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How to Write a Director of Operations Resume

Your director of operations resume format is as important as how you write your resume. This sample resume demonstrates the best resume layout to follow: 1-inch margins, bullet points and clear resume headings for each of the following sections.

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  • Professional header and contact info:

    • Include your name, contact information and a professional email address.

  • Compelling summary statement:

    • A brief resume summary or objective highlighting two or three business management skills, experience or accomplishments.

  • Emphasize your work history:

    • List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment, key responsibilities and achievements for each role in a bullet list.

  • Highlight your skills:

    • Create a dedicated section to showcase hard and soft skills in business operation and team leadership.

  • Supporting education section:

    • Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas or certifications obtained.

  • Additional sections:

    • You can add resume sections for licenses, certifications, industry memberships or unions, awards, volunteer experience or spoken languages.

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How to Write a Director of Operations Resume Summary

The resume summary sits immediately beneath your contact information and is your first chance to make a strong impression. Hiring managers can spend as little as six seconds on a resume, so use this space to share impactful achievements or skills with easy-to-understand data. This information can encourage a hiring manager to spend more time with your resume.

Highlight key skills and experience

Share two to three skills emphasizing quantifiable information like improvements to business operations, software savings or improved training. 

Focus on the job needs

Before you tailor your resume, carefully read the job description for resume keywords like repeated responsibilities, anything labeled as required or any words with special font treatments.

Showcase achievements

Quantify your achievements to demonstrate your impact, focusing on significant accomplishments that match the job description.

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Good director of operations resume example

Results-driven director of operations with over 15 years of experience leading cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence in the manufacturing sector. Proven track record in optimizing processes, reducing costs by 20% and increasing production efficiency by 30%. Adept at strategic planning, team leadership and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Why this example works: 

 

This director of operations resume example illustrates this candidate’s experience with specific examples, such as their ability to optimize the packing process, improve production and reduce costs. They close their introduction with three valuable skills needed to effectively lead a team and department.

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Poor director of operations resume example

Experienced director of operations with many years in the industry. Skilled in managing teams and improving operations. Looking for a challenging role to utilize my skills and grow professionally.

Why this summary statement fails: 

 

Although this job seeker mentions their years of experience, they don’t share a specific number. They also fail to add any information about their staff or operational output. You may improve this director of operations resume summary example by sharing the number of staff you oversee, average input/output numbers or streamlining efforts with improvement data.

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Pro tip: Try the resume objective if you’re a first-time job seeker, freelancer or career changer. This alternate introduction focuses on transferable resume skills to downplay your lack of business operational experience.

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How to Add Your Director of Operations Work History

Your work history section will trace your employment history, starting with your current or most recent job, and highlight your promotions, career progression, and notable responsibilities and achievements. Follow these tips to improve your resume and make the most of our director of operation resume examples.

List your jobs chronologically

Start with your recent job and work backward. Add your job title, company name, location and dates of employment, followed by three to five bullet points for your duties and achievements.

Highlight notable responsibilities or achievements

Focus on additional duties and quantifiable achievements related to the open job’s needs. 

Use bullet points

Hiring managers see an average of 200 applicants per opening, so add easy-to-skim bullet points to help your accomplishments make an impact.

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A great director of operations resume example

    Director of Operations | Pearson Tech

    Los Angeles, CA | January 2019 – Present

     

    • Led a team of 200+ employees across multiple departments to achieve operational excellence.
    • Streamlined production processes, increasing efficiency by 30% and reducing costs by 20%.
    • Developed and executed strategic plans, resulting in a 15% revenue growth.
    • Fostered a culture of continuous improvement, leading to a 10% increase in employee satisfaction.

Why this sample works: 

 

This candidate uses powerful words like “led,” “implemented” and “developed” to describe their previous responsibilities. They also used numbers and statistics to lend context to their achievements.

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Poor director of operations resume example

    Director of Operations | Pearson Tech

    Los Angeles, CA | January 2019 – Present

     

    • Managed operations and staff.
    • Improved efficiency.
    • Increased revenue.
    • Implemented new systems.

