Business Operations Manager Resume Examples and How to Write

Are you struggling to demonstrate your operations management expertise in a way that captures employers’ attention? Whether you’re looking to advance in your current field or transition into a senior operations role, creating a resume that effectively showcases your process improvement achievements and strategic thinking can be challenging. Many operations professionals find it difficult to quantify their impact and translate complex operational improvements into compelling resume content.

This comprehensive guide will help you create an outstanding business operations manager resume tailored specifically for the Australian job market. You’ll discover proven strategies for highlighting your operational excellence, leadership capabilities, and business impact. From showcasing your process optimisation achievements to demonstrating your cross-functional collaboration skills, we’ll provide everything you need to position yourself as the ideal operations management candidate.

Business Operations Manager Resume (Text Version)

What is The Best Format for a Business Operations Manager Resume?

The reverse chronological format is the optimal choice for business operations manager resumes. This format effectively demonstrates your career progression and operational achievements, which is crucial for senior-level positions. Australian employers in operations management prefer this structured approach as it clearly shows your increasing responsibilities and measurable impact on business performance.

Font and Formatting Guidelines:
• Heading font: 16-18pt for your name, 12-14pt for section headers
• Body text: 10-12pt for optimal readability
• Font choice: Professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
• Margins: 2.5cm on all sides to ensure proper spacing
• White space: Adequate spacing between sections for clean appearance
• File type: Save as PDF unless the employer specifically requests Word format

Essential Resume Sections:

Header: Include your full name, professional title reflecting operations expertise, phone number, email address, location (suburb and state), and LinkedIn profile URL. Consider adding relevant certifications like “PMP Certified” or “Lean Six Sigma Black Belt” in your title.

Summary: Create a powerful 3-4 line overview highlighting your operations management experience, key achievements with metrics, and core competencies. Focus on quantifiable results and leadership impact.

Experience: List your positions in reverse chronological order, emphasising process improvements, cost savings, productivity gains, and team leadership achievements with specific metrics.

Education: Include your highest qualification and any relevant business or engineering degrees, emphasising operations-focused coursework or specialisations.

Other sections: Add certifications (especially Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or industry-specific qualifications), professional associations, awards, and relevant volunteer work that demonstrates leadership or operational expertise.

What Experience Should Be on Your Business Operations Manager Resume?

Your experience section should showcase your ability to drive operational excellence, manage complex processes, and deliver measurable business results. Focus on achievements that demonstrate your strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and leadership impact. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible using specific metrics, percentages, and dollar figures.

Key areas to highlight:
• Process improvement initiatives and efficiency gains
• Cost reduction and budget management achievements
• Team leadership and cross-functional collaboration
• Technology implementation and digital transformation
• Quality management and compliance initiatives
• Vendor management and contract negotiations
• Change management and organisational development
• Risk management and business continuity planning

Entry-Level Business Operations Manager Resume Samples [Experience]

For entry-level operations professionals or those transitioning from other fields, emphasise transferable skills, analytical capabilities, and any process improvement experience. Focus on specific projects, quantifiable results, and demonstrate your understanding of operational principles.

How to Write the Education Section for your Business Operations Manager Resume

The education section for business operations managers should highlight qualifications that demonstrate analytical thinking, business acumen, and technical competency. While specific degrees vary, employers value educational backgrounds in business administration, engineering, supply chain management, or related fields. Include relevant coursework, projects, or academic achievements that directly relate to operations management.

Australian employers particularly value post-graduate qualifications like MBA degrees with operations focus, as well as professional certifications that show commitment to continuous learning and industry best practices. If you’ve completed any thesis work or significant projects related to operations, process improvement, or business optimisation, these can strengthen your educational credentials.

Business Operations Manager Resume Example [Education]

How to Write the Skills Section for your Business Operations Manager Resume

The skills section for business operations managers should demonstrate both technical competencies and leadership capabilities essential for driving operational excellence. Balance hard skills like process improvement methodologies and software proficiency with soft skills such as team leadership and strategic thinking. Include 10-14 skills that align with the specific role requirements while accurately representing your strongest competencies.

