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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Area Operations Manager

💰 $80,000 - $140,000

OperationsManagementLogisticsRegional Leadership

🎯 Role Definition

The Area Operations Manager is a strategic, hands-on leader responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations across multiple sites within a defined geography. This role combines P&L ownership, people leadership, operational execution, compliance and safety oversight, and cross-functional collaboration to drive consistent service levels, reduce operating costs, and scale performance. The Area Operations Manager sets regional priorities, establishes KPIs, coaches front-line managers, and implements standardized processes and systems to ensure operational reliability and excellent customer outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Branch / Store Manager with multi-site oversight
  • Operations Supervisor or District Manager
  • Logistics/Warehouse Supervisor or Regional Field Manager

Advancement To:

  • Regional Operations Director / Senior Area Director
  • Head of Operations / Director of Operations
  • Vice President, Operations or General Manager for a large region

Lateral Moves:

  • Supply Chain Manager / Distribution Manager
  • Program Manager / Project Manager (Operational Excellence)
  • Customer Experience or Service Delivery Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Own the P&L for a multi-site area: develop and manage operating budgets, create forecasts, monitor variances, and execute corrective plans to meet financial targets and margin objectives.
  • Drive regional operational performance by setting and managing KPIs (safety, on-time delivery, service level, cost per unit, shrink, inventory accuracy) and implementing continuous improvement initiatives to exceed targets.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of site managers and supervisors: establish accountability, conduct regular performance reviews, implement succession plans, and foster a high-performance, customer-centric culture.
  • Standardize processes and operational playbooks across sites: create, roll out, and enforce SOPs, quality standards, and best-practice workflows to reduce variability and improve predictability.
  • Optimize workforce planning and scheduling to balance labor cost, productivity, and service levels; implement staffing models, temporary labor strategies, and seasonal scaling plans.
  • Manage health, safety, and regulatory compliance across the area: lead safety programs, incident investigations, OSHA/industry audits, and remediation activities to maintain a safe working environment.
  • Oversee inventory management and control: monitor replenishment, cycle counts, shrink reduction efforts, inventory accuracy, and coordination with procurement to mitigate stockouts and excess.
  • Coordinate logistics and transportation operations: collaborate with carriers, optimize routing and freight costs, manage same-day/next-day delivery SLAs and resolve delivery exceptions quickly.
  • Lead vendor and third-party provider relationships: negotiate contracts, measure vendor performance, manage service-level agreements, and escalate supplier issues to minimize operational disruption.
  • Drive customer experience and service recovery strategies: partner with customer success and sales teams to resolve escalations, implement feedback loops, and improve NPS/CSAT scores.
  • Implement technology solutions and system improvements: lead rollouts of WMS/TMS/ERP functionality, integrate operational tools, and champion automation to improve throughput and data accuracy.
  • Plan and execute capital projects and site expansions or consolidations: manage timelines, budgets, contractors, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver projects on spec and on time.
  • Manage regional risk and contingency planning: develop business continuity plans, lead incident response, and ensure readiness for seasonal peaks, natural events, or supply chain disruptions.
  • Use data and analytics to inform decisions: analyze operational dashboards, run root-cause analyses, build forecasts, and translate insights into tactical action plans to improve efficiency.
  • Lead cost reduction and productivity programs: identify opportunities to reduce operating expense, streamline processes, eliminate waste, and deliver sustainable savings.
  • Ensure consistent compliance with corporate policies, legal requirements, and industry standards across all locations; prepare and present compliance reports to senior leadership.
  • Own performance reviews and talent programs for area staff: recruit key leaders, apply competency frameworks, and run targeted development programs to close capability gaps.
  • Drive cross-functional initiatives with sales, supply chain, finance, HR and IT to align operational priorities with business objectives and new product or service launches.
  • Manage site audits, inspections, and remediation plans: prepare sites for internal and external audits and ensure timely closure of corrective actions.
  • Oversee customer contract execution and SLA adherence: interpret contractual obligations, ensure operational readiness, and report on SLA metrics and penalties/credits.
  • Negotiate leases, vendor agreements, and service contracts at a regional level to optimize cost and minimize operational risk.
  • Travel frequently between sites to provide onsite coaching, lead performance reviews, resolve complex operational issues, and ensure consistent execution.
  • Champion change management: lead communications, training, and adoption activities for process and system improvements to achieve measurable business outcomes.
  • Monitor and enforce quality assurance programs to maintain product/service standards, reduce returns, and protect brand reputation.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Support cross-regional knowledge sharing and best-practice dissemination.
  • Assist in annual planning cycles and strategic operational initiatives as requested by corporate leadership.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • P&L ownership and financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and margin management.
  • Operations management across multi-site environments (retail, field ops, warehouse, or service networks).
  • Strong familiarity with WMS, TMS, ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, JDA) and ability to drive system implementations.
  • Data-driven decision making: advanced Excel skills, experience with BI tools (Tableau, Power BI), and comfort interpreting operational dashboards.
  • Process improvement methodologies: Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen experience and demonstrated track record of implementing productivity gains.
  • Workforce management tools and scheduling systems, including labor modeling and demand forecasting.
  • Contract and vendor management, including SLA development and performance scorecards.
  • Project management: ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and capital projects; PMP or equivalent experience preferred.
  • Regulatory and compliance knowledge relevant to the industry (OSHA, DOT, local/state regulations).
  • Inventory control, demand planning basics, and logistics/transportation optimization.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic leadership and stakeholder management: ability to align cross-functional teams and influence senior leaders.
  • Strong coaching and people development skills with a focus on building high-performing teams.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication; comfortable presenting to senior leadership and external partners.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking with a bias for action and continuous improvement.
  • Adaptability and resilience managing ambiguity and high-change environments.
  • Customer-focused mindset with a strong sense of urgency for service recovery.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • Attention to detail combined with ability to keep sight of strategic priorities.
  • Time management and prioritization across competing regional demands.
  • Collaborative mindset and cultural awareness for multi-site/remote team leadership.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • MBA or Master’s in Operations, Supply Chain, or related management discipline is a plus.
  • Certifications such as Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), PMP, or related operational credentials are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–12 years of progressive operations experience, with at least 3–5 years managing multi-site operations or a district/area team.

Preferred: 7–10+ years of multi-site leadership, including direct P&L responsibility, demonstrated success in process improvement, and experience implementing operational systems (WMS/TMS/ERP) in a fast-paced environment.

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