Chief Operating Officer

How to Write a Chief Operating Officer Job

Description

Think about your typical chief operating officer (COO): busy, driven to meet objectives, and
practical to a tee. As such, your chief operating officer job description should be brief, high-level,
specific, and realistic. Start by introducing your company. Then, outline your expectations. Once
you’ve painted a picture of the work environment, clearly spell out the qualifications, duties, and
objectives. Go ahead and set the bar high, because you’re more likely to get high-quality candidates
that way. A strong COO job description conveys the day-to-day and long-term impact of the
position, and avoids long-winded detail or empty jargon.

What Does a Chief Operating Officer Do?

The chief operating officer of a company is second in command. This professional reports to the
chief executive officer (CEO) with a focus on operationalizing strategy. While a CEO is concerned
with long-term business goals, the COO is tasked with implementing daily operations, aligned with
that goal and the company’s strategies. His or her individual role depends largely on the company
itself and the CEO’s personal style. In many cases, the COO is chosen specifically to complement
the strengths and weaknesses of the CEO, or to work in tandem to bring the best leadership to the
forefront.

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Sample Chief Operating Officer Job Description

Job Description
[CompanyX] is a growing biochemical company, and we need a chief operating officer (COO) to be
the right hand of our thriving CEO. With your experience and talents, you’ll be able to lead our
team of high-performing professionals to be efficient, productive, and effective. Our ideal candidate
has extensive experience within the industry, perhaps having worked your way up through the ranks
to your role as an executive. We believe this trajectory helps develop a unique mix of business and
management expertise, plus proficiency with the practices, policies, and procedures of the
biochemical industry. We have our eye out for a COO with strong leadership skills and the ability to
approach business from a creative point of view.

Objectives of this Role

  Collaborate with the CEO in setting and driving organizational vision, operational strategy,
and hiring needs
 Translate strategy into actionable goals for performance and growth helping to implement
organization-wide goal setting, performance management, and annual operating planning
 Oversee company operations and employee productivity, building a highly inclusive culture
ensuring team members thrive and organizational outcomes are met
 Ensure effective recruiting, onboarding, professional development, performance
management, and retention
 Adhere to company, federal, state, and local business requirements, enforcing compliance
and taking action when necessary

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities

 Analyze internal operations and identify areas of process enhancement
 Develop actionable business strategies and plans that ensure alignment with short-term and
long-term objectives developed in tandem with the CEO
 Directly oversee operations, HR, and accounting, and partner with the CEO on sales
management to budget for sufficient investment capital to achieve growth targets over the
near term
 Aggressively manage capital investment and expenses to ensure the company achieves
investor targets relative to growth and profitability
 Monitor performance with tracking and establish corrective measures as needed, and prepare
detailed reports, both current and forecasting
 Maintain and build trusted relationships with key customers, clients, partners, and
stakeholders

Skills and Qualifications

 Bachelor’s degree in business administration, or related field
 5+ years experience in executive leadership positions
 Leadership skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity
 Understanding of advanced business planning and regulatory issues
 A solid grasp of data analysis and performance metrics
 Be able to diagnose problems quickly and have foresight into potential issues

Preferred Qualifications
 Master’s degree in business or related field
 Fundraising experience
 International business experience