Business Unit Manager Resume Guide
Business Unit Managers are responsible for overseeing the operations and staff of a particular business unit. They plan, direct, coordinate and monitor activities related to customer service, sales goals and profitability targets. They also develop strategies to improve operational efficiency as well as lead team members in order to reach organizational objectives.
You have the management skills and business acumen to lead any organization’s growth. However, employers don’t know about your accomplishments yet. To give them a glimpse of what you can do, create an outstanding resume that stands out from the crowd.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Business Unit Manager Resume Sample
Mariane Bernhard
Business Unit Manager
[email protected]
970-873-6621
linkedin.com/in/mariane-bernhard
Summary
Proficient business unit manager with over 10 years of experience in leading, motivating and coaching multidisciplinary teams. Track record of achieving challenging targets through effective resource management. At XYZ Company, managed a team of 25+ employees across various departments to achieve a 20% reduction in operational costs while maintaining product quality standards. Skilled at developing strategies for revenue growth and cost optimization that have resulted in increased profits.
Experience
Business Unit Manager, Employer A
Cleveland, Jan 2018 – Present
- Analyzed financial and operational performance of business unit, identifying areas for improvement that led to a 10% increase in revenue over the past year.
- Advised executives on strategies to optimize operations and sales, resulting in cost savings of $50K annually.
- Mentored 15+ new employees in company policies, procedures & best practices; improved team efficiency by 40%.
- Presented ideas during quarterly meetings with stakeholders that enabled departments to collaborate more effectively and realize greater profits within 12 months.
- Diligently monitored budget expenditures across 3 divisions totaling $1M per month; ensured all budgets were adhered to while achieving desired results within allocated funds.
Business Unit Manager, Employer B
Hayward, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Demonstrated strong leadership skills while managing a business unit of 30+ employees; successfully completed projects 3 weeks ahead of schedule with no budget overruns.
- Utilized data analytics, performance metrics and customer feedback to build highly effective strategies that increased sales revenue by 10% in the first year of implementation.
- Coordinated closely with other departments to ensure seamless execution on cross-functional initiatives and bridge any gaps between teams for optimal collaboration results.
- Optimized existing processes through automation techniques and workforce optimization methods, resulting in an average 50% reduction in operational costs over two years’ time span.
- Reliably maintained a high level of productivity even during times when demands were exceptionally high or resources were limited; kept employee morale up at all times through positive reinforcement techniques.
Skills
- Manufacturing
- Continuous Improvement
- Lean Manufacturing
- Product Development
- Process Improvement
- Engineering
- Operations Management
- Cross Functional Team Leadership
- Six Sigma
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Business Unit Manager
American Management Association
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary/objective for a business unit manager should provide the hiring manager with an overview of your qualifications and accomplishments. For example, you could mention how many years of experience you have in managing teams, the successful projects that were completed under your leadership, and any awards or recognition you received from colleagues or clients. Additionally, it’s important to highlight any specialized skills such as budgeting expertise or knowledge of industry trends that make you stand out from other applicants.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Reliable business unit manager with 8+ years of experience leading diverse teams to achieve results. Proven track record in increasing profits and driving revenue by leveraging expertise in sales, marketing, finance, operations and product development. At XYZ Co., led a team that grew the business unit’s annual revenues from $4M to $7M within 18 months. Seeking to join ABC Corp as a Business Unit Manager where I can continue delivering cutting-edge solutions for customers’ needs.
Diligent business unit manager with 8+ years of experience in leading teams, managing budgets and overseeing the daily operations of a large business unit. Proven track record for developing high-performing teams that achieved desired goals ahead of schedule while staying within budget restrictions. Seeking to join ABC Corp as Business Unit Manager where I can utilize my skills in strategy development, cost optimization, and process improvement to drive organizational growth.
Professional business manager with 10+ years of experience in the corporate sector. Proven track record developing and executing successful strategies to increase revenue, streamline operations, and improve customer satisfaction. Skilled at leading teams through complex projects while leveraging a data-driven approach for decision making. At XYZ Corporation, managed $1 billion in annual sales across six departments with a team of 40+.
Determined and results-oriented business unit manager with 8+ years of experience leading multiple teams through the successful execution of projects on time and within budget. Proven ability to lead, motivate, and mentor employees towards achieving common goals. Most recently reduced operational costs by 23% while increasing revenue streams by 27%. Looking for new opportunities at ABC Company where I can continue to drive success.
Detail-oriented business unit manager with 7+ years of experience in leading cross-functional teams to improve operational efficiency and maximize customer satisfaction. At XYZ, achieved a 15% increase in revenue by implementing innovative sales strategies and streamlining the entire business process. Seeking to leverage top leadership skills at ABC Tech as Business Unit Manager to drive success for the organization.
