EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A CAREER IN OPERATIONS & SUPPORT (ANSWERING FAQ’S)

A hub of FAQ’s about a career in Operations & Support.

WHAT IS OPERATIONS & SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

An effective and efficient operations team is often the backbone of business success and those in support roles are invaluable to keeping the day-to-day business running smoothly and efficiently.

Whether this is in the form of managing an office and its stock or supporting a Director through personal assistance, operations & support professionals are necessary for every organisation.

WHAT DOES A CAREER IN OPERATIONS & SUPPORT INVOLVE?

A career in Operations & Support can vary massively depending on the role and the business (how big it is and how many team members).

However, in any of the roles, there would be a mix of responsibilities, most revolving around the day-to-day runnings of the company and helping things operate efficiently and quickly.

Here are some of the tasks you may be expected to carry out:

Operations & Support responsibilities

  • Reviewing and implementing processes

  • Identifying operational issues such as supply chain concerns or database changes

  • Preparing documents and reports

  • Managing stock such as office and kitchen supplies

  • Developing training procedures and guidelines on how to perform duties better

  • Managing schedules and communications of key executives

  • Provide administrative support either to a team or to individual key executive

See here for a Operations & Support Career Progression Path.

WHAT ARE THE PERKS OF A CAREER IN OPERATIONS & SUPPORT?

A career in Operations & Support is guaranteed stability. Organisations will always need administration done, supplies managed and databases running smoothly. Not to mention steady progression with the opportunity to earn above average.

The great thing about this career is how many paths you can go down. So whilst there is the expected organisation quality in any operations professional, you can find a path that brings out other qualities and skills. Leaning more towards a strategic role? How about something customer-focused? There’s something for everyone.

And it doesn’t stop there. A huge perk for many professionals is that a career in Operations & Support gives them a vast understanding of how the organisation operates as a whole. You'd get to work closely with all departments, giving you a broad understanding of all departments and their benefits. So should you decide to make a switch, you probably would’ve built up some decent knowledge through an operations job.

WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL OPERATIONS & SUPPORT JOB TITLES? 

  • Executive Assistant

  • Personal Assistant

  • Administration Assistant

  • Office Administrator

  • Office Assistant

  • Office Manager

  • Operations Intern

  • Operations Assistant

  • Operations Coordinator

  • Operations Specialist

  • Operations Engineer

  • Operations Supervisor

  • Operations Manager

  • Director Of Operations

  • Vice President Of Operations

  • Chief Operating Officer

OPERATIONS & SUPPORT Salary benchmarks

The following salary benchmarks are based on internal data and will vary based on factors such as location, industry and personal experience.

SALARIES CAN BE BANDED INTO 4 LEVELS

Entry Level: average salary of £21,000

Mid Level: average salary of £30,000

Senior Level: average salary £45,000

Director Level: £60,000

Is a career in OPERATIONS & SUPPORT for me?

Those who tend to thrive in an Operations & Support career are usually super organised and detail oriented. But there are many other paths in this field for people who are:

  • Analytical and strategic

  • Great communicators and enjoy customer support

  • Tech savvy

  • Interested in freight operations and the supply chain