Chief Operating Officer Position Descriptions

A chief operating officer (COO) is typically responsible for operations and may be the highest executive on the organization chart or in some companies may report either to a chief financial officer (CFO), a board of directors, or the chief executive officer (CEO).

Leadership: Soft Skills

A chief operating officer is in a position of leadership. As such he will be the focal for various internal and external communications both through the written word and in-person. He should be skilled in public speaking and be able to interact with employees and customers at all levels of the hierarchy.

Daily Duties

A chief operating officer has staff that may have disparate views and conflicting actions. It is up to her to prioritize, providing a positive atmosphere of growth and learning. She will act as a mentor, as a decision maker, as a referee, and sometimes as a disciplinarian.

Monthly Duties

A chief operating officer will define monthly reporting requirements and oversee numbers generated. This includes things such as sales and general administration costs, operations costs, inventory turns and costs, profit and loss statements, and quality and delivery metrics.

Annual Duties

A chief operating officer will play a role in defining long-term strategic vision. The COO will be required to report his progress against last year's goals, including identifying risks, mitigating factors and potential opportunities for the future. He will be expected to handle difficult tasks such as announcing layoffs.

Salary and Bonuses

Pay for a chief operating officer can range widely depending upon the size of the company, its organizational structure, and the type of industry the COO is operating in. In most companies, a chief operating officer can expect a six-figure salary and very good benefits.

References

• Bridgestar: Sample COO Job descriptions