VP of Operations Career Job Description
Last Updated April 18, 2022
The position of Vice President of Operations should appeal to professionals with an eye on the executive suite and a desire to be in the thick of an organization’s day-to-day operations as well as planning its future.
A VP of Operations is an organizational leader who uses their experience and education to make decisions to ensure an organization is profitable and sustainable. Strategic knowledge in human resources is critical for this position, as the VP of Operations must understand how to leverage human capital to achieve organizational goals and business strategy.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), specific duties vary depending on the industry, but like other top executives, a VP of Operations, alone or with other organization leaders, devises strategies and policies designed to ensure the organization meets its goals. They are involved with the planning, direction, and coordination activities of companies and organizations. Other duties may include:
- Appoint department heads or managers and assign responsibilities
- Evaluate the performance of the organization in meeting objectives and determine where costs can be reduced, what can be improved and what should be changed
- Confer with staff to discuss issues, coordinate activities or resolve problems
- Take corrective action to solve organizational problems
- Direct human resources activities, including the approval of HR plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of departments
VP of Operations Job Description
The VP of Operations works under the organization’s president. The VP works with department managers to ensure coordination in the effort to reach the organization’s goals.
With authority stretching over all or most of the organization’s departments, a VP’s responsibilities can include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning how both material and human resources are to be utilized, according to the BLS. Other duties can include scheduling, making work assignments, and overseeing projects to completion. A VP’s tasks may sometimes overlap with those of the chief executive officer or other managers.
According to O*Net Online, a partner of the BLS, the top skills for professionals in this role include judgment and decision making, complex problem solving, critical thinking, public speaking, and coordination.
Vice President of Operations as a Leader of Change
Top executives such as a VP of Operations look out for threats to and opportunities for the organization, according to the Founding Director of Villanova University’s Master of Science in Human Resource Development (MSHRD) program. These threats and opportunities provide incentives for transformational change.
In a lecture for the MSHRD required course, “Organization Development,” Bush cites “The Transformational Leader: The Key to Global Competitiveness,” a book by business professors Mary Anne Devanna and Noel Tichy, and its description of transformation as a three-act play.
According to the authors, the “play” begins when the leader recognizes a threat or opportunity affecting the organization. In “Act I,” leaders recognize the need for revitalization of the organization brought about by situations in the environment or economy. In “Act II,” a new vision is created for the organization. “Act III” is the institutionalizing of the change.
Executives who oversee managers should leverage their efforts during times of major, or transformational, change, engaging those managers in efforts to engage workers in the organization’s transformation, says Villanova Assistant Director of Academic Administration and MSHRD Assistant Professor Lawrence Cozzens, PhD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP.
In a lecture for the Organization Development course, Cozzens notes the importance of the managers’ connection to their employees. “If they walk the talk and lead by example, they’re going to have an impact on the employees themselves,” he said.
Job Outlook and Salary Information for a VP of Ops
The BLS forecasts the employment of top executives, the occupation the VP of Operations falls under, will grow by 8% during the period 2016-2026*, although growth is expected to vary by industry.
The BLS says employment growth will be driven by new organizations forming and existing ones expanding, creating the need for more managers and executives to direct operations.
The median annual wage for top executives was $104,980 in May 2018, according to the BLS. As with duties, salaries for the VP of Operations position can vary by industry, employer and other factors
Vice President of Operations Jobs and Education Requirements
According to O*NET Online, most top executive positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resources, or a similar field. In many cases, a master’s degree is required or at least preferred. Because of the skills required of an effective VP of Operations, employers may show preference to candidates with extensive experience, professional training, industry certifications, or advanced degrees. Individuals aspiring to the executive level may find it beneficial to obtain education beyond a bachelor’s degree, such as an HR Certificate or a Master’s in Human Resources.
Your Path to a Career as a VP of Operations
Top executives most often work for several years, moving up the management ranks from lower to the middle, before obtaining the title of Vice President of Operations. If you aspire to move into a senior-level or executive-level role, you can obtain advanced knowledge and skills and gain a competitive advantage by completing Coursework that includes topics such as compensation, organizational change management, workforce planning, and financial management for profit.
Students in Villanova’s MSHRD program will learn how to:
- Implement strategic change to increase quality, productivity and employee satisfaction
- Construct an effective training program
- Structure benefit packages and measure their success
- Use data to make informed business decisions
- Develop financial management and budgetary skills
- Leverage technology to enhance the contributions of the HR function
- Develop financial management skills to leverage human capital
- Structure benefits packages and measure their success
With drive, determination, and advanced training and education, you can learn how to move up the HR career ladder to the position of VP of Operations. Along with strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, you can gain a solid foundation in core human resource competencies, with a focus on developmental, strategic, and global issues, by enrolling in Villanova’s 100% online MSHRD program.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Top Executives, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm (visited 3/20/2019).
National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth. Certificate or degree programs do not guarantee career or salary outcomes. Students should conduct independent research for specific employment information.