Accomplished business unit manager with 10+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams to success. At XYZ, successfully managed a $20 million business unit and led process improvement initiatives that resulted in 20% increase in operational efficiency. Skilled communicator adept at building relationships with senior stakeholders and delivering project timelines within budget constraints.
Enthusiastic and results-driven business unit manager with a track record of success in leading teams and executing strategies. At XYZ, I managed the Unit’s P&L, implemented cost-saving initiatives and improved operational efficiency by 20%. My leadership style encourages collaboration, open communication, creative problem solving and team building to ensure maximum performance.
Passionate business unit manager with extensive experience growing and managing successful teams. Proven track record of driving new revenue streams, building customer relationships, developing innovative strategies to meet objectives, and delivering projects on time and within budget. Seeking to bring 10+ years of success in leading high-performing teams at ABC Corporation.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience section, you should list your employment history in reverse chronological order. This means that the most recent job is listed first.
When writing this section, it’s best to stick with bullet points as they are easier for the reader to digest quickly. You want to provide detail on what you did and any results or accomplishments achieved during your time at each role.
For example, instead of saying “Managed a business unit,” you could say, “Successfully managed a team of 10+ employees within an IT-focused business unit; increased efficiency by 15% through process improvements.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Managed
- Directed
- Coordinated
- Supervised
- Monitored
- Analyzed
- Developed
- Implemented
- Evaluated
- Forecasted
- Budgeted
- Negotiated
- Streamlined
- Resolved
- Optimized
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Demonstrated
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Forecasted business unit growth of 10% annually and achieved targets within budget, achieving $3.6M in savings over two years.
- Negotiated contracts with key vendors to secure discounts of up to 20%, enabling the purchase of necessary resources at reduced cost; streamlined purchasing process by 40%.
- Streamlined operations by managing a team of 12 staff members across multiple departments and delegating tasks efficiently while actively monitoring progress throughout all stages of production cycles.
- Supervised daily activities such as customer service, sales, inventory management & distribution while maintaining high standards for quality assurance; improved employee morale by 25%.
- Actively developed strategies that increased market share 2x year-over-year through successful product launches and promotional campaigns targeting new markets both domestically and abroad.
- Substantially increased efficiency and profitability of business unit by 30% through strategic planning, cost savings initiatives, and resource optimization.
- Spearheaded the development of a new organizational structure that streamlined operations across multiple departments; reduced operational costs by $150K annually with this change in structure.
- Reduced customer service response times from 48 hours to 24 hours due to the implementation of an automated workflow system for faster issue resolution & tracking.
- Structured team meetings regularly for effective communication between departments on progress updates and strategies; improved collaboration among teams & increased productivity by 12%.
- Managed day-to-day operations within assigned business unit including budgeting, personnel management and quality control processes; achieved superior results over quarterly goals with 97% accuracy rate on all projects delivered during tenure as manager.
- Formulated business strategies and plans to ensure attainment of unit objectives, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue over the past year.
- Represented the business unit at regular meetings with senior management and other departments; provided accurate updates on progress towards goals while soliciting feedback from stakeholders.
- Introduced new processes that improved workflow efficiency by 25%, reducing costs associated with operations significantly within 6 months of implementation.
- Accurately tracked financial performance metrics such as budgets, expenses, sales figures etc., using specialized software tools; compiled monthly/quarterly reports for review by top executives regularly.
- Developed best practices for customer service delivery across all units based on customer feedback surveys which led to an 11% improvement in overall client satisfaction ratings after 3 quarters.
- Budgeted and managed a $7 million business unit, supervising 11 employees while ensuring successful completion of all projects within budget.
- Efficiently allocated resources to ensure optimal utilization of available personnel, equipment and materials; reduced overhead costs by 10%.
- Assessed employee performance on an ongoing basis, providing regular feedback to maintain high standards of quality assurance in the team’s output.
- Monitored project progress closely and identified potential problems with timelines or deliverables before they became issues; successfully completed 100+ projects on time over 3 years as Business Unit Manager.
- Achieved customer satisfaction scores of 98% through timely resolution of any product or service complaints raised by clients throughout the life cycle of each project undertaken by the unit.
- Independently managed a business unit of 30+ employees, driving sales up by 32% and reducing operating costs by $15K in the last quarter.
- Revised existing policies & procedures to improve employee productivity and customer satisfaction levels; reduced average response time for customers queries from 4 hours to 1 hour within 6 months.
- Implemented new marketing strategies that generated an additional revenue stream of $50K per month through online channels over the course of one year.
- Prepared annual budget plans with detailed financial projections for senior management review; successfully kept spending under budget despite meeting targets set forth before each fiscal year end period (+$1M).
