Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unit Operations Supervisor
💰 $75,000 - $110,000
Operations ManagementManufacturingIndustrial OperationsLeadership
🎯 Role Definition
The Unit Operations Supervisor is responsible for supervising day-to-day operations within a specific unit, department, or production area. This role ensures operational efficiency, safety compliance, quality standards, and workforce performance while driving continuous improvement initiatives and aligning unit activities with organizational goals.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Operations Technician
- Production Lead or Team Lead
- Process Technician
Advancement To:
- Operations Manager
- Plant or Facility Manager
- Director of Operations
Lateral Moves:
- Quality Assurance Supervisor
- Maintenance or Process Improvement Supervisor
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Supervise daily operations of an assigned unit to ensure production, service, or output targets are met.
- Lead, coach, and develop frontline employees to drive performance, accountability, and engagement.
- Plan and coordinate staffing, shift schedules, and labor allocation to meet operational demands.
- Enforce safety policies, procedures, and regulatory compliance to maintain a safe working environment.
- Conduct regular safety meetings, audits, and incident investigations with corrective actions.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including productivity, efficiency, quality, and downtime.
- Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and best practices.
- Coordinate with maintenance teams to schedule preventive maintenance and address equipment issues.
- Identify operational bottlenecks and implement process improvements to optimize throughput.
- Oversee quality control processes to ensure products or services meet specifications and standards.
- Review production or operational reports and take corrective actions as needed.
- Manage inventory levels, material flow, and resource utilization within the unit.
- Support training, onboarding, and certification of new employees.
- Address employee relations issues, including attendance, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
- Collaborate with engineering, quality, safety, and supply chain teams on cross-functional initiatives.
- Ensure proper documentation of operational activities, incidents, and performance data.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
- Support change management efforts related to new processes, equipment, or systems.
- Participate in audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews as required.
- Communicate operational goals, priorities, and results to management and staff.
- Support budget management by controlling labor, materials, and operational costs.
- Serve as the escalation point for operational issues impacting safety, quality, or delivery.
Secondary Functions
- Support operational data analysis and reporting initiatives.
- Contribute to long-term operational planning and capacity analysis.
- Collaborate with business units to align operational capabilities with demand.
- Participate in planning meetings, shift handovers, and continuous improvement forums.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Strong knowledge of operational processes within manufacturing, industrial, or service environments.
- Experience supervising frontline teams in a shift-based or high-volume setting.
- Familiarity with safety regulations, OSHA standards, and compliance requirements.
- Ability to interpret operational data, KPIs, and performance reports.
- Experience with SOPs, work instructions, and quality management systems.
- Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement tools.
- Proficiency with production or operations management systems.
- Understanding of maintenance coordination and equipment reliability concepts.
- Experience managing labor schedules, staffing plans, and overtime controls.
- Basic budgeting and cost-control knowledge.
Soft Skills
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Clear and effective communication across all organizational levels.
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities in fast-paced environments.
- High level of accountability and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage conflict and handle employee relations issues professionally.
- Adaptability and resilience in changing operational conditions.
- Coaching mindset with a focus on employee development.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
Associate’s Degree or equivalent experience
Preferred Education:
Bachelor’s Degree
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Operations Management
- Industrial Engineering
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
3–7 years of experience in operations, manufacturing, or industrial environments, including supervisory responsibility.
Preferred:
Experience leading teams in regulated, safety-critical, or high-throughput operational settings.