Jobs, Careers and Occupations

Operations Jobs, Occupations and Careers

Operations

Operations companies manage, design, develop, manufacture and/or distribute goods for industrial use.

Operations occupations include plant managers, operations managers, production managers, manufacturing managers, shift supervisors, maintenance supervisors, line supervisors and production-related technologists.

All organizations have specific goals and objectives that they strive to meet. Top executives devise strategies and formulate policies to ensure that these objectives are met. Top executives formulate policies and direct the operations of businesses and corporations, nonprofit institutions, governments, and other organizations.

A corporation’s goals and policies are established by the chief executive officer in collaboration with other top executives, who are overseen by a board of directors. In a large corporation, the chief executive officer meets frequently with subordinate executives to ensure that operations are conducted in accordance with these policies. The chief executive officer of a corporation retains overall accountability; however, a chief operating officer may be delegated several responsibilities, including the authority to oversee executives who direct the activities of various departments and implement the organization’s policies on a day-to-day basis. In publicly held and nonprofit corporations, the board of directors ultimately is accountable for the success or failure of the enterprise, and the chief executive officer reports to the board.

The nature of other high-level executives’ responsibilities depends upon the size of the organization. In large organizations, the duties of such executives are highly specialized. Some managers, for instance, are responsible for the overall performance of one aspect of the organization, such as manufacturing, marketing, sales, purchasing, finance, personnel, training, administrative services, computer and information systems, property management, transportation or the legal services department.

In smaller organizations, such as independent retail stores or small manufacturers, a partner, owner, or general manager often is responsible for purchasing, hiring, training, quality control and day-to-day supervisory duties.

Chief financial officers direct the organization’s financial goals, objectives and budgets. They oversee the investment of funds and manage associated risks, supervise cash management activities, execute capital-raising strategies to support a firm’s expansion, and deal with mergers and acquisitions.

Chief information officers are responsible for the overall technological direction of their organizations. They are increasingly involved in the strategic business plan of a firm as part of the executive team.

General and operations managers plan, direct or coordinate the operations of companies or public and private sector organizations.

Operations Related Industries

• Design
• Engineering
• Quality Control