How to hire a product operations associate

How to hire a product operations associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step product operations associate hiring guide:

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

What does a product operations associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the product operations associate you need to hire. Certain product operations associate roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect product operations associate also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of product operations associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Product Operations Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Product Operations Associate		$36-94
   Business Developer	A business developer specializes in conducting in-depth business analysis and crafting various strategies that would not just help a business grow, but also strengthen client base and brand awareness. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around identifying areas in need of improvement... Show more	$31-75
   Business Development Internship	A business development intern is responsible for supporting the organization's goals and objectives in providing the best services to clients and ensuring a smooth flow of operations with maximum productivity and efficiency. Business development interns observe the operational processes of the department and perform duties under the supervision of a direct manager or tenured staff... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Analysis
   • Derivative
   • QA
   • R
   • Equities
   • CAD
   • MATLAB
   • Customer Orders
   • Troubleshoot
   • FDA
   • Assembly Line
   • GMP
   • Solidworks
   • Salesforce

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage SharePoint database and spreadsheet for coverage opinion bills.
   • Process and package materials under FDA guidelines.
   • Maintain warehouse and equipment to meet FDA standards.
   • Inspect lenses visually and using micrometers, verniers, calipers, invert microscopes and comparators and document.
   • Oversee direct deposit enrollment and benefits enrollment organizing and faxing forms to corporate payroll and outsourcing company to ensure employee enrollment.
   • Interact with operations manager to assess, troubleshoot and problem-solve production issues, ensuring timely claims processing and campaign delivery.

   More product operations associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the product operations associate job description is a good way to get more applicants. A product operations associate 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 a product operations associate in Montana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level product operations associate. Additionally, a product operations associate with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average product operations associate salary

   $121,905yearly

   $58.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level product operations associate salary

   $75,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average product operations associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$144,690	$70
   2	Nevada	$125,885	$61
   3	New Jersey	$116,598	$56
   4	Washington	$105,627	$51
   5	Pennsylvania	$102,735	$49
   6	Ohio	$100,308	$48
   7	New York	$98,880	$48
   8	New Mexico	$95,503	$46
   9	Texas	$91,909	$44
   10	Massachusetts	$90,830	$44
   11	Georgia	$88,965	$43
   12	Florida	$88,541	$43
   13	Virginia	$86,676	$42
   14	Maryland	$85,559	$41
   15	Illinois	$76,261	$37
   16	Michigan	$74,625	$36
   17	Missouri	$73,484	$35
   18	Indiana	$72,357	$35
   19	North Carolina	$71,343	$34
   20	South Carolina	$70,945	$34

   Average product operations associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$159,987	$76.92	23
   2	Boehringer Ingelheim	$150,150	$72.19	5
   3	Google	$143,666	$69.07	69
   4	BGC Partners	$133,888	$64.37
   5	Pwc	$133,709	$64.28	570
   6	Marathon Petroleum	$130,300	$62.64	40
   7	Morgan Stanley	$127,205	$61.16	14
   8	Stride	$121,903	$58.61
   9	Meritor	$120,285	$57.83
   10	Experian	$116,214	$55.87	1
   11	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$115,446	$55.50	351
   12	Torc Robotics	$115,408	$55.48	1
   13	Honeywell	$111,774	$53.74	19
   14	Paxos	$110,053	$52.91	1
   15	Flatiron Health	$109,934	$52.85
   16	CAIS	$109,782	$52.78
   17	Wnet	$109,002	$52.40
   18	Marine Layer	$108,905	$52.36	2
   19	Integer	$99,061	$47.63
   20	Alliance Data	$98,708	$47.46

4. Writing a product operations associate job description

   A good product operations associate job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a product operations associate job description:

   Product operations associate job description example

   Why Crestron?

   At Crestron Electronics, Inc we build the technology that integrates technology.
   
   We are proud to be the largest and most recognized brand in automation and control solutions, and the premier technology partner for fortune 500 businesses globally.

   Our products are integrated into new high-tech commercial buildings' to include some of the most exciting real estate throughout the world. Our clients include Google, Microsoft, Amazon, LinkedIn and many others. We are the leaders in one of the most exciting and fastest growing industries in the world!

   
   Our automation and control solutions for homes and buildings allow our clients to control entire environments with the push of a button, integrating systems such as Audio Visual, Lighting, Shading, Security, Building Management Systems and HVAC to provide greater comfort, convenience and security.

   Overview

   Crestron Electronics continues to experience rapid growth as we invest in resources and create new opportunities; as a result, we have an exciting opportunity for a 2023 Intern / Co-Op to join our Software Product Team in Rockleigh, NJ.

   This role has been designated for a 100% on-site work arrangement. Candidates must be commutable to and from the Rockleigh, NJ headquarters for the duration of the program.

   Crestron Interns and Co-Ops can expect to be chalenged with meaningful projects and tasks alongside professionals and subject matter experts in the field. Interns and Co-Ops are assigned a dedicated mentor who will be responsible for their development and acclimation to the company. Crestron will also provide a variety of training and networking opportunities to participants in the program, seeking to present participants with a comprehensive experience that enhances technical and non-technical skill sets and to prepare students for their professional careers.

   Crestron is an equal opportunity employer proud of its commitment to Diversity & Inclusion.

   Our formal Summer Internship program will begin in late-May / early-June and continue through mid-August. Over the past several years, our internship program has led to dozens of full-time offers to program alumni. We are committed to helping participants in the program succeed in their future by providing opportunities for growth and advancement.

   Responsibilities

   • Development and maintenance of scripts for automated testing
   • Development and maintenance of scripts for deployment of nightly builds
   • Performing incremental testing on code, both manually and via scripting
   • Staging, investigating and finding root cause of issues found and reported

   Qualifications

   General Requirements

   • Must be enrolled in a college or university working toward a bachelors degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
   • Must be commutable to and from the Rockleigh, NJ area for the duration of the co-op period.
   • Must have permanent, unrestricted work authorization in the United States now and in the future.

   Technical Skills

   • Strong troubleshooting skills.
   • Experience with network, video, audio and computer cabling.
   • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Windows 10 and Android devices.
   • Knowledge of network infrastructure / configuration.
   • Knowledge and experience of Powershell/Python scripting.
   • Knowledge and experience with automating tasks through scripting.

   Other Skills:

   • Must be responsible, self-motivated, creative, have a solid work ethic and have a desire to produce a quality product.
   • Strong communication skills (verbal, non-verbal, written, and listening) with the ability to articulate work at different levels of the organization.
   • Strong problem-solving skills.
   • Inquisitive individual with a desire to learn, possessing a long term desire to work in the Software Engineering space.
   • Ability to prioritize tasks and handle numerous assignments simultaneously.
   • Positive, personable, and able to work cohesively with other across various divisions.
   • Eager to question and learn different practices and technologies.

   At Crestron Electronics, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion drive innovation. Crestron's success hinges on continuing to build a workforce of unique individuals whose passion inspires us to create and revolutionize industry-leading products and services. There will always be more to accomplish, and at Crestron, we believe the best way forward is together.

   EOE/M/F/D/V

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find product operations associates 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 product operations associates they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level product operations associates 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 product operations associate job on Zippia to find and recruit product operations associate 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 product operations associates, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 product operations associate

   Once you've selected the best product operations associate candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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