What does a director of plant operations do?
A director of plant operations is responsible for monitoring daily production operations and manufacturing processes. Directors of plant operations manage the department's budgeting and allocation of resources to support business functions and product distribution. They also handle the adequacy of inventories, create purchase requests, and facilitating training and programs to maximize staff's productivity and efficiency. A director of plant operations must have excellent communication and organizational skills to track the operation's progress and minimize excessive loss.
Director of plant operations responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real director of plant operations resumes:
- Implement comprehensive ERP solution to manage inventory, customer relationships and financial applications.
- Institute major testing and documentation as required by CMS and TJC.
- Execute minor repairs in plumbing, drywall, tile flooring, medical equipment, kitchen equipment, HVAC systems, etc.
- Update corporate policies and procedures for compliance with, JCAHO, ADA, NFPA, and other governmental regulations and requirements.
- Oversee regulations with regulatory agencies including OSHA.
- Project management and oversight of all facility construction and renovation projects.
- Oversee the cleanliness of the facility by supervising the housekeepers.
- Instruct personnel on proper use of equipment and chemicals (msds )
- Boost ROI by advancing business growth through acquisition finance by leverage.
- Maintain department in compliance with all federal, state and local regulations and JCAHO standards.
- Maintain accurate inventory of supplies and equipment, assure proper MSDS information on all products.
- Handle all facility repairs, including minor electrical, plumbing repairs, and pool /spa maintenance.
- Create and/or modify policies ensuring the hospital meets or exceeds requirements of the JC and CMS.
- Coordinate and contract various vendors in order to maintain building codes for patient's safety and JCAHO regulations.
- Install and repair plumbing and electrical systems, computer systems, nurse call stations, door locks, and networking.
Director of plant operations skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Directors Of Plant Operations are proficient in Plant Operations, Life Safety, and Healthcare. They’re also known for soft skills such as Management skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Directors Of Plant Operations that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Plant Operations, 10%
Supervised and provided technical support to 42 Plant Operations and Environmental Services Directors including indirect supervision of over 200 department personnel.
- Life Safety, 7%
Corrected Life Safety drawings deficiencies and base lined entire property with newly developed and accredited CAD drawings satisfying Joint Commission findings.
- Healthcare, 7%
Led security staff to obtain 100% personnel certification as both Certified Healthcare Security Officers and Armed Security Officers
- OSHA, 7%
Established measures for infection control, OSHA regulations and Safety/Risk Management.
- Patients, 5%
Established improved security and safety of patients and employees through digital surveillance camera monitoring system.
- HVAC, 4%
Upgraded Building Management System to reduce utility usage and increase efficiency of HVAC equipment.
Most directors of plant operations use their skills in "plant operations," "life safety," and "healthcare" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential director of plant operations responsibilities here:
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling director of plant operations duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." According to a director of plant operations resume, here's how directors of plant operations can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "lead and manage in-house and outsourced teams to provide complete end-to-end facilities maintenance & management solutions. "
Time-management skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of directors of plant operations is time-management skills. This skill is critical to many everyday director of plant operations duties, as "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "project was on time and under budget.assisted the general manager of hospitality services with the direction and operation of evs andfoodservice. "
Communication skills. director of plant operations responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." This resume example shows what directors of plant operations do with communication skills on a typical day: "managed plant operations, telecommunications and grounds at this 100 bed acute care facility. "
Leadership skills. A commonly-found skill in director of plant operations job descriptions, "leadership skills" is essential to what directors of plant operations do. Director of plant operations responsibilities rely on this skill because "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." You can also see how director of plant operations duties rely on leadership skills in this resume example: "manage facility safety committee program reporting committee topics and concerns in leadership quality assurance meetings and to corporate loss control management. "
The three companies that hire the most director of plant operationss are:
- Universal Health Services9 directors of plant operations jobs
- Honeywell6 directors of plant operations jobs
- Papa John's International6 directors of plant operations jobs
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Compare different directors of plant operations
Director of plant operations vs. Managing director
A Managing Director oversees workflow and progress, making sure that all operations align within the company or organization's mission or set of goals. They are responsible for crafting strategies, devising effective business plans, and executing guidelines that would nurture a company's growth, and as well as to be the driving force that would direct employees to the company's objectives. Furthermore, a Managing Director must coordinate with those in a higher position, such as the members of the board.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a director of plant operations are more likely to require skills like "plant operations," "life safety," "osha," and "patients." On the other hand, a job as a managing director requires skills like "portfolio," "business development," "customer service," and "financial services." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Managing directors really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $177,065. Comparatively, directors of plant operations tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $115,378.The education levels that managing directors earn slightly differ from directors of plant operations. In particular, managing directors are 9.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a director of plant operations. Additionally, they're 2.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director of plant operations vs. Division director
A division director is an individual who is responsible for managing team members and business operations that are assigned in his/her or her division to achieve the goals of a company. Division directors are required to evaluate division performance and ensure that the team's work complies with the company policies and procedures. They must lead new business development efforts with customers or brokers and should work closely with legal to ensure the protection of the company's interest. Division directors also assist in employee recruitment and provide training to the team if there are skill gaps.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real director of plant operations resumes. While director of plant operations responsibilities can utilize skills like "plant operations," "life safety," "osha," and "hvac," division directors use skills like "client relationships," "business development," "customer service," and "human resources."
Division directors earn a higher average salary than directors of plant operations. But division directors earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $161,467. Additionally, directors of plant operations earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $115,378 annually.division directors earn higher levels of education than directors of plant operations in general. They're 8.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director of plant operations vs. District director
A district director is an executive professional who is responsible for managing staff members of an organization in a particular district. This director is required to conduct store visits to ensure that store employees are following store procedures and maintain inventory levels. The manager must manage all the general ledger revenue and expense activity while maintaining oversight for all operations, policies, and procedures. This manager should also plan and develop workshops, comprehensive training, and professional development for all staff members.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from director of plant operations resumes include skills like "plant operations," "life safety," "osha," and "patients," whereas a district director is more likely to list skills in "human resources," "professional development," "performance management," and "business development. "
When it comes to education, district directors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to directors of plant operations. In fact, they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Director of plant operations vs. Business director
Business directors are responsible for overseeing the development of an organization's business goals and objectives. They typically work to increase business revenue, identify and develop business opportunities, and expand the company's presence and its brands. Other duties and responsibilities may include establishing effective company policies, goals, and sales targets, overseeing financial and budgetary activities, and identifying ways to minimize cost and boost financial performance. Business directors are also expected to negotiate contracts with clients and suppliers and propose and develop new partnerships.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between directors of plant operations and business directors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a director of plant operations might have more use for skills like "plant operations," "life safety," "osha," and "hvac." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of business directors require skills like "sigma," "customer service," "business development," and "process improvement. "
In general, business directors earn the most working in the finance industry, with an average salary of $129,623. The highest-paying industry for a director of plant operations is the manufacturing industry.The average resume of business directors showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to directors of plant operations. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 7.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 3.1%.Types of director of plant operations
Updated January 8, 2025
