Director of Operations: skills & capabilities the market requires
Based on 1,292 real Director of Operations job postings, here is what companies actually require for this role today: the capabilities that define it, the hard skills named most often, the scope expected, typical experience and pay. The market leans hardest on Operational Excellence (77%) and Strategic Leadership (72%).
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Core capabilities for a Director of Operations
- Operational Excellence — required in 77% of postings
- Strategic Leadership — required in 72% of postings
- Executive Communication — required in 53% of postings
- Cross-functional Leadership — required in 52% of postings
- Risk, Security & Compliance — required in 50% of postings
- Stakeholder Management — required in 47% of postings
- People Leadership — required in 43% of postings
Most-required hard skills
- Budget Management
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Strategic Planning
- P&L Management
- Regulatory Compliance
Leadership & soft skills
- Leadership
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Communication
- Stakeholder Management
Scope, experience & pay
Director of Operations roles expect deal / M&A experience in 2% of postings, IPO or capital markets in 1%, and transformation in 32%. Typical stated experience: 10 years. Pay signal from postings (base): $177K–$237K.
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