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Operations research manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Karen Kus,

Nina Woodard

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical operations research manager skills. We ranked the top skills for operations research managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.1% of operations research manager resumes contained research operations as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an operations research manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 operations research manager skills for your resume and career

1. Research Operations

Here's how operations research managers use research operations:

Research Operations Manager at the DeForest, WI Research Station of Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc. (IFSI).
Led research operations activities for multiple complex studies within various industries both for B2C and B2B.

2. Research Projects

Here's how operations research managers use research projects:

Create interactive budge template for industry-sponsored and NIH research projects.
Research: Acted as consultant, trainer, quality control reviewer, project manager and research assistant for various research projects.

3. Project Management

Here's how operations research managers use project management:

Coordinate department meetings and prepare project management reports for the director of pulmonary research.
Manage internal and marketing budgets PROJECT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

4. Clinical Trials

Here's how operations research managers use clinical trials:

Provide regular updates on clinical trial operations to the department administrator and department chairman.
Direct the Quality Assurance program and perform Q/A and monitoring visits in different sites across the Clinical Trials Unit.8.

5. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how operations research managers use oversight:

Assisted the implementation team with systematic implementation of ERP modules, provided oversight with project management and facilitated change management process.
Implemented a robust testing protocol including the formation and oversight of dedicated test districts to validate system-wide feasibility of field-focused initiatives.

6. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how operations research managers use data collection:

Restructured data collection team that resulted in a threefold department expansion.
Collaborated with IT and external consultants in the development of data collection software programs.

7. FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services that regulates the production and sale of food, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and other consumer goods, as well as veterinary medicine. The FDA is now in charge of overseeing the manufacture of products like vaccines, allergy treatments, and beauty products.

Here's how operations research managers use fda:

Addressed questions of statistical reviewers from the FDA and the Japanese Health Authority.
Developed corrective action plan to effectively address 100% of department deviations, exceeding customer expectations and surpassing FDA regulatory requirements.

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 operations research managers use logistics:

Managed a five-person operation supporting 100 geographically-dispersed personnel in logistics, information management, personnel, finance and computer systems administration.
Directed analytical and logistician research teams to produce in-depth studies and analyses on logistics, maintenance and transportation issues.

9. Federal Regulations

Federal regulations refer to the set of rules, both general and permanent that are published in the Federal Register by the agencies of the federal government and the executive departments. Federal regulations are the large body of rules that govern federal practice. Examples of these laws include taxes and financial regulation, discrimination law, wages law, and so on.

Here's how operations research managers use federal regulations:

Created and implemented standard operating procedures for department research activities to comply with state and federal regulations.
Ensured compliance of federal regulations with history of no citations or fines through attention to detail.

10. IRB

An institutional review board (IRB), is a form of committee that applies research ethics by vetting research procedures to ensure they are ethical. In order to decide whether or not research can be undertaken, they often perform a kind of risk-benefit analysis. The IRB's function is to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to protect the interests and health of humans who are participants of a research sample.

Here's how operations research managers use irb:

Coordinated Center interactions with pertinent regulatory bodies, including the IRB.
Co-authored proposals Responsible for designing experiments and obtaining IRB approval.

11. NIH

NIH stands for the National Institutes of Health. This organization oversees a series of research institutions, each focused on a different area of study involving anatomical systems or diseases. As the organization is affiliated with the government, a great deal of the funding institutions receive come from Congress.

Here's how operations research managers use nih:

Conducted direct sales to federal agencies such as DoL, DOD, DOT, NIH, among others.
Prepare progress reports to NIH and the Data and Safety Monitoring Board that oversees the project.

12. Direct Reports

Here's how operations research managers use direct reports:

Interviewed and hired direct reports, designed appropriate training, evaluated and if necessary took disciplinary or corrective actions.
Managed 7 direct reports who were responsible for ensuring contractual compliance and adherence to state and federal legislation/regulations.

13. Research Studies

Here's how operations research managers use research studies:

Submitted all research materials on research studies to the regulatory departments within the university.
Provide guidance to Investigators and research staff for participation in research studies.

14. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how operations research managers use management system:

Project manager of $1.5M Warehouse Management System implementation
Supported FAA property management systems.

15. Process Improvement

Here's how operations research managers use process improvement:

Identified, managed, and lead process improvement and compliance projects.
Implemented efficiencies and process improvement that reduced need for additional staffing or overtime meeting financial objectives.

What skills help Operations Research Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on operations research manager resumes?

Karen Kus

Assistant Director of Career Services, SUNY Potsdam

Employers hiring candidates with a history degree are seeking transferable skills that can be applied in various roles and settings. These skills include writing, communication, research, organization, computer-based skills, and problem-solving. The best thing a candidate can do to increase marketability is to elaborate on how they obtained or utilized those skills, rather than simply listing them. Employers need to have an understanding of how you made use of your skill and what results came from your actions. Make these skills shine on your resume by giving them substance.

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

Nina Woodard

Senior Career Development Specialist, Belmont University

For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.

What type of skills will young operations research managers need?

Craig Nathanson Ph.D.

Adjunct Lecturer, Sonoma State University

I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.

What soft skills should all operations research managers possess?

Steven Bauer

Visiting Professor of Marketing, Pepperdine University, Seaver College

The new hybrid world will make leading teams more challenging. This reality will put a premium on interpersonal skills. When the NASA astronaut, Richard Arnold, spoke at Pepperdine in 2019, he mentioned that team building was the single most important ability undergraduates could develop to become a good astronaut. The same holds for graduates wanting to go into business, particularly in the post coronavirus era. As part of their skills in this area, graduates will also need to be able and committed to addressing issues in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Do you want to know more?

List of operations research manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an operations research manager resume and required skills for an operations research manager to have include:

Research Operations
Research Projects
Project Management
Clinical Trials
Oversight
Data Collection
FDA
Logistics
Federal Regulations
IRB
NIH

Direct Reports
Research Studies
Management System
Process Improvement
Informed Consent
R
Product Development
Financial Management
IND
Extraction
Market Research

Regulatory Compliance
Financial Performance
Research Assistants
Statistical Analysis
Data Analysis
Analytical Equipment
Facilities Management
Quality Standards
Epic

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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