How To Become An Operations/Quality Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an operations/quality manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Christine Tonnis

Operations/Quality managers oversee an organization's operations and ensure that all company products and services meet quality standards before they go to market. They understand customer expectations and needs and develop quality control processes. They also examine the quality of raw materials used in production and monitor internal production processes. Operations/Quality managers earn an average salary of $84,000 annually or $40 per hour.

Operations/Quality managers ensure consistent quality of production processes and analyzing quality data regularly. They hire, train, and evaluate staff as well as manage the log of quality reports and other quality documentation. They also investigate customers' needs and develop a strategy for meeting those needs.

Operations/Quality managers typically hold a bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field. They are expected to have experience in conducting customer research and in quality assurance management. Some employers prefer candidates with thorough knowledge of methodologies of quality assurance and standards.

What general advice would you give to an operations/quality manager?

Christine Tonnis

Assistant Professor, Educator, Electrical Engineering Co-op Adviser, Electrical Engineering Technology Co-op Adviser, University of Cincinnati

Be Flexible! These are uncertain times, but often there are unexpected, positive outcomes when we allow ourselves to explore options that we were not open to initially! Statistically, the more positions/job postings to which you are willing to apply, the better your odds for getting an interview.
Stay active! Keep up with the job search, stay in touch with your personal and professional network of people, keep learning, and stay physically active-proven to lift your mood! Energetic, curious and happy people are more likely to find work.

ScoreOperations/Quality ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.3

Avg. Salary $93,990

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.8

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 9.21%

Black or African American 3.87%

Hispanic or Latino 13.27%

Unknown 3.87%

White 69.27%

Gender

female 32.98%

male 67.02%

Age - 48

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 - 48

Stress level

9.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an operations/quality manager

Explore operations/quality manager education requirements

Most common operations/quality manager degrees

Bachelor's

57.5 %

Associate

15.4 %

High School Diploma

10.9 %

Start to develop specific operations/quality manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Continuous Improvement	7.34%
Project Management	6.15%
Corrective Action	5.57%
Quality Operations	5.20%
Quality Standards	4.69%

Complete relevant operations/quality manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New operations/quality managers 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 an operations/quality manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real operations/quality manager resumes.

Research operations/quality manager duties and responsibilities

Lead and train co-workers to understand & achieve skills that would help them perform tasks meeting FDA quality control assessments.
Implement and manage ISO quality program and interface with entire operation managing, measuring and improving operational and departmental objectives.
Work on closing out ISO audit findings, creating audit reports, and following findings through CAPA to achieve ISO.
Manage initial USDA regulatory visits, working collaboratively with USDA inspectors leading audit preparation and follow-up activities and reports.

Prepare your operations/quality manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operations/quality manager resume.

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Choose from 10+ customizable operations/quality manager resume templates

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