Consider the diversity of COO positions in the nonprofit sector and the fact that, as we will see below, two COOs’ sets of responsibilities may actually have no overlap whatsoever. A Strategic Vision. . It can be helpful to aggregate and categorize this information to more clearly understand organization-wide versus unit-level issues. What is a CEO (Chief Executive Officer)? Pandemic and the Smarter World: A Future of Robots? It needs to be in place before you make detailed design decisions. The COO reports to the CEO and is usually second-in-command within the company. With many different interpretations of what the role entails, which can encompass everything from strategic vision to hands-on management, it can be a tricky task for COOs to find a successful balance, both on an individual and organisational level. The COO will often be involved in all facets of the CEO’s responsibilities. Depending on the structure of the company, the CEO could report to the board of directors, the investors or the founders of the company. An implementer whose hands-on approach complements the ED’s vision and charisma? In functional respects, the COO will be a vital member of the CEOs core staff, working with the CEO … I ran the teams and made sure everything was happening the way it should, so she had flexibility about what she managed internally, and when. The chief program officer was Monique Burns, and she had responsibility for selecting, training, and coaching the new leaders. Every organization has areas for improvement. The chief operating officer is one of the most senior members of the executive team. Here are my takeaways. I was at Habitat for over 10 years. Chief Operating Officer (COO): A Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the corporate executive who oversees ongoing business operations within the company. Alexander Tuff ’03 is the chief operating officer and head of strategy at Winged Keel Group in New York City. The primary responsibility of the COO is to oversee business operations, which may include marketing and sales, human resources, research and development, production, and other functions. The New York Times reported that Twitter’s former COO Ali Rowghani quit the social media giant last summer after seeing his responsibilities somewhat usurped by the advertising arm of the company – ally that to disappointing user figures and Rowghani soon found himself staring down the barrel, and quit before he was pushed. A Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a member of an organization's executive team. Perhaps more than any other role, the COO position is tailored—and in some cases created or eliminated—to fit the needs of an organization at a particular point in its development. Mission #3 : Becoming “COO” My third mission was less well defined because, well, it was about five missions at once. Passion. For example, if we were struggling with recruitment, she would delve into that deeply and go talk to people and figure out the recruitment strategy, and she could do that without being pulled in too many directions. To analogize it, the CEO is the corporate commander in chief, and the COO is the second in the chain of command. 3022 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 212-854-1100 From the time when we first founded the organization, Jon Schnur was the CEO, and he handled overall management, strategy, fundraising, and external partnerships. Give Smart: Philanthropy That Gets Results, Creating a Culture of Leadership Development, One School at a Time, Our latest articles, reports, and other publications, Explore our extensive catalog of articles, reports, and videos, Key ideas we believe have high potential for impact, Leading voices from inside and outside Bridgespan, Get our latest insights delivered to your inbox, Browse past issues of our Knowledge Letter and Leaders Matter newsletters, Video interviews with dozens of the world's most thoughtful donors, Learn about our frequent free webinars on a variety of nonprofit and philanthropic topics. Typical responsibilities include: Eventually I had five SVPs reporting to me: development, communications, field operations, program, and administration. Key skills for the modern CFO. Understanding a Chief Operating Officer (COO) The COO mainly focuses on executing the company’s business plan, according to the established business model, … The COO's roles range from internal operations to strategic development and working with the … We are creating a chief officer of external relations position. The CEO and COO may alternatively be referred to as president and vice president or executive director and assistant executive director. Pauline Brown on “The Other AI” That Will Transform Business. There were lots of articles about how to succeed as a CEO or a CFO, but there was almost nothing about being a good COO. For purposes of this discussion, we define the COO at a nonprofit organization as a manager who . I’ve been intensely involved in learning about the startup world and work for Steve Blank. New research reveals that women prefer jobs and industries that meaningfully contribute to society — more so than men. This Chief Operating Officer (COO) job description template includes the list of most important Chief Operating Officer (COO)'s duties and responsibilities.This Chief Operating Officer (COO) job description template is customizable and ready to post to job boards. COO (Chief Operating