The Top 20 Operations Job Titles [with Descriptions] (2023)

Which Operations job titles make sense for you and your team?

I reviewed Operations job titles searched for by candidates (and employers!) and my findings are below. This mini-report is the latest chapter inOngig’s Job Titles: The Definitive Guide.

Below you’ll find:

  • What is Operations? — Best practices on roles and department names.
  • Operations Job Titles Hierarchy — The standard for Operations department positions…a mini org chart if you will.
  • The 20 Most Searched-For Operations Titles — A pie chart of the top 20 Operations positions that candidates search for on Google.
  • Operations Job Titles and Descriptions — A list of the top 11 Operations job titles and descriptions that employers request.

What is Operations?

Operations positions make an organization run smoothly. Here is a simple definition fromOperations Job Titles Explained(Monster) article.

“…an Operations employee contributes to making an employer’s wheels run less expensively with fewer squeaks and bumps.”

Most large companies have an Operations department and usually, it is simply called “Operations”. That’s the approach taken at leading companies (both old and new) such as:

  • Twitter
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • AT&T
  • Fastly

However, some companies have Operations positions with slightly different names, often overlapping related teams such as Project & Program Management or Supply Chain & Logistics departments. After scouring the career pages of top public companies we found:

  • Walmart refers to its Operations roles as “Business Operations”
  • Popular online fitness company Peloton Interactive has a combined approach with “Operations & Logistics”
  • Facebook uses “Global Operations”, which includes both Marketing & Project Management Roles
  • Uber uses “Operations & Launch” which encompasses Product Launch, Business Operations, and Strategy
  • UnitedHealth Group, being in the medical industry, uses “Clinical Operations”

You will notice that depending on the size of a company and the industry it serves, job categories may vary. Operations and Administrative jobs are also a common overlap. You can read about their similarities, and differences, inThe Top 20 Administrative Job Titles [with Descriptions].

Operations Job Titles Hierarchy

Here’s a typical org chart of Operations position titles.

The Top 20 Operations Job Titles [with Descriptions] (1)
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Chief Operations Officer, President & COO, Executive VP of Operations
  • VP of Operations – Vice President of Operations, SVP Operations, VP Business Operations, Operations Management, VP of Finance & Operations,
  • Director of Operations – Operations Director, Business Operations Director, Team Lead Operations, Director of Business Operations, Senior Director Business Operations, Strategy & Operations Leader
  • Operations Manager – Business Operations Manager, Office Operations Manager, Operations Supervisor, General Manager of Operations
  • Individual Contributors – Operations Coordinator, Operations Specialist, Operations Analyst, Operations Engineer, Process Engineer, Program Manager, Project Manager, Business Operations Specialist, Operations Technician, Operations Consultant.
  • Entry Level – Operations Intern, Operations Management Trainee, Operations Assistant, Global Operations Intern,Entry Level Operations Analyst.

Here’s a little more texture on each of the 6 levels of Operations roles:

Job Titles for Operations Leaders

Operations usually reports into the Operations team run by the Chief Operations Officer.

(Video) Different Job Titles and Job Positions in Risk Management Framework/Cyber Security

Examples of job titles for Operations leaders include:

  1. Chief Operating Officer (Facebook, Beyond Meat)
  2. President and COO (Salesforce)
  3. Executive Vice President (EVP) of Global Operations (Microsoft has 2 business line leaders with such EVP Ops-related titles)
  4. Chief Operations Officer (TechCrunch uses)
  5. Chief Technology & Operations Officer (Docusign)
  6. Chief Legal & Operations Officer (Eventbrite)
  7. Co-Founder/Operations (Keep Truckin’)

VP of Operations Titles

Examples of Operations Vice President titles commonly used include:

  1. Vice President of Operations (Zeus Living uses)
  2. VP Global Operations
  3. Vice President and Head of Global Operations (Facebook)
  4. VP Commerce Business & Operations (Facebook)
  5. Operations Management Executive
  6. Senior VP of Operations
  7. EVP Strategic Business Operations (Salesforce) (an EVP is usuall the #1 Operations person but in Salesforce’s case, it’s the #2 Ops role because Salesforce has a President and COO)
  8. SVP Operations (Sprout Social, Inc.)
  9. SVP Growth & Operations (Splunk)
  10. Head of Operations (Keep Truckin’)
  11. Head of People and Operations (VSC)
  12. Head of Business Operations (Juniper Square)

