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Functional manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Brian Strzempkowski,

Angela Sebby Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical functional manager skills. We ranked the top skills for functional managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 16.2% of functional manager resumes contained professional development as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a functional manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 functional manager skills for your resume and career

1. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how functional managers use professional development:

Facilitate team member professional development by conducting on-the-job training, performance appraisals, and needs assessments.
Revitalized professional development by facilitating nurse/tech town hall meeting, briefed NCORP/AE/NECP influenced 850 members.

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 functional managers use customer service:

Worked on critical customer service & part distribution systems/operations design teams, including Virtual order fulfillment.
Delivered excellent customer service by greeting and assisting customers*Store opening and closing procedures*Prepared nightly deposits

3. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how functional managers use erp:

Implemented ERP in over 50 countries using Oracle Multi-Org functionality.
Managed a travel budget of $76K.Business Process Reengineering: Handpicked as subject matter expert for Air Force ERP.

4. Business Process

A business process is a group of tasks that are performed by people working in a business to attain a worthy product and to present it to their customers. A business process can also be defined as performing several steps to achieve a certain goal set by a company. Business processes need to set purposeful goals and the outcome of that goal should be clear.

Here's how functional managers use business process:

Utilized extensive Logistics business process experience to analyze Materials Management, Inventory Management and Warehouse Management processes.
Evaluate efficiency of existing business process and implement solutions for improvement.

5. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how functional managers use hr:

Secured 35 additional manpower positions and engaged HR for immediate fills; fixed 300% deficit in personnel.
Documented coachings and disciplinary reports are submitted to HR.

6. Project Management

Here's how functional managers use project management:

Updated and or created project management plans to include Project Management, Configuration Management, Risk Management, and Quality Management.
Configured and setup Family Pack L Oracle Project Management and Project Collaboration applications to fit customer defined requirements.

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7. Subject Matter Expertise

Here's how functional managers use subject matter expertise:

Provided subject matter expertise to Federal Investigators on student trainees during current or past training courses in accordance with FOIA.
Provided subject matter expertise to project team responsible for converting a medical records solution from FileNet to OnBase.

8. 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 functional managers use logistics:

Ensured efficient product flow within the Receiving department and coordinated with third-party logistics companies for accurate delivery schedules and procurement.
Supervised 12 headquarters' military and civilians overseeing 4,000 logistics personnel located at 7 different installations.

9. Operational Improvement

Here's how functional managers use operational improvement:

Implemented Lean Six Sigma to develop, review and recommend methods of operational improvement within all function areas.

10. E-Business

Here's how functional managers use e-business:

Lead the Conversion of Business Group from Mainframe applications to R12 e-business suite.

11. BI

Here's how functional managers use bi:

Designed and Developed BI Publisher and XML Publisher Reports.
Worked on BI Publisher tool to design reports/templates (Welcome PKG) as and when the customers sign up the contracts.

12. Performance Appraisals

Here's how functional managers use performance appraisals:

Performed employee performance appraisals utilizing 360 feedback as well as measured performance of defined objectives at 6 month intervals.
Ensured Performance Appraisals were conducted and merit increases were communicated, ensured progress was made to action plans.

13. Gap Analysis

Here's how functional managers use gap analysis:

Conducted conference room pilot for Fit/Gap analysis and documented results.
Conducted gap analysis and seek areas for process improvements, when required.

14. Sap Functional

Here's how functional managers use sap functional:

Translate business requirements into SAP functional and configuration requirements.
Lead SAP Functional Teams and Subject Matter Experts for design and configuration.

15. SharePoint

Here's how functional managers use sharepoint:

Revamped SharePoint sites for over 35 organizations ensured accurate and permissible information was posted.
Established the project's configuration management repository using SharePoint.

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What skills help Functional Managers find jobs?

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

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

Brian Strzempkowski

Assistant Director, Center for Aviation Studies, Website

Computer analytic skills, AI, and an understanding of new technology are going to be critically important because the industry continuously tries to become more efficient, while also maintaining a high level of safety.

What technical skills for a functional manager stand out to employers?

Angela Sebby Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University

Business, creative, and organizational skills - I would recommend that upcoming graduates are proficient in Word, Excel (highly used), Powerpoint, Outlook (especially how to send meeting requests and calendar organization), TEAMS, Gantt charts for team management, Mindmapping for creativity, and design software. Additionally, I would recommend that they learn how to properly utilize social media for marketing and PR, not just personal posting. Finally, email etiquette would be essential.

What soft skills should all functional managers possess?

TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Auburn University at Montgomery

Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.

Do you want to know more?

List of functional manager skills to add to your resume

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

Professional Development
Customer Service
ERP
Business Process
HR
Project Management
Subject Matter Expertise
Logistics
Operational Improvement
E-Business
BI
Performance Appraisals
Gap Analysis
Sap Functional
SharePoint

Process Improvement
Functional Management
Performance Management
Direct Reports
MM
SME
Management System
Career Development
Sigma
DOD
Program Management
Oracle Ebs
Java
HQ
Performance Reviews

Resource Management
QA
ITIL
Personnel Issues
Combat
Payroll
Resource Allocation
Evaluates
USAF
Configuration Management
Training Programs
Inventory Control
Supply Chain Planning
Test Scripts
Earned Value Management

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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