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Operations manager resume example

An operations manager’s resume with eleven years in distribution, now running a large fulfillment center. Directors hiring an operations manager want someone who can run a building on cost, service and safety at once, so the bullets show all three with numbers.

Operations manager resume example, page 1 of 2Yolanda FairbanksOperations Manager, Distributionyolanda.fairbanks@example.com · (502) 555-0189 · Louisville, KY · linkedin.com/in/yolandafairbanksSummaryOperations manager with eleven years in distribution and fulfillment, now running a 600,000-square-foote-commerce center with 350 associates and 900 at peak. I lead through supervisors, run the building on a fewclear numbers, and have cut cost per unit and injuries at the same time. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.ExperienceOperations ManagerApr 2021 – PresentBluegrass Parcel and Fulfillment · Louisville, KY•Run a 600,000 sq ft fulfillment center shipping 45,000 orders a day for 6 retail clients, with 8 supervisors, 350associates and a $28 million operating budget.•Raised units per hour across pick and pack by 18% with slotting changes, labor standards and daily huddles,saving $2.1 million a year in labor.•Cut cost per unit shipped from $1.86 to $1.65 while holding on-time shipping at 99.4% through two recordpeak seasons.•Brought the recordable injury rate down from 3.8 to 1.9 with a stretching program, ergonomic workstationsand supervisor safety walks.•Ramped from 350 to 900 associates for peak in 5 weeks with the staffing agency, keeping new-hireproductivity at 85% of standard by week two.Area Manager, OutboundJan 2017 – Mar 2021Derby City Distribution · Louisville, KY•Led outbound operations on two shifts (4 supervisors, 120 associates) for a 300-store retail network.•Cut trailer loading errors by 70% with scan-to-load checks in the WMS.•Led 6 kaizen events that removed 9,000 walking miles a year from the picking process.Shift SupervisorJun 2015 – Dec 2016Derby City Distribution · Louisville, KY•Supervised 45 associates on night shift receiving, with dock-to-stock time cut from 36 to 18 hours.EducationB.S. in Business Administration, Operations2011 – 2015University of Louisville · Louisville, KYCertificationsCertified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)2022ASQOSHA 30-Hour General Industry2021OSHA Outreach Training ProgramYolanda Fairbanks · 1 / 2
Operations manager resume example, page 2 of 2SkillsDistribution operations · Labor planning and standards · Manhattan WMS · Lean and kaizen ·Peak season planning · Budget management · Safety leadership · Supervisor coaching · KPI dashboards ·Client account management · Continuous improvementYolanda Fairbanks · 2 / 2
Operations managerUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • The size of the operation: square footage, volume per day, headcount, number of shifts and budget.
  • Productivity and cost: units per hour, cost per unit, labor savings, overtime.
  • Service: on-time shipping, order accuracy, client or customer scores.
  • Safety: injury rates before and after, and what you changed.
  • People leadership: supervisors developed, turnover, peak hiring and training.

Writing the summary

Say your years, the kind of operation you run and its size, and your management style in a line. Add the result that best shows you can balance cost, service and safety.

The summary in this example

Operations manager with eleven years in distribution and fulfillment, now running a 600,000-square-foot e-commerce center with 350 associates and 900 at peak. I lead through supervisors, run the building on a few clear numbers, and have cut cost per unit and injuries at the same time. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Operations manager outside logistics (services or office operations)

Operations manager with nine years running back-office operations for a regional insurance company, leading 4 team leads and 60 processing staff. I cut claim processing time from 12 days to 5 by redesigning workflows and introducing daily performance boards.

Supervisor ready for a first operations manager role

Operations supervisor with six years in distribution, now leading 3 supervisors and 110 associates on second shift. My shift has led the building in units per hour for 8 quarters, and I am ready to run a full operation.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Opened a new 400,000 sq ft distribution center, hiring 220 associates and reaching full volume 3 weeks ahead of plan.
  • Reduced annual associate turnover from 95% to 61% with a pay-for-skill ladder and supervisor training.
  • Cut overtime from 14% to 6% of hours worked with a demand-based labor model.
  • Raised order accuracy from 99.2% to 99.85%, reducing client chargebacks by $340,000 a year.
  • Led the move to a new WMS with no missed client shipments during the two-week cutover.
  • Grew 4 supervisors into area manager roles in 3 years.
  • Saved $500,000 a year in packaging by right-sizing cartons with the engineering team.
  • Won a renewal with the site’s largest client ($14 million a year) after raising their scorecard from 82 to 97.
  • Ran 25 kaizen events in 2 years that produced $1.4 million in documented savings.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Distribution and fulfillment operations
  • Labor planning and engineered standards
  • WMS (Manhattan, Blue Yonder, SAP EWM, Körber)
  • Lean, 5S and kaizen
  • Operating budgets and P&L
  • Safety programs and OSHA recordkeeping
  • KPI design and daily management
  • Automation and material handling basics

Soft skills

  • Leading through supervisors
  • Clear decisions under pressure
  • Coaching and developing leaders
  • Client communication

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt (ASQ or a reputable provider): widely valued in operations; the Black Belt matters more for continuous improvement roles.
  • OSHA 30-Hour General Industry: shows safety leadership training; many distribution employers expect managers to have it.
  • ASCM CLTD or CSCP: helpful for a move into broader supply chain management.

Length and format

One or two pages. With more than ten years, two pages are fine, but put the size of your current operation and your top three results in the top half of page one. Supervisor-level roles get one or two bullets.

Common mistakes

  • Describing the building but not the results: square footage and headcount are context, not achievements.
  • Leaving out safety. Operations directors will ask, and its absence on the page raises a flag.
  • Taking credit for the whole site when you ran one department. Name your scope accurately.
  • Using company-internal metric names. Translate them into terms any operations leader knows.

Questions and answers

What KPIs should an operations manager list?

Pick five or six: volume, units per hour, cost per unit, on-time shipping, accuracy, injury rate and turnover. Give a before and after for the ones you changed most.

Do I need a degree to be an operations manager?

Many operations managers in distribution rose from the floor. A degree helps at larger companies, but a strong record of running shifts and a Lean or Six Sigma certification can carry the same weight.

How do I show leadership on an operations manager resume?

Give the number of supervisors and associates you lead, how you developed them (promotions, training) and a people result such as lower turnover or higher engagement.

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