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What is a senior vice president-operations and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Eric Olsen
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A senior vice president-operations oversees the regional and cross-functional divisions of an organization. They are responsible for managing the company's day-to-day functions using guidance, supervision, and leadership related to operational procedures. Senior vice president-operations earn an average sum of $185,000 annually or $89 per hour.

A senior vice president-operations work under the managing president of a business or company and ensures the company's operations are working within the laws and company's standards and goals. They may also supervise general managers and directors in the company to ensure proper employee and customer relations.

An average senior vice president-operations typically have a master's degree in management, finance, or other related fields. Since it is a high-ranking position, most companies require candidates to possess a minimum of ten years of related experience as well as previous success in high-level management. A great senior vice president-operations possesses excellent leadership, communication, and management skills.

What general advice would you give to a senior vice president-operations?

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.
ScoreSenior Vice President-OperationsUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $192,068

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 6.43%

Black or African American 6.25%

Hispanic or Latino 15.43%

Unknown 4.35%

White 67.07%

Gender

female 22.71%

male 77.29%

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

Senior vice president-operations career paths

Key steps to become a senior vice president-operations

  1. Explore senior vice president-operations education requirements

    Most common senior vice president-operations degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.0 %

    Master's

    19.3 %

    Associate

    5.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior vice president-operations skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Oversight11.37%
    Financial Performance7.11%
    SVP6.49%
    Project Management6.47%
    Risk Management5.85%
  3. Complete relevant senior vice president-operations training and internships

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

    Senior vice president-operations 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 senior vice president-operations certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for senior vice presidents-operations include Six Sigma Green Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research senior vice president-operations duties and responsibilities

    • Manage accounting department, including A/R, A/P, income audit, cashiers and night audit.
    • Manage internal accounting control and oversee quarterly CPA audits to maintain accounting integrity.
    • Achieve significant improvements in operational performance leading to increase customer satisfaction and employee morale and improve EBITDA.
    • Finance and billing accountability across Medicaid, manage care commercial insurance, insurance verification, contract management, and benefits administration.
  6. Get senior vice president-operations experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior vice president-operations. The most common roles before becoming a senior vice president-operations include vice president, operations vice president team lead and senior vice president.
  7. Prepare your senior vice president-operations resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior vice president-operations 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 senior vice president-operations resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior vice president-operations resume templates

    Build a professional senior vice president-operations 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 senior vice president-operations resume.
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
    Senior Vice President-Operations Resume
  8. Apply for senior vice president-operations jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior vice president-operations 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 senior vice president-operations job

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Average senior vice president-operations salary

The average senior vice president-operations salary in the United States is $192,068 per year or $92 per hour. Senior vice president-operations salaries range between $114,000 and $323,000 per year.

Average senior vice president-operations salary
$192,068 Yearly
$92.34 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do senior vice presidents-operations rate their job?

-/5

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Senior vice president-operations reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

The management side and being in control

Cons

When I have to solve other contractors problems in order to keep my people on ground working with no interruption.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Cons

I don’t know because I have not worked as one.


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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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