Director of Operations Titles

Here are some of the top most used Operations director titles:

  1. Director of Operations
  2. Operations Management Lead
  3. Director Business Operations
  4. Continuous Improvement Lead (Cargill uses)
  5. Director of International Operations (Spin)
  6. Business Operations Director
  7. Assistant Director Operations
  8. Senior Director Business Operations (Beyond Meat)
  9. Strategy & Operations Leader (Slack)

Operations Manager Titles

There are numerous Operations Manager alternative titles to use. Here are some examples:

  1. Operations Manager
  2. Sr. Manager Business Operations & Strategy (SurveyMonkey uses)
  3. Manager of Operations
  4. Operations Supervisor (DoorDash)
  5. Office Operations Manager
  6. General Manager of Operations
  7. Account Operations Manager
  8. Senior Manager Business Operations (Slack)

Individual Contributor Operations Titles

When you get to the individual contributor level of Operations positions, there is more granularity.

  1. Operations Coordinator
  2. Continuous Improvement Consultant
  3. Senior Process Engineer (Tesla uses)
  4. Operations Analyst
  5. Business Operations Specialist
  6. Operations Associate
  7. Logistician (Salesforce)
  8. Operations Management Consultant
  9. Operations Engineer (Facebook)
  10. Operations Geologist
  11. Business Operations Associate (Linkedin)
  12. Operations Tech
  13. Operations Management Officer

Entry-Level Operations Job Titles

Examples of entry-level Operations titles include:

  1. Operations Management Trainee
  2. Global Operations Intern (Facebook)
  3. Operations Administrative Assistant
  4. Operations Management Intern
  5. Entry Level Operations Project Manager
  6. Business Operations Intern
  7. Strategy & Operations Intern (Salesforce)
  8. Operations Admin Assistant
  9. Operations Intern
  10. Entry Level Operations Analyst
  11. Operations Assistant

Top Operations Job Titles (Candidates)

Below is a list of the top 20 Operations job titles based on Google queries we found on ahrefs.

Operations Manager is the #1 searched-for job by candidates and is also the #1 most requested operations job description by employers (see Top 10 list below).

The Top 20 Operations Job Titles [with Descriptions] (2)

Top 11 Operations Job Titles and Descriptions (Employers)

Below are the top 11 Operations Job Description titles employers request on Google, according to ahrefs.

I’ve included a brief description for each as well as the # of job title searches per month by employers.

(Video) What do Operations Managers Do? | Rowtons Training by Laurence Gartside

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is a key upper-level manager that leads company efficiency and productivity. The duties of an Operations Manager are:

  • Overseeing financial information and budgets
  • Managing staffing and workflow processes
  • Overseeing supply chain and inventory control
  • Creating company-wide policies
  • Developing long-term excellence initiatives

# of job title searches per month: 8,300

COO

A COO, also known as a Chief Operating Officer, manages the day-to-day operations and logistics of an organization. As a senior executive, a COO works directly with the Chief Executive Officer to implement strategies and projects to help the business run smoothly. A COO manages major company-wide changes and communicates across departments to ensure proper workflow.

# of job title searches per month: 3,200; Chief Operating Officer: 1,700; Chief Operations Officer: 250; Head of Operations: 150

Director of Operations

A Director of Operations is sometimes known as the COO in larger organizations. A Director of Operations helps senior management develop long-term business strategies and manages the planning of department budgets and objectives. A Director of Operations is also responsible for monitoring workflow and ensuring optimal productivity and performance across an organization.

# of job title searches per month: 3,200; Operations Director: 250

Operations Coordinator

An Operations Coordinator works with an Operations Manager to ensure the goals, meetings, and schedules of each department work in harmony. Daily duties of an Operations Coordinator include:

  • Conflict resolution
  • Planning and scheduling projects
  • Sending internal communications
  • Managing the Operations Manager’s schedule
  • Creating departmental presentations

# of job title searches per month: 700

Operations Analyst

An Operations Analyst conducts research and analyzes workflow processes to improve business procedures. An Operations Analyst conducts internal audits and creates reports to propose plans and processes to improve an organization’s bottom line. Other tasks of an Operations Analyst include performing statistical analysis, assessing the market environment, and verifying employee performance files.

