Placement Overview

Works in the motor industry and is the operations director for Racing Technology Norfolk Ltd. This VIP designs and build cars and will sometimes race them, as well as being in charge of the operational side of the business.

Generic Job Description for an Operations Director

Operations Directors are more commonly known as General Managers or Operations Managers. They plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of companies or public and private sector organisations.

Their duties include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are diverse and general in nature. In some organisations, the duties of general and operations managers may overlap the duties of chief executive officers.

Skills:

• Motivation
• The ability to encourage others
• Good organisation skills
• The ability to work well under pressure
• Effective at planning, monitoring and reviewing
• Good problem solving skills
• The ability to work alone or as part of a team

Pay:

• Entry £15,000
• £25,000 - £50,00 with experience
• £60,000 or more as Operations Directors of large companies

Please not that salary figures are a guide only. Actual salaries may vary depending on the organisation and geographical location

Hours:

• Typically 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday
• Overtime is common in order to meet demands of the job 

Environment:

• Typically office based
• Some travel may be required to attend meetings

Qualifications:

• No set entry requirements
• GCSE passes in Math and English will improve chances of employment
• Many Managers and Directors are graduates
• Experience is essential and gained through working up through the ranks of a business or organisation

Training:

• Training is mainly on-the-job
• NVQ qualifications are available in Team Leading, Management, Operational Management and Strategic Management
• Professional development training is available through the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

Opportunities:

• Nearly every type of organisation has General or Operational Managers
• Opportunities exist in businesses of all sizes across the UK
• It is estimated that nearly 15 per cent of the working population have managerial responsibilities

Links:

www.managers.org.uk - The Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

www.i-l-m.com - Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM)

www.iod.com - Institute of Directors (IoD)

www.the-abs.org.uk - The Association of Business Schools