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What is an operations coordinator and how to become one

Updated June 25, 2024
6 min read
Quoted Experts
Matthew Gilbert,
Sonja Armbruster
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An operations coordinator supervises all aspects of business operations, including logistics, procurement, and customer service. They work closely with other departments to ensure all processes are streamlined and efficient. An operations coordinator is also tasked with managing budgets, developing policies, and implementing quality control measures. They must have excellent problem-solving skills and be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Communication and leadership are also crucial for an operations coordinator.

What general advice would you give to an Operations Coordinator?

Matthew Gilbert

Lecturer of Marketing, Coastal Carolina University

The unique circumstances caused by COVID-19 have impacted every area of our lives. New graduates will likely find themselves in a more challenging situation than was the case previously. Given this, I encourage graduates who are just beginning their careers to be ACES: adaptive, communicative, effective, and supportive. ACES is a slang term meaning being highly regarded; in the context of the suggested acronym, consider the following explanation.

Adaptive: Remain open to top unexpected opportunities. Venturing into a new normal requires flexibility and openness; this could mean taking a job that wasn't considered, but recognizing it could yield skills, connections, and experience that could be useful in future endeavors.

Communicative: Leverage LinkedIn to network professionally and politely for opportunities, but don't connect with someone and immediately ask for a job. Call your contacts and catch up without a specific agenda; you never know what ideas might emerge. Email individuals, you respect for insights and advice.

Effective: Make use of your time to learn new skills or acquire certifications that demonstrate the value you can add to an organization. Consider volunteering for a cause close to your heart; it makes you feel better, but you could connect personally and/or professionally with new people.

Supportive: Finding a job in a normal year is challenging enough, but in a pandemic, it's an entirely different experience. Keep in contact with your friends and fellow graduates; even a short message asking how they're doing or inviting them to a social distance coffee together could brighten a day you didn't know was dark for someone else.

How long does it takes to become an operations coordinator?

It typically takes 4-5 years to become an operations coordinator:

  • Year 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as business administration, management, or supply chain management.
  • Year 5: Accumulating the necessary work experience in areas like operations management, project coordination, or logistics.

Note: The timeline assumes that the aspiring operations coordinator starts with a high school diploma and pursues a full-time Bachelor's degree program. The work experience required varies, but the minimum is typically 1 year. The actual time may vary depending on individual circumstances, such as part-time study or work experience obtained while studying.

ScoreOperations CoordinatorUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $41,934

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.9

Growth Rate 12%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 8.83%

Black or African American 6.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 70.43%

Gender

female 55.08%

male 44.92%

Age - 43
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 - 43
Stress Level
8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.1

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Operations Coordinator?

Pros

  • Opportunity for career growth

  • Exposure to different areas of the business

  • Good salary and benefits

  • Opportunities to learn new skills and technologies

  • Flexibility to work remotely or from home

Cons

  • Can be stressful due to tight timelines and budgets

  • Need to be available outside of regular business hours

  • Constantly changing priorities and deadlines

  • Dealing with difficult stakeholders or customers

  • Can require extensive travel or being away from home for extended periods

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Operations Coordinator career paths

Operations coordinators often advance to executive assistant roles or become office managers. They may also move into operations management positions, overseeing teams and departments. Some coordinators become branch managers or assistant vice presidents. In other cases, they specialize in a specific area like purchasing or supply chain management.

Key steps to become an operations coordinator

  1. Explore operations coordinator education requirements

    The educational requirements for an operations coordinator typically include a high school diploma, with a significant number of operations coordinators holding an associate's or bachelor's degree. According to George Dierberger, MBA Director and Associate Professor at Augsburg University, "Soft skills are a requirement for business graduates. The ability to work well with coworkers is critical for success." These soft skills can be developed through various educational programs and practical experiences.

    Most common operations coordinator degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.1 %

    Associate

    15.6 %

    Master's

    7.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific operations coordinator skills

    An operations coordinator needs a range of skills, from technology-based skills like software proficiency and data analysis to soft skills like strong interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and time management. As Susan Epstein, Clinical Professor at Drexel University's General Business Department, puts it, "Technology-based skills. are important in today's business environment. On the other hand, soft skills transcend job and industry. Strong interpersonal skills. make strong leaders and equally strong followers."

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service21.26%
    Logistics6.09%
    Excellent Organizational5.51%
    PowerPoint5.17%
    Data Entry5.15%
  3. Research operations coordinator duties and responsibilities

    An operations coordinator has a wide range of responsibilities. They provide customer support, secure and implement online portals, handle new hire onboarding, review and reconcile financial reports, and manage crews' work ethics and safety. They also assist in the enforcement of policies and procedures, perform general administrative duties, and coordinate remote training facilities. As Julia Kushigian Ph.D., a Professor of Hispanic Studies at Connecticut College, puts it, "A 4-year degree with a major in Hispanic Studies, a certificate from an International Studies Center, a local or global internship in the foreign language and/or foreign culture, nationally recognized ACTFL cerntification, translation licensing" are key to success in this role.

    • Manage processing of all branch transactions involving A/R, A/P, inventory and equipment.
    • Arrange regional sales functions, reporting and tracking expenses, including hiring adequate staff and vendors to accomplish target ROI.
    • Manage all aspects of design and vendor sourcing to create and deliver SalesForce code, marketing materials and campaigns within budget.
    • Manage redesign of SalesForce database and reconfiguration of data and objects to maximize functionality.
  4. Prepare your operations coordinator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operations coordinator 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 an operations coordinator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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  5. Apply for operations coordinator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an operations coordinator 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 Operations Coordinator Job

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Average operations coordinator salary

The average Operations Coordinator salary in the United States is $41,934 per year or $20 per hour. Operations coordinator salaries range between $30,000 and $57,000 per year.

Average Operations Coordinator Salary
$41,934 Yearly
$20.16 hourly

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How do operations coordinators rate their job?

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Operations Coordinator reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Pros

The company I work for is it very small company but very generous to its employees. Has great benefits that start out right away wonderful training programs. And does a great service for our community.

Cons

I I wish the wages were a little higher.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

Being an important COG into the system. The dynamic work flow ensures that you are always well vested into the multiple projects you will assist in facilitating resources too.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

I love the people I work with, the ability my job give me to think critically, and being challenged to problem solve.

Cons

Work seems to be none-stop sometimes, especially since we are under staff. Work keeps me on my feed, but need to hire more people.


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Updated June 25, 2024

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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