# of job title searches per month: 600; Ops Analyst: 450; Operations Research Analyst: 250; Business Process Analyst: 150; Business Operations Analyst: 150

(Video) 20 Types of Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Canada 🇨🇦 with 50+ related Job Titles

Operations Specialist

An Operations Specialist is an experienced Operations professional that works with the senior management to help improve workflow and day-to-day business activities. Duties of an Operations Specialist include:

  • Identifying customer needs
  • Developing company improvement plans
  • Assisting with departmental changes and improvements
  • Ensuring company policies are upheld
  • Assessing employee performance

# of job title searches per month: 600; Business Operations Specialist: 150

Operations Assistant

An Operations Assistant is an entry-level role and completes administrative tasks that are related to the day-to-day activitiesof an organization. An Operations Assistant works directly with an Operations Manager to ensure a smooth workflow. An Operations Assistant duties vary buy industry but may include:

  • Inspecting products
  • Managing company communications
  • Scheduling meetings
  • Answering phone calls
  • Ordering company supplies

# of job title searches per month: 450

VP of Operations

A VP of Operations is a leadership role that manages the efficiency of an organization. A VP of Operations tracks industry changes and recommends processes to improve organizational goals and processes. A VP of Operations develops new processes and makes recommendations for streamlining processes based on research by other Operations employees. Monitoring profit margins and employee productivity are also tasks of a VP Of Operations.

# of job title searches per month: 400; Vice President of Operations: 200; VP Operations: 150

Operations Supervisor

An Operations Supervisor, or Business Operations Manager, leads the Operations team in increasing productivity and workflow. Duties of an Operations Supervisor include:

  • Provide training for employees to upgrade skills
  • Performace-related coaching
  • Maintain employee attendance records
  • Delegate operations tasks to employees
  • Provide support to senior management for improvement plans

# of job title searches per month:250; Operations Officer: 200; Business Operations Manager: 150; Manager of Operations:150

Operations Associate

An Operations Associate works directly with the Operations Management team to make recommendations for business performance improvement. Other tasks of an Operations Associate are:

  • Complete administrative tasks
  • Manage employee schedules and rosters
  • Assist in creating company-wide standards

# of job title searches per month: 250

(Video) What Does It Take To Reach National Master? | Dojo Talks ft. Ben Johnson (Perpetual Chess)

Operations Engineer

An Operations Engineer is responsible for analyzing organizational systems and performance reports. An Operations Engineer uses data to create reports and make recommendations for the improvement of workflow. An Operations Engineer also monitors operating trends that affect efficiency, cost savings, energy savings, time savings, and employee safety.

# of job title searches per month: 150

Creative Job Titles for Operations

We also found these other funny/creative Operations job titles :

  1. Chief Inspiration Officer(Head of Operations)
  2. Chief Rockstar(COO)…SCVNGR COO Michael Hagan,
  3. Culture Operations Manager(Operations/HR Officer)
  4. Operations Ninja(Operations Generalist)

Here are some funny Operations titles too:

  1. COO: “Chief of Other” Stuff No One Wants to Take Care Of)(COO)
  2. COO: Chief Obedience Officer(COO)
  3. One of the Main Maniacs for Sure(COO)…This was on an unnamed COO’s business card

Check out more examples of funny ops titles (including for the Head of Operations) here:]

Thank you, Operations Job Title Experts!

In addition to the sources cited above, special thanks to these experts on operations titles:

  1. Robinhood’s article onWhat is a COO?
  2. wiseGeek’s article onWhat is an Operations Coordinator?
  3. Study.com’sOperations Assistant Job Description.
  4. Y Scouts article onWhat To Look for In A VP Of Operations.

Why I wrote this?

