IT Practice Manager → Head of Operations

A realistic transition from IT Practice Manager to Head of Operations: transferable skills, the gaps to close, a step-by-step learning plan and alternative routes. Estimated skill overlap 69%. Difficulty: Medium.

Difficulty: Medium7 stepsDuration: 9 to 13 monthsOverlap: 69%

Transition from IT Practice Manager to Head of Operations.

Transferable skills

  • Operations strategy
  • Executive leadership
  • Financial management
  • Talent development
  • Stakeholder management

Skills to learn

  • Run/transformation balance
  • Service delivery

Step-by-step learning plan

  1. 1. Build on your IT Practice Manager experience

    2–4 weeks

    Leverage

    • Operations strategy
    • Executive leadership
    • Financial management
    • Talent development

    Map transferable skills — Operations strategy, Executive leadership, Financial management — against what a Head of Operations needs.

  2. 2. Close the partial gaps toward Head of Operations

    3–6 weeks

    Improve

    • Operations leadership

    Raise Operations leadership to the level a Head of Operations relies on.

  3. 3. Learn the core of the Head of Operations role

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Run/transformation balance

    Technologies

    PlanviewMS ProjectPowerPoint

    Cover the biggest gaps first: Run/transformation balance.

  4. 4. Master advanced Head of Operations skills

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Service delivery

    Technologies

    Tableau

    Handle the advanced topics: Service delivery.

  5. 5. Get productive with the Head of Operations toolchain

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    PlanviewMS ProjectPowerPointTableau

    Be hands-on with Planview, MS Project, PowerPoint and the rest of the target stack.

  6. 6. Practise Head of Operations work in real conditions

    4–8 weeks

    Ship a portfolio project or take on Head of Operations tasks at work.

  7. 7. Get certified and position yourself as a Head of Operations

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    ITIL 4 StrategistPgMPPfMPMBA

    Update your CV and LinkedIn around Head of Operations, then apply to target roles.

Alternative routes