Best Chief Operating Officer (COO) Job Description (2022)

a picture of a Coo and business professional ready for an interview

Free chief operating officer (COO) job description. A chief operating officer (COO) is a senior executive that oversees the day-to-day administrative and operational functions within the organization. A chief operating officer reports directly to the chief executive officer (CEO). The chief operating officer oversees all operational aspects of the business. Including human resources, employee policies, workplace policies, financial management, business administration, customer service operations, and legal department operations.

chief operating officer job description

COO Job Description Sample

Our company is seeking a chief operating officer to oversee our business operations. This executive will join our leadership team as a top executive within the company. As a member of the senior management team, the chief operating officer will assist with business strategy. And oversee our human resources department, oversee daily operations, legal department, company culture, and the organization’s ongoing operations.

COO Duties and Responsibilities

Sample job duties and COO responsibilities:

Work closely with the other members of the senior management team to oversee business operations. These members include the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and more.
Assist with quarterly and annual strategic planning of the business.
Oversee operations and how cash flow is being affected by inefficiencies and human resources.
Work closely with each vice president and provide workplace guidance and training (workplace policies, company culture changes, and more).
Oversee customer satisfaction and how that impacts our customer service channels and operations.
Take on comprehensive goals from the chief executive officer and develop strategic operational plans to execute against those KPIs.
Align the vision of the business with the CEO, CFO, and other executives.
Assist the CEO with special projects and initiatives.
Coordinate quarterly presentations with the CEO to stakeholders, board members, and shareholders.

COO Requirements

Top qualified candidates should have the following when applying for a COO role:

High School Diploma or equivalent.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Marketing, or Communications.
5-10 years in a previous executive level operating job.
Previous experience in a chief operating officer position preferred.
Must have experience as part of a senior leadership team.
Previous experience as an executive team member preferred.
Diverse business operation experience preferred.
Extensive experience with business operations.
A strong track record of driving operational, sales, and customer satisfaction goals within a business.

COO Salary

According to PayScale, a chief operating officer earns an average of $143,768 per year. With the top percentile of workers earning $247,000 per year, on average. And the lowest percentile of workers earning $72,000 per year, on average.

COO Skills

Top COO candidates applying for a Chief Operating Officer position should have the following skills. MyMajors.com lists a robust set of skills, characteristics, and traits of what makes a great COO or Chief Operating Officer:

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Management of Financial Resources: Determining how the money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Candidates applying for a healthcare COO position should have the following skills to assist in hospital administration or health center administration. Donna Padilla of EliceCME.com describes these traits make a great healthcare COO:

Exercising of a vision.
Building and maintaining relationship (internally and externally).
Executive attitude and presence.
Transparnet, innovative, and trusted nature.
An engaged leader who gets things accomplished.
A consummate team builder.

COO Job Boards

Hiring for executive positions can be difficult. It's advised to use a "niche" job board when hiring an executive. Another option for hiring executive positions is to use an executive recruiter.

Top chief operating officer job boards

Top executive recruiting firms

In order to find an experienced chief operating officer, it's advised to use an executive search firm. Rather than using a national job board like Indeed, Monster, or Dice.com. Executive search firms have a rigorous process for accepting candidates. And can save board members, executives, and businesses a significant amount of time during the search.

Related job descriptions

Download the free coo job description PDF template. And use the sample coo job description provided to make an efficient job posting for your company. For more information please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.