My team and I share this research on Operations job titles to help you optimize your own titles. This supports our mission to transform job descriptions. Check out Ongig.com to learn more.

by Heather Barbour in Job Titles

(Video) The T.O.C. - Tactical Operations Centers

FAQs

What are operations titles? ›

Operations Job Titles Hierarchy

Individual Contributors – Operations Coordinator, Operations Specialist, Operations Analyst, Operations Engineer, Process Engineer, Program Manager, Project Manager, Business Operations Specialist, Operations Technician, Operations Consultant.

What is the highest title in operations? ›

The most senior management title in the Operations field, the Chief Operating Officer may also include “President” in their title at some companies. COO is often second in command to the CEO. Within organizational leadership, the COO often oversees more day-to-day operations than a CEO does.

What is operations job description? ›

The Operations Manager role is mainly to implement the right processes and practices across the organization. The specific duties of an Operations Manager include formulating strategy, improving performance, procuring material and resources and securing compliance.

What are examples of operational roles? ›

Manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain management, distribution and call centre operations are all examples of operational roles (also often referred to as line roles or front-line roles), and there are many more.

What's another name for operations manager? ›

What is another word for operations manager?
general managerboss
operational managersenior manager
supervisor

What position is higher than operations manager? ›

A director of operations holds superiority over general managers and other employees. General managers are often right below directors in the company's ranking.

What are operations staff? ›

operational staff means Casual Clerks employed by the Board or by an Agent (excluding Sub-Agent) of the Board in any agency or section in all or any of the following duties, namely sellers, payers, sorters, collators, checkers, recorders, telephonists, ledger clerks and like operational and clerical categories.

What's a better title than office manager? ›

Popular alternatives include community manager, office administrator, and executive assistant. Each of these titles highlights different aspects of the office manager role, which can help them draw focus on the aspects of the job that they most value.

What's above Director of Operations? ›

The COO typically reports directly to the chief executive officer (CEO) and is considered to be second in the chain of command. In some corporations, the COO is known by other terms, such as "executive vice president of operations," "chief operations officer," or "operations director."

What is a better title than executive assistant? ›

Captain of Multitasking (Assistant) Chief Image Officer (Assistant in charge of making their Exec's image look great) Executive Sherpa (Assistant) Indentured Rockstar (Assistant)

What are the position levels in a company? ›

Here are some to know:
  • Executive. ...
  • Manager. ...
  • Operations and production. ...
  • Chief executive officer (CEO) ...
  • Chief operating officer (COO) ...
  • Chief financial officer (CFO) or controller. ...
  • Chief marketing officer (CMO) ...
  • Chief technology officer (CTO)
27 Sept 2021

What are the five 5 key responsibilities of operation manager? ›

While the exact duties of an operations manager can vary, the best operations managers always take on these five key roles.
  • Provide Storage, Access, and Maintenance for Your Inventory. ...
  • Prep and Deliver Orders. ...
  • Schedule and Supervise Crew. ...
  • Maintain an Accurate Inventory. ...
  • Adapt.
5 Dec 2019

What are the five key responsibilities of operation manager? ›

Their direct responsibilities include managing both the operations process, embracing design, planning, control, performance improvement, and operations strategy.

What is Operation executive role? ›

The Operations Executive role includes the following tasks: Communicating with upper management to develop strategic operations goals. Developing strategic long-range plans to achieve strategic objectives. Creating and managing the organization's fiscal operating and capital budget and expenses.

What are the 7 main function of operational management? ›

We can distinguish seven main functions of operation management in the industrial enterprise: planning, scheduling, purchasing, controlling, quality control and inventory control. In each of those fields operations managers should conduct many decision affecting of-organization effectiveness.

What are the 3 roles of operations management? ›

The term operations management encompasses planning, implementing, and supervising the production of goods or services.

What is a operation coordinator? ›

An Operations Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all departments are running smoothly. They plan purchases, negotiate contracts and coordinate budgeting to make sure business continues as usual with minimal downtime or interruption from one department's workflow. Post this job for free.

What is the position after operations manager? ›

After gaining experience as an operations manager, you'll be able to advance in your career, eventually moving into the sought-after position of a COO, one of the highest-ranking executives in a company, who works alongside and reports to the chief executive officer (CEO).

What is the role of an operations specialist? ›

The operations specialist's responsibilities include managing inventory, ensuring the correct ordering of supplies, seeing to the maintenance and replacement of operational equipment, optimizing processes, overseeing the operations team, and liaising with external stakeholders.

