AI Operations Manager

AI Operations Managers oversee the operational aspects of AI systems in production. They ensure AI services run reliably, monitor performance, manage incidents, and coordinate with engineering teams. This role bridges AI engineering and business operations.

Average Salary
$120K/year
$90K - $150K
Growth Rate
+35%
Next 10 years
Work Environment
Office, Remote-friendly
Take Free Assessment

What is a AI Operations Manager?

AI Operations Managers oversee the operational aspects of AI systems in production. They ensure AI services run reliably, monitor performance, manage incidents, and coordinate with engineering teams. This role bridges AI engineering and business operations.

Education Required

Bachelor's degree in Business, CS, or related field

Certifications

  • ITIL
  • AI Operations Certificate

Job Outlook

Growing demand as companies scale AI systems. Operations expertise specific to AI is increasingly valued.

Key Responsibilities

Monitor AI system health, manage incidents, coordinate with engineering teams, optimize operational processes, track SLAs, and report on AI system performance.

A Day in the Life

System monitoring
Incident management
Process optimization
Performance reporting
Team coordination
SLA tracking

Required Skills

Here are the key skills you'll need to succeed as a AI Operations Manager.

SLA Management

leadership

Managing service level agreements

Monitoring Tools

technical

Using monitoring systems

Operations Management

leadership

Managing operations

AI/ML Understanding

analytical

Understanding AI capabilities and limitations

Incident Management

leadership

Managing incidents

Process Optimization

analytical

Optimizing business processes

Communication

communication

Effective communication skills

Team Coordination

leadership

Coordinating team activities

Salary Range

Average Annual Salary

$120K

Range: $90K - $150K

Salary by Experience Level

Entry Level (0-2 years)$90K - $108K
Mid Level (3-5 years)$108K - $132K
Senior Level (5-10 years)$132K - $150K

Projected Growth

+35% over the next 10 years

ATS Resume Keywords

Optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) with these AI Operations Manager-specific keywords.

Must-Have Keywords

Essential

Include these keywords in your resume - they are expected for AI Operations Manager roles.

AI OperationsMLOpsTeam ManagementProcess OptimizationSLA ManagementIncident Response

Strong Keywords

Bonus Points

These keywords will strengthen your application and help you stand out.

MonitoringAutomationCost ManagementVendor ManagementComplianceDocumentation

Keywords to Avoid

Overused

These are overused or vague terms. Replace them with specific achievements and metrics.

Operations guruProcess ninjaEfficiency expertSystems thinker

💡 Pro Tips for ATS Optimization

  • • Use exact keyword matches from job descriptions
  • • Include keywords in context, not just lists
  • • Quantify achievements (e.g., "Improved X by 30%")
  • • Use both acronyms and full terms (e.g., "ML" and "Machine Learning")

How to Become a AI Operations Manager

Follow this step-by-step roadmap to launch your career as a AI Operations Manager.

1

Build Operations Background

Get experience in IT operations, DevOps, or technical operations roles.

2

Learn AI/ML Operations

Understand model monitoring, data pipelines, and AI system maintenance.

3

Develop Management Skills

Build team leadership, process improvement, and vendor management capabilities.

4

Master Monitoring Tools

Learn observability platforms and AI-specific monitoring solutions.

5

Understand Compliance

Learn AI governance, audit requirements, and regulatory considerations.

6

Build Incident Management Skills

Develop frameworks for AI system incidents and root cause analysis.

🎉 You're Ready!

With dedication and consistent effort, you'll be prepared to land your first AI Operations Manager role.

Not sure if AI Operations Manager is right for you?

Take our free career assessment to find your ideal AI role.

Portfolio Project Ideas

Build these projects to demonstrate your AI Operations Manager skills and stand out to employers.

1

Implement comprehensive AI model monitoring system

Great for showcasing practical skills
2

Develop SLA framework for AI services

Great for showcasing practical skills
3

Create incident response playbook for AI systems

Great for showcasing practical skills
4

Optimize AI infrastructure costs by 30%+

Great for showcasing practical skills
5

Build automated data quality monitoring pipeline

Great for showcasing practical skills

🚀 Portfolio Best Practices

  • Host your projects on GitHub with clear README documentation
  • Include a live demo or video walkthrough when possible
  • Explain the problem you solved and your technical decisions
  • Show metrics and results (e.g., "95% accuracy", "50% faster")

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others' mistakes! Avoid these common pitfalls when pursuing a AI Operations Manager career.

Treating AI systems like traditional software without considering drift

Inadequate monitoring for data quality issues

Not having rollback procedures for model updates

Ignoring cost optimization opportunities

Poor documentation of operational procedures

What to Do Instead

  • • Focus on measurable outcomes and quantified results
  • • Continuously learn and update your skills
  • • Build real projects, not just tutorials
  • • Network with professionals in the field
  • • Seek feedback and iterate on your work

Career Path & Progression

Typical career progression for a AI Operations Manager

1

Junior AI Operations Manager

0-2 years

Learn fundamentals, work under supervision, build foundational skills

2

AI Operations Manager

3-5 years

Work independently, handle complex projects, mentor junior team members

3

Senior AI Operations Manager

5-10 years

Lead major initiatives, strategic planning, mentor and develop others

4

Lead/Principal AI Operations Manager

10+ years

Set direction for teams, influence company strategy, industry thought leader

Ready to start your journey?

Take our free assessment to see if this career is right for you

Learning Resources for AI Operations Manager

Curated resources to help you build skills and launch your AI Operations Manager career.

Free Learning Resources

Free
  • Google SRE Book
  • MLOps best practices guides
  • Operations management resources

Courses & Certifications

Paid
  • ITIL Certification
  • MLOps courses
  • Operations management programs

Tools & Software

Essential
  • Grafana
  • Prometheus
  • PagerDuty
  • MLflow
  • Datadog

Communities & Events

Network
  • SRE communities
  • MLOps Slack
  • Operations management forums

Job Search Platforms

Jobs
  • LinkedIn
  • Indeed
  • Tech operations job boards

💡 Learning Strategy

Start with free resources to build fundamentals, then invest in paid courses for structured learning. Join communities early to network and get mentorship. Consistent daily practice beats intensive cramming.

Work Environment

OfficeRemote-friendlyOn-call

Work Style

Operational Collaborative Process-oriented

Personality Traits

OrganizedReliableDetail-orientedCalm under pressure

Core Values

Reliability Efficiency Quality Team success

Is This Career Right for You?

Take our free 15-minute AI-powered assessment to discover if AI Operations Manager matches your skills, interests, and personality.

Get personalized career matches
Identify skill gaps
Get learning roadmap
Start Free Assessment

No credit card required • 15 minutes • Instant results

Find AI Operations Manager Jobs

Search real job openings across top platforms

Search on Job Platforms

💡 Tip: Use our Resume Optimizer to tailor your resume for AI Operations Manager positions before applying.

Explore More

Related Careers