what is an operations professional?
An operations professional works at different production sites. The main task is to feed the materials into the machines and operate them during manufacturing. You might work in various industries, such as metals, plastics, or other consumer goods. It’s your responsibility to ensure the quality standards are met throughout the production process. You need to be familiar with safety precautions and quality requirements for the finished products.
Unlike a general operations professional, you operate specialised machines to complete your tasks. For example, you use computer-controlled equipment to cut metal and to operate machinery. If you work in a warehouse, you pack the products and prepare them for shipping.
what does an operations professional do?
As an operations professional, you need to be physically fit since your job requires manual effort, for example when transporting heavy packages or raw materials. During production, you operate heavy machinery, which calls for good manual skills. A factory employee is also responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and machines. You clean them and replace worn parts when necessary. When machines need to be assembled, you work together with other factory staff.
Would working as an operations professional suit your craftsmanship skills and your interpersonal abilities? Then keep reading to find out which additional competencies and qualifications you need to succeed in an operational role within the manufacturing industry.
operations professional jobsworking as an operations professional.
As an operational staff member, you are allowed to take on various tasks.
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your area of responsibility
- Raw material measurement: As an operations professional, you classify and measure the raw materials before the production process begins. After weighing the appropriate materials, you need to feed them into the respective machine. If you work in a warehouse, you store the raw materials properly to keep them in good condition.
- Operating machines and production equipment: Often, the main responsibility of an employee in the factory is to control the machines. After feeding in the raw materials, you make the necessary adjustments based on the production requirements. You also ensure that the machines have enough electricity or fuel to run at the required operating speed.
- Assembly of product parts: In a continuous production line, you work together with other employees to assemble different components. For example, you might put together the parts of a toy after manufacturing the individual pieces.
- Cleaning the work environment and maintaining the equipment: The operations staff are responsible for cleaning the production area and restoring it after production. Your task is to ensure that the workplace meets the necessary health and safety standards. Additionally, you will clean, maintain, and repair the machines. You should regularly lubricate and service the equipment to ensure a smooth production process.
- Packaging of finished products: When you assemble or produce consumer goods, you need to pack them before they leave the warehouse. It's important to use the right packaging materials and to sort everything properly to optimize the shipping process.
- Maintaining production quality: As an operations professional, you inspect the finished products and test them to ensure they meet the production standards. You also record any defective items before they are stored.
An operations professional typically works indoors in factories, production facilities, and warehouses. The work environment must meet certain requirements to enable production activities. For example, surfaces are regularly cleaned to maintain hygiene standards in the food industry. In assembly line production plants, the work environment is usually designed in a way that aims to minimise accidents and injuries.
When machines are in operation, the environment can be loud, dusty, and filled with fumes. In most production facilities, employees are required to wear protective clothing and safety gear to reduce the risk of injury.
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who are your colleagues?
As an operations professional, you work in various production sites, from a warehouse in a hardware store to the pharmaceutical industry. Your colleagues might include machine mechanics, maintenance engineers, and mechanical engineers. They help you keep the production equipment running and repair it to ensure everything functions as it should. You may also collaborate with foremen, assemblers, and other specialists, such as welders or plant managers.
types of operational staff.
As an operations professional, you can work in various industries and roles:
- Assembly line operations professional: You work on the assembly line during the manufacturing process. There, you might cut raw materials, assemble parts, or pack goods.
- Machine operator: To process raw materials, machines are needed that must be operated. This could involve driving a forklift or handling computer controlled systems.
- Food production: As an employee in the food industry, you produce and package food products. Your tasks include weighing and checking raw materials before production starts, and ensuring a hygienically perfect environment. You also need to ensure food safety and carry out quality controls.
- Inventory management: An employee in warehouse operations receives raw materials and stores them. Packaging and shipping of finished products are also part of their responsibilities.
salary as an operational professional.
how much do I earn as an operational professional in a permanent position?
As an operations professional, you can expect an average annual salary of 43,278.51 CHF. The salary can range between 38,000 and 70,000 CHF gross per year. For those just starting out in the profession, the average gross annual salary is around 48,000 CHF, which corresponds to a monthly salary of 4,000 CHF.
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how much do I earn as an operations professional on an hourly basis?
As a newcomer to the workforce earning 43,000 CHF per year, you can expect an average hourly wage of around 21 CHF. With more experience and responsibility, your gross annual salary could rise to about 70,000 CHF, which corresponds to an hourly rate of approximately 33.75 CHF.
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in which industry do I earn the most as an operations professional?
It matters less which industry you work in and more about your qualifications and work experience. As a seasoned employee, you’ll earn significantly more than someone just starting out.
The size of your company and the location of your workplace also influence your earnings.
vocational training and further education as an operations professional.
There is no traditional training path to become an operations professional.
For work as an operations professional, various job profiles are created, which can differ depending on the employer and the specific position. Some companies hire entry level workers who are trained internally. Others prefer to employ operations professionals with a specific professional qualification and work experience. This could be, for example, a basic craft apprenticeship with a Federal VET diploma (EFZ/EBA), often combined with additional certifications such as a forklift license or crane operator's certificate, for instance, for a position in a steel processing plant.
When it comes to operating machines and equipment, plant operators or machine drivers are in demand.
If logistical tasks are the main focus, having vocational training as a logistics specialist with a Federal VET diploma (EFZ) can be advantageous.