What are levels of management? ›

Management levels are the divisions between degrees of authority and responsibility in a company. The typical management levels are top-level management, mid-level management and first-line management. These levels determine the duties of various manager positions, including who they report to and who reports to them.

What is a Director of Operations job description? ›

The Director of Operations is a professional who manages the daily activities of a company by overseeing several departments. They are responsible for directing actions across an organization and direct managers to improve efficiency and reduce costs as needed.

IS operations manager same as COO? ›

But it illustrates well how the COO is the integral part of the chain of command. The Operations Manager on the other hand will either manage no team at all or an operations team. Their task is not to oversee business functions, but to create the operational foundation for the rest of the organization to work on.

What is an example of a job title? ›

A job title can describe the responsibilities of the position, the level of the job, or both. For example, job titles that include the terms “executive,” “manager,” “director,” “chief,” “supervisor,” etc.

What is a good job title for someone who does everything? ›

Generalist — this title is often used in HR (e.g., HR Generalist) and means someone who does a bit of everything in their HR Department. Person of Many Skills — Kagoagh Resort and Fishing Lodge uses this simple inclusive title.

What is another title for administrator? ›

An Office Manager, also known as an Office Administrator, or just Administrator, acts as a liaison between management and employees in and organization. Office managers are responsible for a variety of tasks including monitoring deliveries, organizing workspaces, and providing assistance to executives where needed.

What is the difference between administration and operations? ›

Administration is simply an activity that concerns itself with day-to-day enforcement of policies, rules and conduct of affairs in an organization. Operations management concerns with all input-transformation-output processes and enables a search forefficiency and optimization by rearranging or changing the processes.

Who is bigger director or COO? ›

Hierarchy. The CEO is at the highest position in a company. They head C-level members such as the COO, CTO, CFO, etc. They also rank higher than the vice president and many times, the Managing Director.

Is an Operations Manager higher than a general manager? ›

General Manager vs.

While a GM is responsible for all aspects of a business, an operations manager is only responsible for operations and production. A GM's responsibilities are broader in scope and include HR, marketing, and strategy.

Who reports to VP of operations? ›

A vice president, or VP, of operations ensures that daily business practices meet operational goals and produce maximum efficiency. They usually report directly to the chief operating officer and may serve as a liaison between the chief operating officer and mid-management leaders.

Is administrator higher than coordinator? ›

An administrator holds the highest authority in a company, while a coordinator is considered an entry-level position in management. Administrators earn an average salary of $61,647 per year, in contrast to coordinators, who earn an average of $37,628 per year.

Is Coordinator higher than executive assistant? ›

Executive coordinators function as an executive or administrative assistant but with a higher level of responsibilities. Generally, the coordinators manage the office and other employees in the organization.

Is Coordinator higher than assistant? ›

Main Differences Between Administrative Assistant and Coordinator. An Administrative Assistant is a position that is more of an assistant to an admin that involves mostly secretarial jobs, while a Coordinator is someone who supervises and mentors the teammates towards the completion of the project.

What are the highest position in a company? ›

The chief executive officer (CEO) is the highest-ranking executive at any given company, and their main responsibilities include managing the operations and resources of a company, making major corporate decisions, being the main liaison between the board of directors and corporate operations, and being the public face ...

What is the most important position in a company? ›

Chief executive officer (CEO)

A CEO is a leading role responsible for making top-level decisions, gathering resources that support the company and driving operational and structural changes that directly influence organizational growth.

How many job titles should a company have? ›

Companies should expect to introduce more job titles as they become larger and their employees' roles become more specialized. About 44% of companies have between 1 and 10 job titles, including 31% with between 1 and 5.

What position is higher than operations manager? ›

A director of operations holds superiority over general managers and other employees. General managers are often right below directors in the company's ranking.

What is the career path for an operations manager? ›

After gaining experience as an operations manager, you'll be able to advance in your career, eventually moving into the sought-after position of a COO, one of the highest-ranking executives in a company, who works alongside and reports to the chief executive officer (CEO).

