How to hire an operational group lead

How to hire an operational group lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step operational group lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an operational group lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new operational group lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the operational group lead you need to hire. Certain operational group lead roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an operational group lead to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an operational group lead that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of operational group leads.

   Type of Operational Group Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Operational Group Lead		$10-32
   Lead Supervisor	Lead supervisors are responsible for several duties within an organization. They are accountable for overseeing their members and making sure that the work they produce is of good quality... Show more	$12-34
   Quality Assurance Supervisor	A quality assurance supervisor oversees and leads the quality control operations within a manufacturing plant or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for crafting and implementing policies that prioritize the efficiency of products or services, supervising and evaluating the performances of the workforce, and setting standards and procedures that align not just with the goals of the company, but the national and international level of production standards... Show more	$22-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Training
   • Process Improvement
   • GMP
   • ISO
   • Sops
   • Facility Operations
   • Performance Management
   • Production Schedules
   • Specimen Handling
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Sigma
   • Logistics
   • Kaizen

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead logistics team consisting of expeditors, schedulers, and dispatchers.
   • Lead targeted decision-making across fast-pace production operations for this growth-orient USDA food factory producing quality meat products.
   • Maintain WHMS and RF systems.
   • Machine parts using all manual, and CNC machines
   • Operate forming machines/ assembly tables, and aluminum braze machine, and CNC bender.
   • Develop the logistics managers and teams to build bench strength require to exceed customer expectations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your operational group lead job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An operational group lead can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, operational group leads' average salary in south dakota is 51% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level operational group leads 69% less than senior-level operational group leads.
   • Certifications. An operational group lead with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an operational group lead's salary.

   Average operational group lead salary

   $38,389yearly

   $18.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level operational group lead salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an operational group lead job description

   A job description for an operational group lead role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an operational group lead job description:

   Operational group lead job description example

   Schedule coordination, general supervision of all Pre-Analytical Assistants, providing input to supervisors for performance review and disciplinary action. May also conduct process and compliance audits. Typically leads 8 - 12 employees. May be responsible for performing all duties listed below in the absence of a supervisor.
   * Demonstrates a proficiency and understanding of all job duties in Tech Ops department.
   * Troubleshoot complex problems as they apply to their job.
   * Familiar with unusual requests, and be able to resolve or refer them appropriately.
   * Assist the supervisor(s) in prioritizing work assignments.
   * Assures optimum utilization of human resources and that all job responsibilities are addressed for each shift. Including staffing for weekends and holidays.
   * Assist the Supervisor(s) in monitoring the production and activity of employees in order to meet departmental deadlines.
   * Assist the Supervisor(s) in the coaching for improved performance, providing appropriate feedback to all PAA's and maintaining a positive work environment.
   * Assist all PAA's in proper specimen handling selection, equipment maintenance, and problem resolution.
   * Answers and clarifies all employee questions (including laboratory personnel) regarding processing. Must be able to work effectively with the technical departments to resolve problems and gain cooperation.
   * Provides appropriate feedback to supervisor(s) when problems arise. Make suggestions and recommendations to enhance workflow.
   * Completes appropriate shift paperwork, setting up for production, and ensuring their staff has cleaned up at the end of the shift.
   * Helps to keep department overtime to a minimum.
   * Monitors supply inventory, ordering supplies as needed.
   * Repairs and maintains department equipment and notifying appropriate personnel when repairs beyond the general scope are required.
   * Assist in or performing all training, cross-training and department auditing functions as assigned by the supervisor(s).
   * Complies with and assists supervisor(s) in ensuring that all Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Specimen Processing policies and procedures are adhered to.
   * Perform all other job duties as assigned.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Required Work Experience: 3 years experience in a laboratory environment. Preferred Work Experience: Specimen Processing or Tech Ops experience preferred. Physical and Mental Requirements: N/A Knowledge: Medical background preferred which includes medical terminology applicable to a clinical laboratory. Skills: N/A
   
   EDUCATION
   
   High School Diploma or Equivalent(Required)
   
   LICENSECERTIFICATIONS

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find operational group leads for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any operational group leads they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level operational group leads with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your operational group lead job on Zippia to find and recruit operational group lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting operational group leads requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new operational group lead

   Once you've decided on a perfect operational group lead candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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