How to hire a shift operations manager

How to hire a shift operations manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step shift operations manager hiring guide:

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

What does a shift operations manager do?

Post a shift operations manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a shift operations manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A shift operations manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shift operations managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of shift operations managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Shift Operations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Shift Operations Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$12-22
   General Manager Of Operations	General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management... Show more	$23-79
   Manager, Center Operations	The duties of a manager of center operations depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing business operations, setting targets, assessing the workforce's performance, and performing corrective measures on any issues or concerns... Show more	$18-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Logistics
   • Process Improvement
   • Safety Procedures
   • Customer Service
   • OSHA
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Sigma
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • WMS
   • Performance Management
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Production Reports
   • Shift Operations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage warehouse budget and all forecasting and spending within logistics.
   • Manage team of database administrators, database technicians and systems administrators responsible for maintaining all production, development and QA systems.
   • Serve as local company liaison to host railroad, AAR, and FRA.
   • Apply and conform to standards of cleanliness appearance and direct corrective measures require to meet standards.
   • Maintain and ensuring a high standard of cleanliness is maintained by performing daily inspections, proactive approach to identifying and corrective action
   • Generate weekly payroll for performance associates at respective location.

   More shift operations manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your shift operations manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A shift operations manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a shift operations manager in Louisiana may be lower than in Colorado, and an entry-level shift operations manager usually earns less than a senior-level shift operations manager. Additionally, a shift operations manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average shift operations manager salary

   $35,851yearly

   $17.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level shift operations manager salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average shift operations manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$45,423	$22
   2	Minnesota	$43,538	$21
   3	Wisconsin	$42,445	$20
   4	California	$42,136	$20
   5	New Jersey	$40,745	$20
   6	Illinois	$38,235	$18
   7	Indiana	$37,506	$18
   8	Ohio	$36,686	$18
   9	Iowa	$36,406	$18
   10	Michigan	$35,584	$17
   11	Arizona	$35,580	$17
   12	Missouri	$34,296	$16
   13	Texas	$34,080	$16
   14	North Carolina	$33,934	$16
   15	Tennessee	$33,528	$16
   16	Georgia	$31,598	$15
   17	South Carolina	$29,709	$14
   18	Mississippi	$27,424	$13

   Average shift operations manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BD	$49,328	$23.72	8
   2	Teleflex	$49,133	$23.62
   3	Alere	$48,094	$23.12
   4	Dairy Farmers of America	$45,629	$21.94	31
   5	Baker Hughes	$45,252	$21.76	7
   6	Campbells	$44,963	$21.62	17
   7	Resorts World Catskills	$44,851	$21.56
   8	Danaher	$44,576	$21.43	42
   9	Darigold	$44,428	$21.36	2
   10	Sanmina	$43,830	$21.07	2
   11	U.S. Venture	$42,895	$20.62	12
   12	FullBeauty Brands	$42,807	$20.58	4
   13	Hendrick Manufacturing	$42,741	$20.55
   14	Valmont Industries	$42,459	$20.41	10
   15	Land O'Lakes	$42,434	$20.40	14
   16	Compunetix	$41,914	$20.15
   17	Johnson Controls	$41,911	$20.15	30
   18	Analog Devices	$41,905	$20.15	11
   19	Simpson Manufacturing Co	$41,875	$20.13
   20	ABB	$41,438	$19.92	35

4. Writing a shift operations manager job description

   A good shift operations manager 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 shift operations manager job description:

   Shift operations manager job description example

   At Owens & Minor, we are a critical part of the healthcare process. As a Fortune 500 company with 50+ facilities across the US and 18,000 teammates in over 90 countries, we provide integrated technologies, products and services across the full continuum of care. Customers-and their patients-are at the heart of what we do.
   
   Our mission is to empower our customers to advance healthcare, and our success starts with our teammates.
   Owens & Minor teammate benefits include:
   Medical, dental, and vision insurance, available on first working day 401(k), eligibility after 30 days of employment Employee stock purchase plan Tuition reimbursement Development opportunities to grow your career with a global company
   
   Summary
   Coordinates and leads Distribution Center 2nd shift operations activities, including receiving, warehousing, shipping, delivery, customer quality, and product inventory accuracy in a manner consistent with company service and cost objectives.*Mon - Fri, 1 PM start*Core ResponsibilitiesDirects all Operations activities and teammates within a small or medium-sized (based on revenue, complexity, headcount) Distribution Center (DC), or multiple functions within a large-sized DC.Provides proactive feedback to Operations Supervisors, initiating management coaching, teammate performance feedback, individual performance feedback, and corrective actions where needed.Works with Operations leadership to develop and execute initiatives to improve DC metrics that drive financial performance.Reviews and approves appropriate DC or functions' expenses, and makes capital recommendations where appropriate.Leads the achievement of DC or functional Key Performance Indicators in the areas of Safety, Quality, Productivity, and Turnover.Oversees all customer service for the DC or functions, resolving issues relating to service quality, pick pack and ship requirements, and deliveries. Coordinates with local Account Management team, and Corporate Operations as needed.Implements the conversion of new customers at the DC to ensure successful implementation of new business Enforces DC adherence to company developed SOP's / WI's for warehouse management and transportation.Monitors and reports performance of DC or functions, implementing root cause analysis to consistently work towards improving teammate relations, customer quality, and operational efficiency.Oversees DC or functions' succession planning, identifying, attracting, developing, coaching, and retaining talent.Ensures adherence to all regulatory requirements regarding scheduled drugs, hazardous material, dating merchandise, storage requirements and reporting agencies (DOL, DEA, FDA, OSHA, etc.). Acts as the Designated Representative (DR) for the DC where required by licensing and compliance laws / regulations.Qualifying Experience Bachelor's degree required9 or more years of professional supply chain or warehouse operations experience, preferably within the healthcare/medical/medical device industry Previous supervisory, leadership, planning, communication, organization, and people motivation experience highly preferred Or any combination of relevant education and experience to meet the above requirements In depth knowledge of supply chain management, logistics, distribution, and/or warehouse management best practices.Strong financial acumen including prior profit and loss responsibilities.Ability to work fast and effectively within a matrix environment.Demonstrated leadership and people management skills with an ability to lead, coach and mentor all levels of teammates.Proven team building skills, both internal and external, with the ability to motivate and direct the work of others.Exceptional customer relationship skills.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to influence senior level management.Excellent planning and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to direct large complex initiatives across a broad network and ensure completion.Proven ability to analyze and conclude; ability to Continuous Improvement methodologies and to standardize processes across multiple sites and functions.Ability to lead and drive change among peers and direct reports.#LI-NA1
   
   If you feel this opportunity could be the next step in your career, we encourage you to apply.
   
   Owens & Minor is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, disability, age, status as a veteran, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right shift operations manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with shift operations managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit shift operations managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your shift operations manager job on Zippia to find and recruit shift operations manager 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 shift operations managers, 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 shift operations manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect shift operations manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new shift operations manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a shift operations manager?