Tailor your skills to match the job description and industry requirements. Operations management roles often require a unique combination of analytical abilities, technology proficiency, and people management skills. Prioritise skills that demonstrate your ability to deliver measurable business results and lead organisational change.

Business Operations Manager Resume Skills (Hard Skills)

• Lean Six Sigma methodologies and process improvement
• Data analysis and business intelligence tools
• ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics)
• Project management and workflow optimisation
• Quality management systems and compliance
• Supply chain management and vendor relations
• Financial analysis and budget management
• Risk assessment and business continuity planning
• Performance metrics and KPI development
• Technology implementation and change management

Business Operations Manager Resume Skills (Soft Skills)

• Strategic planning and business development
• Cross-functional team leadership
• Stakeholder management and communication
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Change management and organisational development
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Decision-making under pressure
• Coaching and team development
• Adaptability and continuous improvement mindset
• Customer focus and service excellence

How to pick the best Business Operations Manager skills:

1. Review the job description thoroughly and identify the most frequently mentioned technical and leadership requirements
2. Match your strongest competencies to the employer’s needs, prioritising skills where you have proven achievements
3. Include industry-specific skills relevant to the sector (manufacturing, services, technology, healthcare)
4. Balance methodologies and tools with leadership and strategic thinking capabilities
5. Focus on high-impact skills that directly contribute to operational excellence and business results
6. Demonstrate proficiency levels by linking skills to specific achievements or certifications when possible

Business Operations Manager Resume Examples [Skills]

Should I Add Bonus Sections to My Business Operations Manager Resume?

Adding bonus sections to your business operations manager resume can significantly enhance your candidacy by showcasing additional qualifications that demonstrate your commitment to operational excellence and professional development. These sections are particularly valuable in operations management, where continuous improvement and industry knowledge are highly prized by Australian employers.

Valuable bonus sections include:

Licences & Certifications: Operations management certifications like Lean Six Sigma, PMP, ISO lead auditor qualifications, and industry-specific credentials that validate your expertise and methodology knowledge.

Professional Associations: Membership in organisations like the Australian Institute of Management, Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia, or Project Management Institute demonstrates your professional network engagement.

Awards and Honours: Recognition for operational excellence, process improvement achievements, cost savings initiatives, or leadership awards that provide third-party validation of your capabilities.

Speaking Engagements: Conference presentations on operational topics, workshop facilitation, or training delivery shows thought leadership and subject matter expertise.

Publications: Articles on process improvement, case studies of successful implementations, or research papers that demonstrate your analytical thinking and industry knowledge.

Volunteer Leadership: Pro-bono operations consulting, non-profit board service, or community project leadership that showcases your commitment to applying operational skills for broader impact.

Business Operations Manager Resume Examples [Other Sections]

Tip: Focus on professional achievements and qualifications that add credibility to your operations expertise. Avoid personal hobbies unless they directly demonstrate leadership, analytical thinking, or other job-relevant capabilities.

How to write a Business Operations Manager Resume Objective or Resume Summary

A compelling resume summary is critical for business operations managers as it immediately establishes your operational impact and leadership credentials. This section should concisely communicate your years of experience, specific operational achievements, and the unique value you bring to potential employers. Focus on quantifiable results that demonstrate your ability to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve business performance.

Your summary should answer key questions: What is your operational expertise? What measurable impact have you delivered? What specific skills make you valuable? Keep it focused and results-oriented, using strong action verbs and specific metrics that grab attention.

Key elements to include:
• Years of operations management experience
• Specific operational achievements with metrics
• Industry expertise or specialisations
• Leadership scope (team size, budget responsibility)
• Core methodologies or certifications
• Clear statement of your career objectives

Business Operations Manager Resume Summary Examples

For entry-level candidates or those transitioning into operations management, focus on transferable skills, relevant education, and any process improvement experience, even from non-operations roles.

