An operations supervisor is in charge of overseeing and directing the activities of a company’s operations department or operations staff. This is a generic position that can be found in a variety of companies and industries, including service, retail, business, and manufacturing, in both the private and public sectors. An operations supervisor is in charge of a broad range of responsibilities and must be able to multitask effectively. The job necessitates frequent, if not daily, interaction with all company departments.
Depending on the type of business, the required abilities and skills for the position vary greatly. Because the demands of the position are varied and numerous, the supervisor must be a master at project prioritization and time management, regardless of the business category. He must also be skilled in both oral and written communication, be aware of all company policies and procedures, and be able to motivate employees to achieve their objectives. Many operations supervisors are expected to work long hours and have a flexible schedule.
A person with this job works behind the scenes to ensure smooth operations across all departments in a less visible capacity. He assesses departmental and individual employee performance and prepares related assessment reports, as well as keeping activity logs, monitoring productivity, and preparing management reports that may suggest procedural or personnel changes. Everything is done with the company’s overall quality, productivity, and profitability in mind.
In some companies, the operations supervisor is expected to play a significant role in the functions of other departments. Budget planning and execution, inventory control and management, and retooling individual departments to improve their contributions to the overall company are all common responsibilities in these administrative roles. An operations supervisor may be asked to interact with vendors and suppliers if his knowledge and experience in that area are exceptional.
The supervisor’s job description may include duties normally assigned to senior management personnel, depending on the size of the company and the number of employees. This can happen in sole proprietorships where a small number of employees are needed to perform multiple tasks. Additional responsibilities for an operations supervisor may include capital equipment budget projections, proposal preparation, and monthly or weekly reports on company progress, industry trends, and potential problem areas.
In most cases, a college diploma is not required to work as an operations supervisor. Although a high school diploma is strongly recommended, experience and initiative are frequently the most important factors for a potential employer when filling this position. A strong background in management of any kind is regarded as a plus.