How to hire an operations/quality manager

How to hire an operations/quality manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step operations/quality manager hiring guide:

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

What does an operations/quality manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The operations/quality manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 operations/quality manager 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 operations/quality manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents operations/quality manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Operations/Quality Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Operations/Quality Manager	Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.	$30-67
   Director Of Quality	In the manufacturing industry, a director of quality is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a quality assurance department. They work to ensure that products adhere to the company's quality standards and industry regulations by conducting research and assessments, developing quality test systems, and reviewing reports... Show more	$47-87
   Quality Control Supervisor	A quality control supervisor specializes in carrying out and implementing systems and procedures that ensure product quality within an organization. They are primarily responsible for devising priorities and standards, managing schedules to abide by the production timeline, monitoring activities, coordinating with production and quality control personnel, assessing employee performance, and thoroughly discussing new systems for all staff... Show more	$22-41

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Corrective Action
   • Quality Operations
   • Quality Standards
   • Oversight
   • Sigma
   • ISO
   • Internal Audit
   • QA
   • FDA
   • GMP
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • Product Quality

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Eliminate separate reports from regulatory compliance, regulatory approvals, QA performance creating at-a-glance state of the business for senior leaders.
   • Follow GMP and GDP procedures.

   More operations/quality manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the operations/quality manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. An operations/quality manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an operations/quality manager in Tennessee may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level operations/quality manager. Additionally, an operations/quality manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average operations/quality manager salary

   $93,990yearly

   $45.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level operations/quality manager salary

   $63,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average operations/quality manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$141,899	$68
   2	Washington	$112,927	$54
   3	Massachusetts	$109,576	$53
   4	Ohio	$107,898	$52
   5	Michigan	$107,531	$52
   6	New Jersey	$105,411	$51
   7	Connecticut	$103,554	$50
   8	New York	$102,587	$49
   9	Nevada	$97,687	$47
   10	Pennsylvania	$96,072	$46
   11	Virginia	$93,640	$45
   12	Illinois	$93,250	$45
   13	Delaware	$86,283	$41
   14	Texas	$82,399	$40
   15	Colorado	$80,447	$39
   16	Indiana	$77,892	$37
   17	North Carolina	$72,505	$35
   18	Iowa	$65,119	$31
   19	Tennessee	$62,557	$30
   20	Missouri	$58,096	$28

   Average operations/quality manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$161,394	$77.59	178
   2	Google	$148,508	$71.40	62
   3	Apple	$143,721	$69.10	76
   4	Rivian	$133,286	$64.08	6
   5	Citi	$131,158	$63.06	19
   6	Amazon	$128,481	$61.77	784
   7	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$126,439	$60.79	48
   8	Enerpac Tool Group	$126,017	$60.59
   9	Novartis	$125,987	$60.57	10
   10	Corcept Therapeutics	$125,191	$60.19	4
   11	BD	$124,414	$59.81	20
   12	Zoetis	$123,763	$59.50	22
   13	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$122,856	$59.07	3
   14	FireEye	$122,452	$58.87
   15	General Electric	$118,922	$57.17	250
   16	Santander Bank	$116,271	$55.90
   17	NuVasive	$114,727	$55.16
   18	SiriusXM	$112,817	$54.24	2
   19	Mallinckrodt	$112,714	$54.19	5
   20	Sanofi US	$108,718	$52.27	4

4. Writing an operations/quality manager job description

   An operations/quality manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an operations/quality manager job description:

   Operations/quality manager job description example

   Oxford Biomedica Solutions, LLC, the joint venture of Oxford Biomedica plc and Homology Medicines, Inc., is seeking a Manager, Quality Assurance Operations to be responsible for QA oversight of Quality Control and supporting activities. This key team member will partner with QC staff to play a vital role in establishing a right-the-first time quality culture, enabling efficient issue resolution, and driving efficient processes and continuous improvement. This Quality Assurance Operations Manager is responsible for: analytical method transfer and qualification, stability program oversight, EM/Utility Program, compliance, and CoA approvals to support product disposition. Additionally, this team member will work cross-functionally to support quality assurance activities including batch/solution record review, manufacturing deviations, change controls, and QC analytical instrument qualifications. Bring your innovative mindset to help us build a transformative quality department and support the growth of the organization as we work to produce gene therapy AAV therapeutics to improve patients' lives.
   Responsibilities • Quality lead for analytical method transfers and qualifications related to new product introductions and method improvements.
   • Review and approve QC related SOPs and analytical methods and associated executed data.
   • Oversight of stability programs including review and approval of protocols, data/results, reports.
   • QA contact for QC related deviations, lab investigations, and Out of Specification results.
   • Review and approve EM/Utility excursions and reports associated with EM program.
   • Primary contact for release of raw materials to support GMP activities.
   • Support manufacturing operations activities as needed including batch record review, quality system record ownership and approval, and facilities documentation approval.
   • Participate and support lot disposition activities.
   • Contribute to the development of metrics and KPIs.
   • Drive continuous improvement initiatives.
   • Champion a Culture of Quality and ensure a safe working environment. Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, microbiology, or equivalent, with a minimum of 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.
   • Comprehensive knowledge of quality principles and FDA/EU GMP regulations.
   • Effective decision maker that has demonstrated ability to assess, manage and navigate quality and compliance risks.
   • Exceptional technical writing and interpersonal skills; proven ability to interact effectively with all levels within the organization, external third parties, and with regulatory authorities.
   • Able to work effectively in a collaborative team environment where results are achieved through influence and the incorporation of multiple points of view.
   • Self-driven, independently motivated, detail-oriented, and organized, with excellent problem-solving skills.
   • Brings an innovative mindset to the application of quality principles; able to lead, problem solve, and work autonomously, with flexibility to accommodate to rapidly changing priorities and deadlines.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find operations/quality managers 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 operations/quality managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level operations/quality managers 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 operations/quality manager job on Zippia to find and recruit operations/quality manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit operations/quality managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 operations/quality manager

   Once you've found the operations/quality manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new operations/quality manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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