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Policy advisor vs operations specialist

The differences between policy advisors and operations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a policy advisor has an average salary of $98,220, which is higher than the $54,752 average annual salary of an operations specialist.

The top three skills for a policy advisor include public policy, policy issues and policy development. The most important skills for an operations specialist are customer service, logistics, and basic math.

Policy advisor vs operations specialist overview

Policy AdvisorOperations Specialist
Yearly salary$98,220$54,752
Hourly rate$47.22$26.32
Growth rate11%10%
Number of jobs39,659109,181
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does a policy advisor do?

Policy advisors are professionals who are involved in activities related to policymaking while communicating with policy analysts about various issues. These advisors must assist policy analysts in creating policies and look at ways to implement them after they have been approved by upper management or government officials. They must analyze international and foreign policy issues so that they can devise effective advocacy and program strategies. Policy advisors must also attend congressional hearings to propose regulations and changes to existing regulations.

What does an operations specialist do?

An operations specialist is responsible for optimizing the business' daily operations, ensuring smooth process flow to provide the best services to clients. Operations specialists' duties include analyzing business procedures, identifying opportunities for business improvement, tracking the department's metrics and activities, providing assistance to colleagues, suggesting strategies for operations efficiency, and managing customer's inquiries and complaints. An operations specialist must be an excellent team player and detail-oriented, as well as proven time-management and decision-making skills to meet clients' needs and support the business' objectives.

Policy advisor vs operations specialist salary

Policy advisors and operations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Policy AdvisorOperations Specialist
Average salary$98,220$54,752
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $141,000Between $35,000 And $85,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMassachusettsRhode Island
Best paying companyNAICCoatue Management
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between policy advisor and operations specialist education

There are a few differences between a policy advisor and an operations specialist in terms of educational background:

Policy AdvisorOperations Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorPolitical ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaWestern Carolina University

Policy advisor vs operations specialist demographics

Here are the differences between policy advisors' and operations specialists' demographics:

Policy AdvisorOperations Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 59.7% Female, 40.3%Male, 50.6% Female, 49.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between policy advisor and operations specialist duties and responsibilities

Policy advisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage all issues relate to high quality survey administration including training and approval/certification, performance oversight and data collection.
  • Work over the phone troubleshooting wireless devices, mobile and computers including windows and macs.
  • Facilitate and participate in departmental policy meetings concerning healthcare, Medicaid, social services, telemedicine, grant opportunities and budgeting.
  • Construct business system infrastructure providing the pathway to grow executive, mid-management, and customer facing staff for management consulting firm.
  • Serve as a principle author and key personnel on the successful $25 million DHS contract proposal.
  • Provide technical advice on Medicare including, payment and reimbursement models, and statutory requirements.

Operations specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop and implement VBA scripts to automate tasks in financial reporting.
  • Manage all international A/R functions, reporting, sales, expense analysis and marketing campaigns as well as all royalties.
  • Manage and process 100 FDA electronic and paper submissions including safety reports, new investigator reports, amendments, and protocols.
  • Demonstrate ability to manage and organize clinical setting for patients and families.
  • Personalize and manage a customer SQL network database to consolidate all incoming orders from different marketplaces.
  • Manage a variety of operational tasks for moderately complex securities transactions that require knowledge of vary systems and processes.
  • Show more

Policy advisor vs operations specialist skills

Common policy advisor skills
  • Public Policy, 10%
  • Policy Issues, 8%
  • Policy Development, 8%
  • Policy Recommendations, 5%
  • Policy Analysis, 4%
  • Government Officials, 4%
Common operations specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Logistics, 4%
  • Basic Math, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 4%
  • Operational Procedures, 4%

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