Entry-Level Business Operations Manager Resume Summary Examples

How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile When Updating Your Business Operations Manager Resume

Synchronising your resume and LinkedIn profile is essential for business operations managers, as 92% of Australian recruiters use LinkedIn to source operations talent. Your LinkedIn profile should reinforce the same professional narrative as your resume while leveraging the platform’s expanded format to showcase your operational expertise, thought leadership, and industry engagement more comprehensively.

LinkedIn provides unique opportunities to demonstrate your operational impact through case studies, recommendations from team members, and engagement with industry discussions about process improvement and operational excellence. This expanded visibility helps potential employers understand both your technical capabilities and your leadership approach.

LinkedIn Headline Optimisation for Business Operations Managers

Your LinkedIn headline should be keyword-rich and compelling, incorporating operations management terms that Australian recruiters commonly search for. Unlike resume headers, LinkedIn headlines can be more dynamic and include multiple value propositions.

LinkedIn Summary vs Resume Summary: Key Differences

Your LinkedIn summary can be more comprehensive and storytelling-focused than your resume summary. Use this space to share your operational philosophy, specific transformation stories, and the impact you’ve had on organisations. Australian operations professionals often appreciate authentic leadership stories that demonstrate both technical competency and people management skills.

Structure your LinkedIn summary with 4-6 paragraphs covering your operational approach, key achievements with specific examples, leadership philosophy, and industry expertise. Include a call-to-action inviting conversations about operational challenges or opportunities.

Showcasing Business Operations Manager Experience on LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s experience section allows you to tell the complete story behind your operational achievements. Expand resume bullet points into detailed case studies explaining the situation, your approach, implementation challenges, and measurable results. Include relevant media such as process flow diagrams, before/after photos, or presentation slides that illustrate your impact.

Use LinkedIn’s project feature to highlight major operational initiatives like ERP implementations, facility relocations, or process reengineering projects. This provides concrete evidence of your capability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives.

LinkedIn Skills and Endorsements for Business Operations Managers

Prioritise operations-specific skills that align with senior-level roles and industry trends. Focus your top skills on high-value competencies like “Operations Management,” “Process Improvement,” “Lean Six Sigma,” and “Strategic Planning.” These skills receive the most recruiter attention and search visibility.

Actively seek endorsements from team members, senior executives, vendors, and cross-functional partners who can validate your operational expertise. These third-party validations are particularly valuable for operations managers, where credibility and trust are essential.

Complete LinkedIn skill assessments for relevant competencies like Project Management, Business Analysis, or Strategic Planning. These badges provide objective validation of your capabilities and demonstrate commitment to professional development.

LinkedIn Profile Tips for Australian Business Operations Managers

Industry Engagement: Join Australian operations and manufacturing groups, engage with content from local industry leaders, and share insights about operational best practices or industry trends specific to the Australian market.

Local Networking: Connect with operations professionals from Australian companies, particularly in your target industries. Engage with content from Australian business publications and operations thought leaders to increase local visibility.

Content Strategy: Share operational insights, process improvement case studies, or commentary on industry developments. This positions you as an operations thought leader and keeps your profile active in recruiter feeds.

Recommendation Exchange: Proactively provide recommendations for team members, vendors, or cross-functional partners, and request recommendations that highlight your operational leadership and results delivery.

Company Following: Follow target companies and engage thoughtfully with their content, particularly posts related to operational excellence, sustainability initiatives, or business growth announcements.

Creating an exceptional business operations manager resume for the Australian market requires strategic positioning of your operational expertise and leadership achievements. By following the comprehensive guidelines in this guide, you’ll effectively demonstrate your ability to drive operational excellence, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver measurable business results that Australian employers value highly.

Your operations management background provides you with highly sought-after skills in process optimisation, team leadership, and strategic thinking—capabilities that are essential for business success across all industries. Whether you’re targeting senior operations roles, general management positions, or executive leadership opportunities, your operational expertise is a significant competitive advantage when presented strategically.

To strengthen your job application, complement your resume with a targeted cover letter that reinforces your operational achievements. Visit SEEK’s Cover Letter Resources for Australian-specific templates and guidance. Additionally, explore current operations management opportunities on LinkedIn Australia and Indeed Australia to identify roles that align with your operational background and career aspirations.