Officer) responsibilities and duties The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Our structure is evolving very rapidly. Alternative titles for the COO include Chief Operations Officer, Operations Director and Director of Operations. COO responsibilities vary by company size and type. While the variations on how COO responsibilities are structured appear endless, most COO positions can be categorized under one of three basic models: In addition to these variations on how organizations define COO responsibilities, there are differences in how organizations see the COO as a leader in the organization and a member of the management team. Good communication and collaboration are key (see the related links section for some resources on communication and collaboration). At the end of the first full year, we had two partnerships with school districts and executive directors for each. I … Strategic planning skills: GMs must ensure the development and implementation of a clear strategic plan for an organization or business unit. The chief program officer was Monique Burns, and she had responsibility for selecting, training, and coaching the new leaders. What COOs read. This diversity is evident in excerpts from Bridgespan’s interviews with COOs. Operating models have six elements Many executives think of an operating model as just boxes and lines—that is a mistake. Most important, though, is the discipline to stick to the boundaries. COOs oversee the functions and general operations of … has the title COO. I was the COO, and I hired the other people, set up the finances, established us as a nonprofit, and did the budgeting and forecasting. For example, is the COO a possible future ED learning the ropes? This construct more accurately expresses today’s general manager/COO as the professional responsible for the multiple facets of club operations, as well as managing the club’s assets/investments and culture. reports to the ED and oversees operations and administration, and/or In this situation, a COO is brought on to mentor a CEO / CEO-in-training who needs additional skills to more productively assume that ... Partnership here denotes a “co-CEO” model. A COO, or Chief Operations Officer, oversees a company’s business operations and reports to the CEO. Eventually we started to articulate the roles as the ED is the vision and strategic direction, values, and goals (though the COO had lots of input on those things), and the COO’s job is to make sure we meet the goals. . CEO and COO. The COO position entails running the day-to-day business operations of the company, freeing up the CEO to fulfill responsibilities as specified by the Board of Directors. It was created by former Gov. The co-authors of Second in Command: The Misunderstood Role of the Chief Operating Officer liken the COO role to that of a U.S. vice presidential candidate: The best person for the job is highly dependent on his running mate. The COO must maintain the highest level of integrity and lead by example in all areas. Of the senior leadership team, the heads of operations, clinical affairs, and information technology reported to me. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession. Originally the COO position was divided into two senior-vice-president (SVP) positions: the SVP of administration and the SVP of programs. . In our experience, Figure 1: Operating models are a critical link between strategy and detailed organizational design Jon has maybe 60 percent external meetings. It can be argued that the combined responsibilities and duties of a CFO/COO role might overburden the executive. A CEO, which stands for Chief Executive Officer, is the highest-ranking individual in a company Corporation A corporation is a legal entity created by individuals, stockholders, or shareholders, with the purpose of operating for profit. Some COOs go through the motions, look over daily operations and … We have looked at having three chief officers reporting to Jon, but each would have a huge portfolio. But Oregon benefited from the creation of a relatively new position in that state: chief operating officer (COO). The American Bar Association (ABA), founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Overseeing operations of the company and the work of executives However, in Bridgestar’s research on the position, we have encountered enough common themes, issues, and approaches that we believe it is indeed useful to talk about the COO role as one entity. The primary goal of the chief operating officer of IT is to meet agreed-upon delivery of IT services in support of the existing business model. Tomorrow's Chief Operating Officer A changing role in a changing world To stay competitive in a constantly evolving insurance industry, many life and annuity companies have found themselves taking steps toward the same starting line—identifying the need for a dramatic change in their business models. Chief information officer is an executive job title commonly given to the person at an enterprise in charge of information technology strategy and the computer systems required to support the organization's unique objectives and goals.Required reading: > Learn about the history of the CIO role and how it has evolved since the mid-1980s. . Alexander Tuff '03 discusses five key concepts every COO should know. Each sample job description is intended to be a jumping off point, and likely will need to be tailored to meet the particular needs