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Operations manager resume example

A complete resume for an operations manager in distribution and manufacturing, plus summaries, bullet points and skills.

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Operations manager resume example for Derek Shaw, in the Zenith template
Derek Shaw, Operations Manager, in the Zenith template

What hiring managers look for

Hiring managers look for operations leaders who keep things safe, accurate and on budget while getting more out of the same team. The strongest resumes show the size of the operation and the before and after for the numbers you were measured on.

This example shows a manager with nine years in distribution and manufacturing. The dark header and skills sidebar make the page quick to scan, while the main column shows results in the measures operations teams use every day. Plant, warehouse and service operations managers can use the same layout.

Operations manager resume summary examples

Experienced, 9 years

Operations manager with 9 years of experience in distribution and manufacturing. Runs a 250,000-square-foot distribution center with 120 employees and a $14M budget. Raised order accuracy to 99.7% and cut cost per order by 18% with lean methods and better scheduling.

New manager

Operations supervisor with 4 years leading production teams of up to 25. Raised line output by 15% and trained 10 new leads. Ready to manage a full site's operations.

Multi-site retail

Operations manager with 8 years in multi-site retail, overseeing 14 stores and $60M in yearly sales. Cut inventory shrink by 30% and rolled out new scheduling software to 400 employees.

Director

Director of operations with 15 years in manufacturing, leading 3 plants and 900 employees. Delivered $12M in savings through lean programs and automation, while improving safety every year.

Operations manager resume bullet points

Strong bullets start with what you did and end with what changed. Borrow the pattern, then use your own numbers.

  • Cut overtime by 25% by matching shift schedules to order volume forecasts.
  • Led a warehouse management system rollout across 2 sites with no missed shipments during go-live.
  • Raised on-time shipping from 91% to 98% by redesigning the pick path and adding a mid-shift wave.
  • Negotiated freight contracts with 6 carriers, saving $650K a year.
  • Built a daily board for safety, quality, delivery and cost that every team reviews at the start of a shift.
  • Cut recordable injuries by 40% with weekly safety walks and better forklift training.
  • Developed 8 front-line employees into supervisors through a leadership training program.
  • Managed a $3M conveyor automation project that finished on time and paid back in 2 years.

Skills for an operations manager resume

Skills job postings ask for

  • Operations planning
  • Budgeting and P&L
  • Lean and Six Sigma
  • KPI reporting
  • Inventory management
  • Workforce planning and scheduling
  • Safety and OSHA compliance
  • ERP or WMS (SAP, Oracle, Manhattan)
  • Vendor and carrier management
  • Process improvement

Skills to show in your bullets

  • Leadership
  • Decision-making
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Coaching

List the skills a posting names in its own words, and only the ones you can talk about in an interview. Qualities like these read best as results in your bullets, not as a list.

Tips for writing an operations manager resume

  1. 1

    Give your operation a size

    Square footage, headcount, budget, volume or number of sites tell a reader the scale you manage before they read a single bullet.

  2. 2

    Show the KPIs you moved

    Safety, quality, delivery and cost are what operations leaders are measured on. Give the before and after for the ones you improved.

  3. 3

    Show how you lead people

    Lower turnover, promotions and training show you build teams, not just run them.

  4. 4

    Name your methods and systems

    Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, your ERP or WMS. Use the names in the posting where they're true.

Make it yours

Your operations manager resume, in three steps

  1. 1Tell your story

    Talk to the resume expert, or import your old resume.

  2. 2Start in Zenith

    Use the design from this example, or switch any time.

  3. 3Check it and apply

    Fix what the ATS flags, then download your PDF.

Questions about operations manager resumes

Something else? Email us

What should an operations manager resume focus on?

The size of the operation you run and the results you improved: safety, quality, on-time delivery, cost and people. Add the methods, such as Lean or Six Sigma, and the systems you use.

Should I list Six Sigma or Lean certifications?

Yes. Green Belt, Black Belt and Lean certifications are common requirements in manufacturing and logistics. List them with the issuer and year, and mention a project that delivered savings.

How do I move from supervisor to operations manager on my resume?

Show the parts of the manager role you already do: budgets you've helped with, improvement projects you led, people you've trained and KPIs you own. Open with a summary that names the role you're aiming for.

Can I use this operations manager resume example as my own?

Use it as a model for the structure and the wording, then fill it with your own experience and numbers. Build yours in the same Zenith template, or switch to another design at any time without losing your content.

Be the candidate they call back

Build your operations manager resume with this example as your guide, fit it to each job and check it before you apply. Start free, no credit card.

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