Best Director of Operations Resume Example for 2024

Writing a winning director of operations resume that captures your skills and accomplishments can be like managing a complicated supply chain. But it doesn’t have to be.

With this guide, you’ll be able to land that dream job with a resume that's so impressive it'll be the talk of the C-suite.

This guide will show you:

• An expert-crafted director of operations resume example.
• How to write the perfect director of operations job description for a resume.
• What director of operations skills are the most vital for your resume.
• Tips to make your operations director resume stand out.

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Searching for a different directorial and supervising position? See these guides:

• CEO Resume Example
• CFO Resume Guide
• Creative Director Resume
• Executive Resume Guide
• IT Director Resume Example
• Manager Resume
• Marketing Director Resume Sample
• Product Owner Resume Guide
• Supervisor Resume Sample
• Supply Chain Manager Resume

Need a different resume example? Check our collection of 200+ resume examples for different positions.

Director of Operations Resume Example 

Directors of operations are senior executives who ensure the company is meeting its strategic goals. Operations directors typically report to the CEO or COO. They have many responsibilities, including: Implementing operational policies and procedures or managing relationships with stakeholders.

Now here’s the top strategy to write the best operations director’s resume:

1. Implement a Flawless Director of Operations Resume Format

A tangled supply chain, or internal communication system, can greatly hinder a company’s efficiency. And your director of operations resume can suffer from a similar fate.

This is why you should plan out your operations director resume format from the very beginning. Here are the rules to do so:

• Use the chronological resume format to show your most recent jobs first.
• Pick a readable resume font such as Cambria in 10-12pt. And make each section title larger.
• Use 1-inch margins on your resume. Set the spacing to 1.15,and leave some white space showing to increase readability.
• Determine the appropriate resume length. You can go for one page if you can condense your vast work experience. But, if your career is 12+ years long, you might want to go for two pages.
• Include these resume sections: Header, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and one or two “Additional” sections.
• Save your resume as a PDF as long as the job offer doesn’t say otherwise.

Now that your director of operations resume layout is working as intended, let’s talk about how to fill in each section.

2. Supply your Operations Director Resume With a Career Summary

A resume profile is the KPI of your job application. Its quality determines whether your operations director's resume gets read. So, how does one make their resume summary look like a green profit line?

Include:

1. One adjective (efficient, goal-oriented)
2. Job title (Director of Operations)
3. Years of experience (10+, 12+)
4. How you’ll help (develop long-term operational strategies that help meet company objectives.)
5. Nicest 2–3 achievements (50% increase in employee engagement, Successfully executed multiple change management initiatives simultaneously)

These two directors of operations resume examples show how:

Director of Operations Resume Summary—Example

Efficient Director of Operations with 10+ years of experience. Developed and implemented a new communications plan resulting in a 50% increase in employee engagement and a 20% decrease in communication-related errors at Concord Hospitality. Successfully executed multiple change management initiatives simultaneously, resulting in a 30% increase in successful change adoption. Seeking a role at Teladoc Health to develop long-term operational strategies that help meet company objectives.

Experienced supply chain manager with over 12 years in operations management seeking a Director of Operations role at Teladoc Health. Proven track record of reducing operational costs, improving efficiency, and increasing employee satisfaction.

The second example did not meet its goal.

It sounds like a copy-paste, low-effort statement that doesn’t prove anything. It doesn’t exude confidence in the candidate. On the other hand, the first sample shows achievements and backs them up with numbers. We can clearly see that this candidate knows their craft.

Expert Hint: Don’t block your creative supply lines from the start. Write a resume summary after you’ve finished the rest of your application. It’ll make it easier for you to pick the most relevant and best achievements.

3. Add the Perfect Director of Operations Job Description

To climb to the director of operations position, you must have overcome many hurdles and achieve many victories. This is the section where you can show them all. Show your resourcefulness and prove to your future employer you’ll make their company grow.

So, let’s get to work on your resume work experience section.

Take these steps when writing a director of operations resume job description:

1. Read the job ad carefully.
2. Spot the operations director's skills, duties, and responsibilities in it.
3. Recall the times you’ve succeeded in these duties.
4. Write resume bullet points that show your wins, and back them up with numbers.

Just like in these director of operations examples:

Director of Operations Job Description for a Resume

Director of Operations

Concord Hospitality, Detroit, USA

June 2017 – Present

• Developed and implemented a new communications plan resulting in a 50% increase in employee engagement and a 20% decrease in communication-related errors.
• Successfully coached and advised senior executives on communication strategies, resulting in a 15% increase in alignment with company goals.
• Ensured alignment of communication strategies across the organization by collaborating with 10+ leaders.
• Successfully managed internal and external resources, resulting in a 15% increase in project efficiency.
• Translated complex business concepts into accessible messaging, resulting in a 35% increase in employee understanding of business operations.

