What is the Role of a Chief Operating Officer?

The chief operating officer (COO) is the second-in-command of a company and reports directly to the executive director (CEO). Learn more about this position's responsibilities, how to create an effective job description, and where to find qualified candidates.

What is the Role of a Chief Operating Officer?

The chief operating officer (COO) is the second-in-command of a company and reports directly to the executive director (CEO). This individual is responsible for managing and overseeing the daily operations of the business, working closely with department heads and supervisors to ensure that the company's strategies are implemented in order to meet its long-term objectives. The COO is also responsible for providing strategic advice and guidance to the CEO. This position is often in high demand in business organizations, and it is essential for companies to create an effective job description that attracts qualified candidates. The daily responsibilities of a COO may vary depending on the operational structure and needs of the company, as well as the industry in which it operates.

These responsibilities can include managing daily operations, providing strategic advice, reporting directly to the CEO, and overseeing administrative and operational functions. It is important for companies to customize their job description to their specific roles and job requirements in order to attract qualified candidates. Research in Motion's corporate structure had more than one chief operating officer, including Jim Rowan as director of global operations and Thorsten Heins as director of product operations and sales. Richard Fuld, president and CEO of Lehman Brothers, had a succession of numbers two under his leadership, usually as president and chief operating officer. When hiring an operations director or COO, it's important to create a job description that attracts qualified candidates by customizing it to their specific roles and job requirements. Companies should also consider publishing their COO job openings on Monster in order to reach a larger pool of potential applicants.

Writing an effective operations manager job description that inspires top talent to apply and that offers realistic expectations of what the position entails is a good start.

Dave Sylvan
Dave Sylvan

Subtly charming twitter fanatic. Professional travel junkie. Award-winning zombie enthusiast. Passionate coffee evangelist. Evil food fan. Social media junkie.