Chief operating officer (COO) job description

A chief operating officer (COO) oversees the daily operations of an organization and ensures that strategy, people, and processes align to deliver long-term success. Acting as the right hand to the chief executive officer (CEO), the COO drives execution, scales operations, and builds the infrastructure needed for sustainable growth.

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Start your hiring process with our adaptable COO job description template. Perfect for job boards or your careers page, this outline helps you clearly define the core responsibilities and desired qualifications. Tailor it to reflect your company’s culture, growth stage, and strategic priorities to attract the right operational leadership talent to your team

COO job template

[Company] is a forward-thinking [industry] company dedicated to [goals/mission]. We believe in delivering exceptional value to our customers while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation. Our leadership team thrives on turning vision into execution. Join us to help scale and shape the future of [industry/product/service area].

About the role

As the COO at [Company], you will lead the operational strategy, ensuring alignment across departments and enabling the company to meet its goals. You’ll partner with the CEO and executive team to translate vision into actionable plans, build efficient processes, and drive performance across the organization.

COO responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and implementing business strategies, plans, and procedures
• Overseeing daily operations across functions such as HR, finance, product, sales, and customer success.
• Driving operational excellence and efficiency to support growth and profitability
• Setting performance goals and monitoring key metrics to ensure accountability
• Partnering with the CEO to support fundraising, partnerships, and strategic initiatives
• Ensuring compliance with industry regulations and maintaining high ethical standards.

COO qualifications

For this role, the ideal person will have: 

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, management, or a related field
• Proven experience in a senior operations leadership role (e.g., COO, VP of Operations, General Manager)
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets, forecasts, and KPIs
• Demonstrated success in scaling operations within a growing organization
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• Familiarity with corporate governance, compliance, and risk management

COO skills

• Operational strategy and execution
• Leadership and people management
• Financial management and forecasting
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Process optimization and scalability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Change management and adaptability

Paths to becoming a COO

Many COOs have backgrounds in operations, finance, consulting, or general management. Experience in scaling teams, managing profit and loss, or driving organizational change often serves as a foundation. While advanced degrees (MBA, etc.) can be helpful, practical leadership experience and a track record of operational success are most valuable.

Typical career progression for a COO

Depending on the size and stage of the company, COOs may progress to roles such as:

• President: Oversees broader business functions and strategy
• CEO: Leads the company overall, setting long-term vision and direction
• Board member or advisor: Provides governance and strategic guidance to organizations

Other possible titles for this role

• Head of Operations
• VP of Operations
• Operations Director
• Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)