability across Medicaid, manage care commercial insurance, insurance verification, contract management, and benefits administration.
  6. Get director of business operations experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a director of business operations. The most common roles before becoming a director of business operations include manager, operations manager team lead and director.
  7. Prepare your director of business operations resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of business operations resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of business operations resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of business operations resume templates

    Build a professional director of business operations resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of business operations resume.
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
    Director Of Business Operations Resume
  8. Apply for director of business operations jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of business operations job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of business operations job

Zippi

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Average director of business operations salary

The average director of business operations salary in the United States is $111,945 per year or $54 per hour. Director of business operations salaries range between $68,000 and $182,000 per year.

Average director of business operations salary
$111,945 Yearly
$53.82 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do directors of business operations rate their job?

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Director of business operations reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

I love being able to mold my team and the distribution center to the culture of respect and accountability! Having senior and executive leadership support is a huge positive factor in making this happen!!

Cons

Long hours and calls outside of regular business hours are the norm!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

I love it and I wish I was back at my old job but I guess it is what it is

Cons

Not being loyal


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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