What is the difference between office manager and operations manager? ›

Operations managers are supposed to look at the big picture, working each day to improve all aspects of the business to further the company's goals. Office managers, meanwhile, are the people who pound the pavement, setting an office's tone and making sure that team members are motivated and satisfied with their work.

What is the difference between operations manager and operations coordinator? ›

Unlike an operations manager, who directs the company's actual operations, an operations coordinator makes sure that the schedules, meetings and goals of each department work in harmony. His or her job is to spot conflicts early on and resolve them to the satisfaction of all of the involved parties.

What are levels of management? ›

Management levels are the divisions between degrees of authority and responsibility in a company. The typical management levels are top-level management, mid-level management and first-line management. These levels determine the duties of various manager positions, including who they report to and who reports to them.

Is head of operations the same as COO? ›

The COO typically reports directly to the chief executive officer (CEO) and is considered to be second in the chain of command. In some corporations, the COO is known by other terms, such as "executive vice president of operations," "chief operations officer," or "operations director."

Who is higher COO or general manager? ›

The biggest difference between a COO and a general manager involves the scope of their responsibilities. A COO is the second-highest member of management and typically oversees multiple general managers. There isn't one specific type of COO. Rather, each company chooses a COO to meet its specific needs.

What are the duties of an operations coordinator? ›

An Operations Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all departments are running smoothly. They plan purchases, negotiate contracts and coordinate budgeting to make sure business continues as usual with minimal downtime or interruption from one department's workflow.

What qualifications do you need to be a operations manager? ›

Key Operations Manager Qualifications
  • A university degree in business administration, commerce, management, industrial technology or industrial engineering. ...
  • Production experience in the relevant industry.
  • Knowledge and experience in organisational effectiveness and operations management.
16 Nov 2017

What are the five 5 key responsibilities of operation manager? ›

While the exact duties of an operations manager can vary, the best operations managers always take on these five key roles.
  • Provide Storage, Access, and Maintenance for Your Inventory. ...
  • Prep and Deliver Orders. ...
  • Schedule and Supervise Crew. ...
  • Maintain an Accurate Inventory. ...
  • Adapt.
5 Dec 2019

What is a better title than executive assistant? ›

Captain of Multitasking (Assistant) Chief Image Officer (Assistant in charge of making their Exec's image look great) Executive Sherpa (Assistant) Indentured Rockstar (Assistant)

What is Operation executive role? ›

The Operations Executive role includes the following tasks: Communicating with upper management to develop strategic operations goals. Developing strategic long-range plans to achieve strategic objectives. Creating and managing the organization's fiscal operating and capital budget and expenses.

What are operations staff? ›

operational staff means Casual Clerks employed by the Board or by an Agent (excluding Sub-Agent) of the Board in any agency or section in all or any of the following duties, namely sellers, payers, sorters, collators, checkers, recorders, telephonists, ledger clerks and like operational and clerical categories.

What is the next level after office manager? ›

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former OFFICE MANAGERS
RankJob Title%
1Administrative Assistant4.28%
2Customer Service Representative2.14%
3Executive Assistant1.05%
4Sales Associate0.9%
96 more rows
13 Jul 2022

Videos

1. Production Manager Titles: Learn How To Get Them Right!
(Endless Events)
2. salmon run with fyrus and jaymoji (we are celebrating fyrus birthday)
(HackerlingVODs)
3. Titles and job descriptions | IT support job readiness | Part 3
(Jobskillshare Community)
4. Top Job Titles Related to Quality Assurance ! QA job titles
(Faiza Waseem)
5. CEO vs COO vs CFO - Roles, Responsibilities and Salary
(Northwest Executive Education)
6. 20 Best MBA In Healthcare Management In The UK | Study Masters in Healthcare Management in UK 2022
(ABROAD LIFE PATHWAY)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tuan Roob DDS

Last Updated: 31/05/2023

Views: 6426

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tuan Roob DDS

Birthday: 1999-11-20

Address: Suite 592 642 Pfannerstill Island, South Keila, LA 74970-3076

Phone: +9617721773649

Job: Marketing Producer

Hobby: Skydiving, Flag Football, Knitting, Running, Lego building, Hunting, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Tuan Roob DDS, I am a friendly, good, energetic, faithful, fantastic, gentle, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.