The requirements for operations professionals are so diverse that many have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills through different career paths. The specific prerequisites for your desired position can be found in the respective job advertisement.
Training opportunities for employees are also very diverse.
The Swiss education system offers a wide range of further training opportunities. These can include individual courses with certification or pursuing additional educational qualifications. As an employee with a Federal VET Diploma (EFZ), for example, you can earn a vocational baccalaureate part time, which grants you access to university studies, say in business administration.
You can also develop within your company and work your way up to team leader or even plant manager.
positions as operations professionals.
As an operations professional, you have very good chances of finding a job. Operations professionals are in high demand without them, production simply wouldn't run smoothly.
The fact that operations professionals often work in shifts also creates many additional jobs. While office jobs typically require only eight-hour shifts, production facilities often operate around the clock with multiple shifts. Part time positions are also offered, as well as temporary roles, for example, when the company needs to achieve peak production levels. In such cases, extra staff is needed.
positions for career changers as operations professionals.
A lateral entry as an operations professional is very much possible, but it depends on the requirements profile of the job advertisement.
For some jobs, certain prior knowledge is preferred, especially when combined with a vocational diploma. For example, this could be the EFZ qualification as a "machinist," to be able to operate plant equipment as an operations professional.
For other positions, it’s enough if you have experience operating a forklift or can operate a crane.
You should definitely be physically fit. In some workplaces, it gets very hot, and you often have to carry heavy loads.
Even demonstrating that you’re well organized and reliable can be helpful when applying for a position as an operations professional.
career opportunities and development potential as an operations professional.
As an operations professional, you have good opportunities for advancement and plenty of development potential. You can move up into management roles, such as production manager, department head, or even plant manager. There’s also the option to specialise in certain areas within the company, like operating machinery, manufacturing, or forklift driving.
A broad range of experience is also helpful, which you can gain either by changing your assignment location within the company or by moving to a different organisation.
competencies as an operations professional.
- Careful and focused work: When assembling parts or conducting quality checks, you need to work very carefully and stay highly focused at all times due to the increased risk of accidents.
- Identify and resolve problems: During the manufacturing process, disruptions can occur repeatedly. You should be able to recognize and fix them.
- Teamwork: Production only succeeds through collaboration, where communication also plays an important role.
- Fitness: As a factory worker, you need to be fit to carry heavy loads or to withstand higher temperatures well.
benefits of working as an operations professional at randstad.
There are many good reasons to work as an operations professional at Randstad.
✓ exciting jobs with well-known companies
✓ a reliable contact person whenever you need one, personal advice really matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ continuing education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s a chance to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many popular companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad
your training budget as an operations professional at randstad.
If you work as an operations professional for Randstad, you have access to training courses. As part of the TempTraining program from swissstaffing, you can attend various training sessions. You will get the course fees reimbursed later, provided you pass the course exam. Your Randstad advisor is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can acquire additional language skills or job-specific knowledge all during your working hours as an operations professional.
application tips for operations professionals at randstad.
Have you found your dream job as an operations professional? It’s not just qualifications and certificates that determine the success of your applications. Careful, error-free, and personalized documents will definitely help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to improve your chances:
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1. finding a position as an operations professional
Search through the Randstad job offers. If you don’t find a position that’s a perfect fit, you’re still welcome to get in touch with us personally without any obligation or to create a Randstad profile.
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2. applying as an operations professional
The job ad continues right away: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete:✓ CV with photo
✓ Work references & diplomasYou don't have a CV yet or only an outdated version? Create a new layout using a free online template.
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3. preparing for a job interview as an operations professional
A good preparation will help you stay calm during the interview as an operations professional. Here are some tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Here you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about the job as an operations professional.
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what does an operations professional do?
An operations professional is employed in a manufacturing company, which can vary quite a bit depending on the industry. For example, it could be in the pharmaceutical sector, in food production, or in a metalworking plant. Your responsibilities might include working on the assembly line, operating machinery, or performing quality control checks.
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how much do I earn as an operations professional?
The average gross income ranges between 38,000 and 70,000 CHF per year. The starting salary is around 48,000 CHF. With increasing work experience and further training, an annual salary of 70,000 CHF or more can be achieved.
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is an operations professional a good profession?
An operations professional is a good profession with solid future prospects. Despite the use of machines, there is still a need for staff to manage, monitor, and maintain the equipment. There are plenty of job opportunities for operations professionals, so you can choose the area that suits you best.
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is working as an operations professional difficult?
Depending on the profile of requirements, the job can be more or less demanding. There are operations professionals who perform simple tasks and bear little responsibility, and others who are required to take on significantly more. Based on individual qualifications, the scope of work is defined so that being overwhelmed in this profession is not to be expected.
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do you need experience to become an operations professional?
It depends on the specific job opening. In some cases, no prior knowledge or experience is needed to work as an operations professional, while in others, a professional background is required along with certain additional qualifications, such as a forklift license.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become an operations professional?
It also depends on the job profile here. Sometimes a lateral entry is possible, but other times specific qualifications are required. In any case, you should work carefully and reliably, be able to concentrate well, be a team player, and be physically resilient.
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how do I apply for a job as an operations professional?
Applying for an operations professional position can be in response to a job advertisement or as a spontaneous application. For both types of applications, your documents need to be carefully prepared and meet all the usual requirements for a job application folder. Take a look and see if you can find an interesting operations professional role among the many offers at Randstad.
