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What is a sales and operations manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Eric Olsen
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A sales and operations manager is an individual responsible for overseeing the sales and operational functions of a company. They manage a team of sales representatives, set sales targets, develop sales strategies, and ensure that customer needs are met. Additionally, they oversee the supply chain, inventory management, and production processes to ensure operational efficiency. Overall, a sales and operations manager plays a crucial role in driving the success of a business.

What general advice would you give to a sales and operations manager?

Eric OlsenEric Olsen LinkedIn profile

Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business

Times of change are also times of great opportunities. We are going to need new technical solutions to address problems we are just learning about. You have to lean into the issues. Don't be a technologist - be a problem solver. That is why we also emphasize soft skills like lean six sigma, teamwork, and change management.
ScoreSales And Operations ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $103,113

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.41%

Black or African American 6.23%

Hispanic or Latino 15.35%

Unknown 4.34%

White 67.20%

Gender

female 28.93%

male 71.07%

Age - 44
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 - 44
Stress level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a sales and operations manager?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Opportunity for advancement within the company

  • Chance to develop leadership and management skills

  • Variety of responsibilities and tasks

  • Flexibility in work schedule and location

Cons

  • High level of stress and pressure to meet targets and goals

  • Long hours and demanding workload

  • Dealing with difficult clients or customers

  • Constant need to adapt to changing market conditions and industry trends

  • Balancing competing priorities and demands on time

Sales and operations manager career paths

Key steps to become a sales and operations manager

  1. Explore sales and operations manager education requirements

    Most common sales and operations manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.2 %

    Associate

    13.2 %

    Master's

    9.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific sales and operations manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Sales Operations11.87%
    Customer Service11.06%
    Salesforce8.35%
    CRM6.99%
    Sales Process4.52%
  3. Complete relevant sales and operations manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sales and operations 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 a sales and operations manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sales and operations manager resumes.
  4. Gain additional sales and operations manager certifications

    Sales and operations manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific sales and operations manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for sales and operations managers include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Sales Management.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research sales and operations manager duties and responsibilities

    • Develop analytics for time migration from low-margin OEM services to manage services.
    • Lead weekly sales reviews and ensure sales activities are properly track in SalesForce.
    • Lead operation/inside sales, manage handling over $13million/year sales using ERP system.
    • Lead cross functional teams in the integration of several enterprise data stores to SFDC.
  6. Prepare your sales and operations manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sales and operations manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a sales and operations manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable sales and operations manager resume templates

    Build a professional sales and operations manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your sales and operations manager resume.
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    Sales And Operations Manager Resume
  7. Apply for sales and operations manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a sales and operations manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first sales and operations manager job

Zippi

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Average sales and operations manager salary

The average sales and operations manager salary in the United States is $103,113 per year or $50 per hour. Sales and operations manager salaries range between $68,000 and $155,000 per year.

Average sales and operations manager salary
$103,113 Yearly
$49.57 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do sales and operations managers rate their job?

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Sales and operations manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.

Cons

Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Coming in contact with people, motivating staff, making the numbers, profitability for everyone

Cons

I like everything


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Cons

Operations never stops, its always up and running and you have to be available at any time


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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