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Chief Operating Officer Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officers, or Operations Directors, are in charge of guiding a company’s workflow strategy and organization of all essential business processes. Their duties include reviewing the efficiency of current business functions, planning changes and updates to day-to-day operations and collaborating with other executive staff to set and meet business objectives.

Chief Operating Officer duties and responsibilities

502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officers are responsible for overseeing a company’s daily functions. Some of their typical duties and responsibilities include:

  • Supervising all daily operations of the company, including IT, marketing and sales
  • Preparing and presenting reports to the Chief Executive Officer
  • Working closely with the 502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer on all matters related to the business
  • Performing employee reviews and developing corrective action plans if needed
  • Developing and implementing strategies, procedures and business plans needed to enhance company growth
  • Working with the executive team to set company performance goals
  • Cultivating and providing opportunities for rising talent within the organization

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Chief Operating Officer (COO) Job Description Examples

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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What does a 502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officer do?

Chief Operating Officers work at large companies as part of their executive structure to ensure that the entire business structure can collaborate effectively and meet goals according to an overarching timeline and budget. They oversee the administrative roles in an organization, managing communications channels, supply chain steps and the overall taxonomy of a company. 502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officers delegate production, marketing and sales tasks to core teams while maintaining relationships with business partners, vendors and distributors. Their role is to keep a business’s key functions running smoothly by planning out the implementation of each smaller task that contributes to a company’s purpose.

Chief Operating Officer skills and qualifications

A 502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officer must have advanced leadership and communication skills to do their job effectively. Some of their other necessary skills and qualifications include:

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration or another relevant field
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Solid understanding of staff management, industry specifics and business strategies
  • Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
  • Superior management and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to remain calm and focused in stressful situations

502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officer salary expectations

The average salary for Chief Operating Officers is $120,047 per year. This salary may vary depending on the size of the company and the candidate’s level of experience and educational background.

Chief Operating Officer education and training requirements

502812866chief operating officer12.98director of operations6.46coo4.1chief of staff2.42executive director2.1915808516837733000.00152966.26359000.00YEARLY581498992025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Chief Operating Officers must have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or another relevant field, and they may also be required to have a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Some companies require Chief Operating Officers to have additional certifications relevant to their industry, such as a certified public accountant (CPA) certification. Chief Operating Officers should have a working knowledge of all areas related to company growth, including marketing, finance, sales, information technology and human resources.

Chief Operating Officer experience requirements

Chief Operating Officers are expected to have extensive managerial experience, though the amount of experience may vary depending on the particular company and industry. Most companies want their Chief Operating Officers to have a minimum of 5 years of managerial experience, though preferably more. Many companies look for candidates who have experience in a variety of departments in addition to extensive experience in their specific industry.

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Frequently asked questions about Chief Operating Officers

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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