Chief Operating Officer job description.
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the day-to-day operational execution of the company's strategy. Working closely with the CEO, the COO oversees core business functions, drives operational efficiency, and ensures the organisation is structured and resourced to meet its performance targets.
The Chief Operating Officer job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Chief Operating Officer Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the day-to-day operational execution of the company's strategy. Working closely with the CEO, the COO oversees core business functions, drives operational efficiency, and ensures the organisation is structured and resourced to meet its performance targets.
- Translate company strategy into operational plans and execution targets
- Oversee day-to-day operations across core business functions
- Establish and monitor KPIs to track operational performance
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Executive Officer
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Translate company strategy into operational plans and execution targets
- Oversee day-to-day operations across core business functions
- Establish and monitor KPIs to track operational performance
- Build scalable processes, systems, and organisational structure
- Lead and develop senior operational leaders across departments
- Manage operating budgets and resource allocation
- Identify operational risks and implement mitigation plans
- Report operational performance to the CEO and board
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- 10+ years of progressive operational leadership experience
- Track record of scaling operations across multiple functions
- Strong financial and commercial acumen
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent operating experience
- MBA or equivalent advanced degree
- Experience operating in a high-growth or multi-site environment
- Prior P&L ownership
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Chief Operating Officer job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Chief Operating Officer job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Chief Executive Officer) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- How does a COO differ from a General Manager?
- A General Manager typically owns a single business unit's P&L, while a COO oversees operations across the entire company, often spanning multiple units or functions.
- What functions typically report to a COO?
- This varies by company, but often includes operations, supply chain, customer service, and sometimes HR or IT, depending on how the executive team is structured.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Chief Executive Officer
The CEO sets and executes the company's strategy, is accountable to the board, and represents the organisation externally.
Director of Operations
A Director of Operations manages the day-to-day functioning of business operations, ensuring processes run efficiently and teams meet performance goals.
General Manager
A General Manager oversees the operational, financial, and people performance of a business unit.
This Chief Operating Officer job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.