What does a shift operations manager do?
A shift operations manager is responsible for monitoring the staff's performance, delegating tasks, and ensuring the team's maximum productivity to support business operations. Shift operations managers assist the team in handling customers' inquiries and concerns, as well as identifying operational opportunities to widen the scope of business functions, coordinating with potential clients for partnerships, and implementing strategic procedures to improve productivity and generate revenue resources. A shift operations manager should have excellent communication and leadership skills, managing staff's concerns, and facilitating training and activities to achieve their highest potential.
Shift operations manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real shift operations manager resumes:
- 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.
- Provide leadership in grind security and enforce FAA regulations.
- Coach and develop associates, prepare payroll and performance evaluations.
- Create accountability for supervisors and production personnel on meeting company metrics and KPIs.
- Lead a team of highly engage logistics professional ensuring tactical management of critical inter-terminal transportation.
- Evaluate and implement POS application and train team in proper use, ultimately increasing security and efficiency.
- Design company website, PowerPoint presentation, brochure, profile, machinery list & factory production capacity information for marketing purposes.
- Resolve all software, hardware, and functional application problems at the CSC level.
- Prepare customer invoices for all ship outs, purchases and returns using QuickBooks.
- Process customer purchase orders, credit memos, invoicing, payments, & collections via QuickBooks.
Shift operations manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Shift Operations Managers are proficient in Lean Six Sigma, Logistics, and Process Improvement. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Shift Operations Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lean Six Sigma, 11%
Introduced and implemented Lean Six Sigma tools to a unionized manufacturing site
- Logistics, 11%
Lead a team of highly engaged logistics professional ensuring tactical management of critical inter-terminal transportation.
- Process Improvement, 7%
Initiated process improvement activities that enhance overall effectiveness and seeks ways to improve human resource and other management processes.
- Safety Procedures, 7%
Implement technical knowledge, equipment documentation, safety procedures to produce tin-plated coils.
- Customer Service, 6%
Increase productivity per hour by ensuring engineered labor standards are achieved, resulting in reduced operational expenses and exceptional customer service.
- OSHA, 5%
Minimize work environment hazards and work-related injuries through ensuring compliance with company procedures and OSHA regulations.
Most shift operations managers use their skills in "lean six sigma," "logistics," and "process improvement" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential shift operations manager responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a shift operations manager to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what shift operations managers do because "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Additionally, a shift operations manager resume shows how shift operations managers use communication skills: "provided communications, planning and research to 30 plants between it pc global organization and it manufacturing groups. "
Leadership skills. Many shift operations manager duties rely on leadership skills. "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources.," so a shift operations manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways shift operations manager responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "interview and hire area managers to supply leadership for a rapidly growing logistics division. "
Problem-solving skills. shift operations manager responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." This resume example shows what shift operations managers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "responded to and resolved crisis and emergency situations involving the residents. "
Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a shift operations manager to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what shift operations managers relies on this skill, since "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." How this skill relates to shift operations manager duties can be seen in an example from a shift operations manager resume snippet: "trained and coached operational personnel on new sop's developed approving union time sheet on vessel and changes to payroll. "
The three companies that hire the most shift operations managers are:
- Amazon59 shift operations managers jobs
- United States Steel29 shift operations managers jobs
- Nation Pizza
26 shift operations managers jobs
Compare different shift operations managers
Shift operations manager vs. 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. They coordinate the primary performance goals for direct reporting functions and set the strategies for the organization. It is their responsibility to communicate strategy as well as results to employees. They also engage with the corporate officers in the strategic planning and development of the organization or enterprise.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a shift operations manager are more likely to require skills like "lean six sigma," "safety procedures," "osha," and "tcp ip." On the other hand, a job as a general manager of operations requires skills like "financial statements," "oversight," "personnel processes," and "training programs." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
General managers of operations tend to reach similar levels of education than shift operations managers. In fact, general managers of operations are 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Shift operations manager vs. Assistant manager of operations
An assistant operations manager is responsible for supervising staff performance and operation processes under the guidance of an operations manager. The assistant operations manager ensures the efficiency and accuracy of project management to boost client satisfaction, drive revenues, and achieve the company's objectives and profitability goals. They also help with developing strategic procedures to increase productivity and identify business opportunities to build a strong company reputation. An assistant operations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially when meeting with existing and potential clients, close partnerships, and lead teams towards project goals.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that shift operations manager responsibilities requires skills like "lean six sigma," "customer service," "osha," and "continuous improvement." But an assistant manager of operations might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sales floor," "front end," "cash handling," and "store associates."
Assistant managers of operations may earn a higher salary than shift operations managers, but assistant managers of operations earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $65,818. On the other hand, shift operations managers receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $39,956.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Assistant managers of operations tend to reach similar levels of education than shift operations managers. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for shift operations managers in the next 3-5 years?
Eric Olsen
Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business
Shift operations manager vs. 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. Moreover, there are also instances where they have to produce progress reports, devise strategies for optimal business performance, delegate tasks, and even manage the budget. As a manager, it is crucial to lead and encourage the team to reach goals and sales targets while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a shift operations manager is likely to be skilled in "lean six sigma," "logistics," "safety procedures," and "customer service," while a typical manager, center operations is skilled in "infrastructure," "standard operating procedure," "patients," and "project management."
Managers, center operations earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $68,400. Shift operations managers earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $39,956.When it comes to education, managers, center operations tend to earn similar degree levels compared to shift operations managers. In fact, they're 4.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Shift operations manager vs. Area manager
An Area Manager's responsibility is to oversee the business operations of all company branches within a particular area. Among the tasks involve creating strategies to achieve the sales target, monitoring and evaluating the performance and progress of stores including their workforce, adhering to the budget and regulations of the company, and focus on attaining the image and financial goals. Moreover, an Area Manager must communicate and coordinate with fellow managers and hire employees that would be a vital member of the company.
Types of shift operations manager
Updated January 8, 2025
