Admin & Support
A Chief Operating Officer runs the day-to-day operations of a company, translating the CEO’s strategy into processes, budgets and results across departments. The role matters because operational discipline determines whether a growing business can deliver consistently at scale.
Ways to hire
4options
contract, contract-to-hire, full-time and executive search
The role
Companies hire one when a founder or CEO needs to step back from daily operations to focus on strategy, funding or external relationships.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Typically 12 or more years in operations or general management, including multi-department leadership and P&L ownership; an MBA is common.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
Request talent
Share a few details and a administrative and support recruiter will be in touch. There is no obligation and no cost to talk.
What happens next
Request talent
Takes about two minutes. A specialist recruiter will call you back within one business day.
By submitting, you agree that RUS Recruiting may contact you about this request. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Send your resume once and a administrative and support recruiter will match you to Chief Operating Officer roles that fit your experience, pay expectations and the way you want to work. We only put you forward for roles you have said yes to, and it is always free.
FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
Still have a question?
Talk to a recruiter about your role or your search. We reply within one business day.
A Chief Operating Officer runs the day-to-day operations of a company, translating the CEO’s strategy into processes, budgets and results across departments. The role matters because operational discipline determines whether a growing business can deliver consistently at scale. Typical responsibilities include: set operating plans, budgets and targets aligned with company strategy; lead department heads across operations, finance, people and delivery; build and improve processes, systems and reporting for scalable growth.
Look for operational strategy, p&L management, process improvement, executive leadership, budget planning and change management. Experience with Excel, NetSuite, Salesforce, Power BI and Asana is common in this role.
Yes, for interim leadership. Many employers bring in an interim Chief Operating Officer to steady a team during a search, a transition or a major project, then hire permanently through an executive search. A specialist recruiter can scope either route with you.
The CEO sets vision and external direction, while the COO turns that direction into operating plans and results inside the company. A President title varies by company and may overlap with either. Define which decisions the COO owns, especially around budgets, hiring and reporting lines, before searching.
A Director of Operations suits a company that needs stronger execution in one area and has leadership above them. Hire a COO when operations spans multiple functions, the CEO is the bottleneck, and the role needs authority over department heads and a seat in strategy discussions.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