of your organization. It’s a tricky thing. A Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive responsible for the day-to-day administration and operations of a business. Make sure to clearly articulate your new responsibilities . We very consciously did not define our roles as internal versus external. I was second in command; whenever Allan was away, I was in charge. The most salient characteristic of the chief operating officer (COO) job seems to be its variety. Jon and I work closely together on planning each week’s national management team calls; we talk about what are the biggest strategic decisions, what needs to be on the agenda. Chief Operating Officer Duties and Responsibilities With the proper training, experience, and skills, an individual can fill this role in a variety of organizations, such as a for-profit business, non-profit organization, government entity, or school. These CTOs are heavily involved in IT purchasing and procurement decisions for both technologies and services. 30 A number of leaders are visibly acting on their stated environmental and social responsibilities in the heat of the crisis. Surveys can help you get the right information and enable you to measure and articulate key challenges in a non-controversial way. Chief operating office roles, and the organizational structures in which COOs operate, are highly varied across organizations and even within a single organization over time. I was internal, running the organization. Adminispam: A slang term describing electronic messages from a company's executives that are of little value to the employee who has received … Employee may be ... (BSI) Model 5000 life support system. The Harvard Business Review article “Second in Command: The Misunderstood Role of the Chief Operating Officer”[1] describes seven such roles, from “the partner” to “the heir apparent,” and the corresponding circumstances under which a company might hire a COO in this mold. I manage those EDs, and that’s now 70 percent of my job. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics defines a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as a professional who determines and formulates policies and provides overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. 15/11/2013 1 The Three Lines of Defence – Where does the CRO’s role start and end? A COO’s effectiveness is 100 percent correlated with his or her ability to lead. This construct more accurately expresses today’s general manager/COO as the professional responsible for the multiple facets of club operations, as well as managing the club’s assets/investments and culture. is second in command to the executive director (ED), and/or I was managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. 1.3 The academy trust must have at least three members, although the Department's strong preference is that trusts should have at least five members. The new COO organization incorporates strategy in order to align resource allocation across business and infrastructure 2 —Importance of infrastructure in current operating environment —Better alignment of infrastructure and strategy —Need for a clearly defined target operating model Essential Duties and Responsibilities Achieve Business Performance ... properties & maintenance and the general operating model of the SFB. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and who the job reports to. I am much more internally focused than Jon, so 95 percent of my meetings are with staff about their goals, strategies, progress, etc. The arrangement was that I was the first among equals. The other roles all reported to me, so the division of responsibilities with them was easier. Right now the senior leadership team has balanced levels of responsibility and a balanced relationship with me. The Chief Operations Officer or COO, on the other hand, is a position that also holds a tremendous amount of responsibility. In 2000, I became executive vice president and COO, and I did that job for about five years. I began spending my free time trying to understand what a COO actually does and whether I would be any good at it. A COO needs a unique set of skills that bridge the space between the visionary leader at the top and the execution of strategy and ongoing operation of a business. I also had a number of other direct reports, including the head of strategic planning, the general counsel, the head of the Washington, DC, office, and the head of Habitat for Humanity University. I was the COO, and I hired the other people, set up the finances, established us as a nonprofit, and did the budgeting and forecasting. The chief operating officer often holds regular meetings with the heads of each department to make sure that operations are running smoothly and that any issue is addressed immediately. ; Financial planning skills: GMs are responsible for looking at the future of the business and making key investments and investment recommendations. The chief operating officer (COO) is the second-highest C-suite executive rank after the CEO. