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IT Leadership

Head of Operations

Leads the IT operations function: run, service delivery, operations strategy and executive reporting.

Experience level: ExpertCoding level: No codingTechnical difficulty: 55/100

Leads the IT operations function: run, service delivery, operations strategy and executive reporting.

Entry

Expert

Coding

No coding

Key skills

Operations leadershipOperations strategyExecutive leadershipRun/transformation balance
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Career overview

The Head of Operations leads the IT operations function: run, service delivery, operations strategy, talent and the relationship with executive leadership. They own organisation-wide operational performance and the run/transformation balance. The role leads to IT manager, IT director or VP technology.

Main responsibilities

  • Define strategy and steer long-term direction
  • Manage an IT team and its operations
  • Own the technical roadmap of the perimeter
  • Ensure delivery of products and programs
  • Manage budget, scope and risks
  • Align stakeholders and report progress
  • Run steering committees and project rituals
  • Mentor junior team members and review their work
  • Coordinate the technical work of the team
  • Coordinate with software vendors and third parties
  • Prioritise work and manage competing demands
  • Structure work, resources and governance

Technical skills

Operations leadership95%
Operations strategy90%
Executive leadership90%
Run/transformation balance90%
Financial management85%
Talent development85%
Stakeholder management90%
Service delivery85%

Technologies

PlanviewServiceNowPower BIJiraConfluenceMS ProjectTeamsSharePointPowerPointExcelM365ITILSlackTableauMiroOutlook

Education level

Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.

High School / Bac

Less common

Bac+2 (2-year degree)

Less common

Bac+3 (Bachelor)

Less common

Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)

Common entry point

Experience & coding level

Experience level

Entry LevelJuniorIntermediateSeniorExpert

Coding level

No codingLowMediumHighVery High
Technical difficulty55%

Useful certifications

Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.

  • ITIL 4 Strategist
  • PgMP
  • PfMP
  • MBA

Where can this career take you?

Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.

Direct progression

Head of Operations

Possible branches

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Where Can Your IT Career Take You?

Where can you go next?

Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.

IT ManagerHigh

Overlap: 75% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Budget, Mentoring

View roadmap
IT DirectorHigh

Overlap: 63% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Budget, Governance, Mentoring

View roadmap

Where can you go from here?

A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.

  1. IT Activity Manager
  2. Head of Operations
Soft skills
  • Strategic thinking
  • Leadership
  • Clear communication
  • Big-picture thinking
  • Decisiveness
  • Mentoring
  • Stakeholder management
Common previous careers

Roles that frequently lead into this career.

IT Activity ManagerMedium

Overlap: 58% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Operations strategy, Run/transformation balance, Talent development

View roadmap
Operations Activity ManagerHigh

Overlap: 61% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Run/transformation balance, Talent development, Service delivery

View roadmap
IT Practice ManagerHigh

Overlap: 69% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Run/transformation balance, Service delivery

View roadmap
IT Domain ManagerHigh

Overlap: 87% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Run/transformation balance

View roadmap
Activity ManagerHigh

Overlap: 71% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Run/transformation balance, Talent development

View roadmap

Related resources

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Next step

The path to IT Manager

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A documented transition from this role to the next.

Head of OperationsIT Manager

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