Vp

Operations Vice President (Operations VP)

The operations executive — directing operational strategy and execution to deliver business results.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
S
I
A
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Operations Vice President (Operations VP)s
Employment concentration · ~327 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Operations Vice President (Operations VP)

As Operations Vice President, you lead a major portion of the organization's operations. You develop operational strategy, manage operations leaders, drive efficiency and quality, and ensure operations deliver on business commitments. This executive role translates business strategy into operational execution.

Your days involve strategic leadership and performance management. You might review operational metrics with your team, address an escalated operational issue, develop strategy for capacity expansion, meet with sales about delivery commitments, and lead your operations leadership team through planning. You ensure operations enables business success.

The hardest part is balancing multiple operational priorities — cost, quality, speed, flexibility — while leading through the inevitable disruptions and surprises. Operations VPs who thrive are skilled at building high-performing operations organizations, make sound decisions with imperfect information, and maintain composure under pressure.

RecognitionHigh
IndependenceHigh
AchievementHigh
Working ConditionsHigh
SupportAbove avg
RelationshipsAbove avg
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Operations scopeIndustry contextScale and complexityP&L responsibilityCOO relationship
Operations VP roles vary significantly by scope. Some lead manufacturing; others services or distribution. Scale ranges from hundreds to thousands of employees. P&L responsibility varies from full ownership to cost center management. The relationship with COO (or if this is the top operations role) affects authority.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Operations Vice President (Operations VP)s (SOC 11-1011.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Career Growth OptionsOperations track →
Exploring the Operations Vice President (Operations VP) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Business strategy
COO and CEO roles require shaping strategy, not just executing
2
Enterprise leadership
Senior roles require influence beyond operations
3
Financial acumen
Executive roles require P&L sophistication
What is the scope of operations responsibility?
What is the P&L structure — cost center or profit responsibility?
What are the key operational challenges and priorities?
How does this role work with the COO and CEO?
What is the operations leadership team structure?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$74K–$208K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
212K
U.S. Employment
+4.3%
10yr Growth
22K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$110K$107K$104K$101K$99K201920202021202220232024$99K$110K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Judgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesSystems EvaluationSpeakingWritingNegotiation
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-1011.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.