Operations Manager

GE Healthcare, Detroit, USA

August 2012–June 2017

• Achieved a 20% increase in production efficiency by implementing Lean Six Sigma methodologies across the operation.
• Successfully led a team of 12 senior professionals to achieve a 15% reduction in operating costs over a 6-month period.
• Developed and implemented a new quality control process that reduced defects by 25%, significantly increasing customer satisfaction.
• Led a cross-functional team to implement a new electronic health record system, resulting in a 30% reduction in manual data entry and a 25% increase in productivity.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, completing them within time and budget constraints, resulting in an overall cost savings of 10%.

Director of Operations, Concord Hospitality

• Led a team and oversaw daily operations of 5 clinics
• Implemented cost-cutting measures.
• Improved patient satisfaction rates.

Operations Manager, GE Healthcare

• Successfully implemented a new electronic health record system.
• Improved staff retention rate.
• Reduced inventory costs.

It’s clear that the data-driven candidate with detailed experience is the better catch. They list their professional resume achievements on the whiteboard and point directly to their effects on the company.

When writing a director of operations resume, remember to tailor it to the specific job you’re targeting. A targeted resume is infinitely more efficient than a generic one.

Expert Hint: This portion of your operations director’s resume is going to be the longest. Especially since your work history is so vast. But don’t list everything you did ever since your first part-time gig. List about 10-12 years of your previous work experience, and avoid going too far back on your resume.

4. Regulate Your Director of Operations Skills Section

Operational strategies in companies are diverse. Stellar directors of operations have a myriad of skills to be able to execute those strategies that are currently needed. But, even though you can, you shouldn’t put dozens of skills on your resume, as it will get cluttered. Instead, opt for the 5–10 most relevant ones.

Skill lists found online shouldn’t be copied when writing a resume skills section. But you can certainly use them for inspiration. Here’s one such list you can get inspired by:

Director of Operations Skills for a Resume

• Operations management
• Project management
• Risk management
• Strategic thinking
• Financial analysis and budgeting
• Performance management
• Cost reduction strategies
• Communication skills and negotiation
• Stakeholder management
• Process improvement
• Vendor management
• Change management
• Regulatory compliance
• Process improvement
• Data analysis and reporting
• Quality management
• Lean Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies
• Inventory management
• Staff supervision
• Leadership skills
• Managerial skills
• Strategic planning and execution
• Conflict resolution
• Time management
• Budgeting and financial management
• Logistics
• Supply chain management

Expert Hint: If you’re unsure which skills could enhance your operations director’s resume, look for resume keywords in the job ad. This way, you can easily target this section of your resume.

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5. Present Your Education the Right Way

Operational directors usually have at least a Bachelor’s degree, with Master’s degrees being a nice bonus. Fortunately, you don’t have to extend the resume education section like you would on an entry-level resume. All you need to do is list the following: Degree, school name, and start and graduation dates.

Do it like that:

Director of Operations Resume Education—Sample

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

March 2010 – August 2012

Education

Degree in Dance Theory

Orange Coast College

Graduated 2012

• Won the National Hip Hop Dancing Competition

It’s not that you can’t be a masterful DoO with that second degree. But you won’t be taken seriously if you major in a completely unrelated field. Director of Operations positions demand a certain level of professionalism, not only in your work history but also in your education level. Also, we don’t even know what kind of degree the candidate has.

Learn more: How to List Education on a Resume

6. End Your Director of Operations Resume With Bonus Sections

If your resume could earn a base salary, a couple of additional sections would grant it a significant cash bonus.

Show additional wins and abilities you have to make your director of operations resume soar in the rankings. Choose one or two bonus sections from the list below:

• Conferences
• Foreign Languages
• Certifications and Licenses
• Memberships
• Professional Awards
• Professional References

Just like in this director of operations resume example:

Director of Operations Resume Sample—Extra Sections

Conferences

• Operations Management Summit - April 2016, Panelist "Streamlining Operations: Best Practices and Emerging Technologies.”
• Operations and Supply Chain Conference - December 2020, Presenter "Sustainability in Supply Chain Management: Challenges and Opportunities" and "Creating a Culture of Operational Excellence: People, Processes, and Metrics."

Languages

• Chinese (Mandarin) - HSK VI Certified
• Russian - C1 Certified

Languages

• Mandarin
• Russian

Certifications

• Certified Chemical Engineer

Let’s take a close look at our second candidate. Even though being a certified chemical engineer is impressive, it bears no value to the job position the candidate seeks. As for their languages, we don’t know what levels they are on.

On the other hand, the first candidate clearly states their language proficiency levels and shows they have been active in conferences that are relevant to their field of work.

Expert Hint: You might already know that, but cover letters are essential when applying for jobs. If you don’t like making them, take a moment to read our guide on how to write cover letters quickly and efficiently.

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Key Points

For a director of operations resume that opens the gates to a job:

• Use the operations director resume template up top. It’s designed to give you high ROI.

• Develop your director of operations job description. Point out your most significant achievements to make the reader nod in approval.

• Include relevant director of operations skills on your resume. Give the recruiting company exactly what they want.
• Write an operations director cover letter. In it, show your expertise further, and explain to the company how you’ll benefit them.

Got questions on how to write a stunning resume for operations director jobs? Need more tips on how to write a great director of operations resume job description? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

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