How this sample fails: 

 

This candidate uses vague statements and generic language to describe their previous duties. Hiring managers can’t gauge their previous projects or professional experience, making it difficult to determine if they’re qualified.

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How to Write a Director of Operations Education Section

Although your experience and accomplishments are more valuable, your academic background can prove that you developed the career skills and abilities to manage a business’s daily operations successfully. Your education section can feature formal degrees, relevant certifications or training programs and additional learning opportunities supporting your operations management experience.

1List degrees in reverse-chronological order

Start with your most recent degree and work backward.

2Mention relevant certifications and training programs

List any additional certifications or training pertinent to the role.

3Highlight honors and relevant coursework

If you’re a recent graduate with less than three years of experience, use collegiate honors or practical projects related to operations management.

Education Example

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Harvard Business School, Cambridge, MA | Graduated: May 2020

 

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | Graduated: May 2014

 

Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) | Completed: August 2015

 

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Pro tip: Tailor your education section to include relevant education and training that directly aligns with the skills and requirements of the director of operations position you are applying for.

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15 Skills for Your Director of Operations Resume

A well-rounded skills section will feature six to eight competencies that you haven’t mentioned under your work history or resume summary. Add a mix of soft skills, hard skills and technical skills, especially if they are related to business management.

soft skills

Soft skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Time management

soft skills

Hard skills

Budgeting and financial management

Negotiation

Process improvement

Project management

Strategic planning

soft skills

Technical skills

Data analysis tools (Tableau, Power BI)

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle)

Inventory management software

Lean Six Sigma

Supply chain management systems

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20 Director of Operations Action Verbs

With only one page to impress hiring managers, dynamic language like action verbs and power words can make your qualifications stand out. Here’s an alphabetized list of 20 powerful action verbs related to business operations.

Allocate

Analyze

Collaborate

Coordinate

Develop

Direct

Enhance

Implement

Innovate

Lead

Manage

Monitor

Optimize

Oversee

Plan

Prioritize

Streamline

Supervise

Train

Transform

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Additional Resume Sections

To enhance your qualifications, consider adding the following sections to your director of operations resume based on your specific circumstances:

  • Certifications

    Include a separate section to showcase relevant credentials, such as project management, operations management or business management certifications. 

  • Professional development

    Use a professional development section featuring workshops, seminars or business operations programs to replace or supplement your education section. 

  • Awards and achievements

    If you have received recognition or awards for your performance, productivity or safety record, include a section to showcase these accomplishments.

  • Volunteer experience

    If you have less than three years of experience, replace your work history section with a volunteer section. Use this space to demonstrate relevant skills or attributes, such as resource allocation, risk management or workflow optimization.

  • Language proficiency

    Since business operations can include a diverse employment pool, promote your knowledge of multiple languages. 

  • Memberships

    Let hiring managers know about your membership to industry-specific organizations or unions.

Use a Cover Letter to Express Yourself

A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your skills match a company’s needs. Use this sample as a guide, or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.

Director of Operations Resume FAQ

Should I include references on my director of operations resume?

No, prepare a separate list of references to provide near the end of the interview process. Since you’re limited to one page, save this space for a detailed summary of your qualifications and accomplishments.

How do I tailor my resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS)?

To successfully pass through most ATS, use keywords from the job description, the same tense and phrasing throughout, a simple format with standard headings, and avoid complicated templates with tables or graphs. Try one of our ATS resume templates to get started.

How do you effectively highlight your leadership experience?

Emphasize your leadership experience by showcasing specific achievements, such as successfully managing teams, driving process improvements and achieving strategic goals. Use quantifiable results to demonstrate your impact, such as increasing efficiency by a certain percentage or reducing costs, to convey your effectiveness as a leader.

What are additional skills to include on a director of operations resume?

Essential skills you can add to your resume include strategic planning, project management, process improvement, budgeting, risk assessment or leadership. You can highlight technical skills related to standard business management tools like ERP systems or data analysis tools.