- Developed training programs for team members on product knowledge, customer service skills and company standards which improved overall performance as evidenced in quarterly reviews (+8%).
- Improved operational performance of business unit by 25% through implementation of streamlined processes and systems.
- Reorganized the management structure, resulting in a 10% decrease in costs while retaining staff morale and productivity levels.
- Participated actively on cross-functional project teams to develop products and services that increased customer satisfaction ratings by 15%.
- Resolved disputes between departments swiftly, utilizing superior communication skills to collaborate with stakeholders at all organizational levels; reduced conflict resolution timeframes by 20%.
- Meticulously monitored key performance indicators (KPIs) for quality assurance purposes and identified areas of improvement based on collected data analysis; created new internal guidelines which raised overall efficiency standards by 30%.
- Evaluated business unit performance and identified areas of improvement; increased profits by 15% in the last year.
- Expedited processes to increase efficiency, reducing turnaround times for projects by up to 30%.
- Facilitated communication between teams within the business unit and other departments, improving collaboration across entire organization.
- Resourcefully allocated resources among teams and monitored their usage, resulting in an 8% cost savings on operational expenses over two years.
- Directed team meetings twice a week to ensure that objectives were achieved; successfully met weekly targets every month with no delays or missed deadlines reported during tenure as Manager.
3. Skills
Skill requirements will differ from employer to employer – this can easily be determined via the job advert. Organization ABC may be looking for someone with experience in budgeting, while Organization XYZ might require the candidate to have a background in HR.
It is essential to tailor your skills section of your resume according to each job you are applying for; this will help make sure that it passes through any applicant tracking systems used by employers.
You should also elaborate on the most important skills listed here in other sections, such as the summary or work history. This shows recruiters and hiring managers that you possess these abilities and can apply them effectively within their organization’s context.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- 5S
- Account Management
- Aerospace
- Automation
- Automotive
- Business Development
- Business Planning
- Business Process Improvement
- Business Strategy
- Change Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Contract Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Cross Functional Team Leadership
- Engineering
- Engineering Management
- FMEA
- Forecasting
- ISO
- Kaizen
- Key Account Management
- Lean Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Manufacturing Operations Management
- Medical Devices
- Operations Management
- Process Engineering
- Process Improvement
- Procurement
- Product Development
- Product Launch
- Product Management
- Program Management
- Project Engineering
- Project Planning
- Purchasing
- Quality Management
- Root Cause Analysis
- SPC
- Sales Operations
- Six Sigma
- Strategy
- Supply Chain
- Supply Chain Management
- Team Leadership
- Value Stream Mapping
4. Education
Mentioning an education section on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated recently, it’s important to include an education section below the resume objective. However, if you have been a business unit manager for many years and have plenty of experience to showcase, omitting the education section is perfectly fine.
If including an educational background is necessary, try to mention courses or subjects that were relevant to the job role you’re applying for as a business unit manager.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your expertise in a particular field. They show potential employers that you have been tested and certified by an accredited organization, making you more qualified than other applicants for the job.
When applying for jobs, it is important to include any certifications relevant to the position on your resume. This will give hiring managers confidence that you possess the necessary skills and knowledge required for success in their company.
Certified Business Unit Manager
American Management Association
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Mariane Bernhard, this would be Mariane-Bernhard-resume.pdf or Mariane-Bernhard-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter with your resume is an excellent way to make a positive first impression on any hiring manager. It should be made up of 2-4 paragraphs that introduce yourself and provide more detail than what’s already included in your resume.
Cover letters are also an opportunity for you to explain why you’re the perfect fit for the job, as well as highlight key skills or experiences that may not have been mentioned in your CV. Although they aren’t always required, submitting one can greatly improve your chances of being considered for the role.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Nikki,
I am writing to apply for the Business Unit Manager position at XYZ Corporation. With more than 10 years of experience in business management, I possess a the comprehensive skill set and hands-on understanding necessary to affect positive, overreaching outcomes in this role.
Most recently, as Business Manager for ABC Corporation, I was responsible for an annual budget of $2 million and led a team of 12 employees. In this capacity, I increased efficiency by 30% while reducing costs by 20%. My adeptness at developing collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams has resulted in successful process improvements and implementation of new technologies that have positively impacted productivity and profitability. Previously, as Assistant Business Manager at LMN Company, I successfully reorganized the sales department which resulted in a 25% increase in sales within one year. These accomplishments are indicative of my ability to think outside the box to identify areas ripe for improvement then drive change through effective leadership.
As your next Business Unit Manager, I will bring these same skills along with my enthusiasm and dedication to achieving success on behalf of your company. My resume is attached; please do not hesitate contact me should you require any additional information regarding my qualifications or background history. Thank you very much for your time and consideration – I look forward hearing from you soon about this exciting opportunity!
Sincerely,
Mariane