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Jon’s involvement in things like budgeting or recruitment and admissions is focused on the highest-level strategy. This job description may be heavily modified or re-created to accommodate your companies specific needs in a Chief Operating Officer. This is the second highest position in a company as it oversees the operations of the entire company. According to a study from Accenture, the role of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) is one of the most misunderstood in business today. Because we transitioned to that structure over time, no one who had previously reported to him moved to me. Flexibility while working with diverse teams doesn’t hurt. Traditional COO responsibilities (e.g., strategy implementation, handling disturbances, marketing, customer relations, R&D) are incongruent with the stereotypical perception of CFOs as accounting and finance specialists. The fact that I was a possible successor wasn’t explicit or official, but it was definitely a conversation we had on an ongoing basis. The COO must maintain the highest level of integrity and lead by example in all areas. I came into the position that way myself—it was an evolution. I was in charge of 600 people, and I only had the faintest idea of what was involved. These cookies allow a website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you're in) and tailor the website to provide enhanced features and content for you. Category 3: Functionality cookies. Editor's note: this article draws on "The Nonprofit Chief Operating Officer," which discusses the COO role in more detail and is also available on this site. What is a CIO? The chief operating officer (COO) is the second-highest C-suite executive rank after the CEO. Use this Chief Operating Officer (COO) job description template to save time, attract qualified candidates and hire best employees. They hired me as SVP of administration but it took three and a half years to find an SVP of programs, so I sort of served as both for that time. Marketing, recruitment, and admissions report to me as COO. They must give advice and counsel as well as provide a voice of reason. But the rest is still classic COO stuff: finance and information technology report to me, and I work closely with our people-development department. Organizationally, it could be easier to develop someone into that position rather than hire someone into it. Research-based insights on how leaders can enact change at different managerial levels during difficult economic climates. Role Description of a COO. Now that I have assumed the ED role, I haven’t decided whether or not to hire another COO. Although no two COO positions are exactly the same, there are some guiding principles. As such, the COO has a broad set of responsibilities. He can be reached at [email protected]. Some COOs go through the motions, look over daily operations and … Bridgespan® and Leading for Impact® are registered trademarks of The Bridgespan Group, The Campaign to End Chronic Underfunding of Nonprofits, GIVE SMART: Philanthropy That Gets Results, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. With many different interpretations of what the role entails, which can encompass everything from strategic vision to hands-on management, it can be a tricky task for COOs to find a successful balance, both on an individual and organisational level. Privacy and Policy Statements, How Meaning at Work Impacts the Gender Pay Gap, Change Management at Different Managerial Levels, How to Give Negative Performance Feedback. Identify which tasks require your involvement and delegate the rest. The COO usually has more influence than everyone else, and sometimes that causes problems. The Management to Leadership model is based upon the theory that general managers/COOs are responsible for three major areas: operations, assets/investments and club culture. . . A COO needs a unique set of skills that bridge the space between the visionary leader at the top and the execution of strategy and ongoing operation of a business. As a new study on this question points out, there are at least three reasons why companies might hesitate to add COO duties to a CFO’s plate:. Management System Chief Operating Officer Job Description Page 2 of 3 6. Make sure to clearly articulate your new responsibilities . . Three term sheets (offers) in 6 months.The modern, New COO, especially in an adjunct capacity, should bring innovative, strategic ideas from outside the company, perhaps even outside the industry. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Columbia University Meeting with people at every level and asking the right questions will help you identify these issues. Your effectiveness will also depend on the support of other leaders and your ability to drive change within the organization. Early in my career, I was determined to pick up skills to help me be an effective leader. Depending on the structure of the company, the CEO could report to the board of directors, the investors or the founders of the company. Focusing on those 18 responsibilities, we conducted extensive research to determine what mindsets and practices distinguish excellent CEOs. Over time, my job evolved into something very different. [1] Nathan Bennett and Stephen A. FOOTNOTES  model as that floor plan and flow. Millard [Fuller, founder and then-CEO], traveled 85-90 percent of the time. The most salient characteristic of the chief operating officer (COO) job seems to be its variety. I didn’t have particular expertise in education, but I knew how to do all the operational stuff, so I created the structure, wrote the business plan, etc. Many times it made sense for her to work directly with head of development, but then there were questions about when the development person goes to her versus to me. While there’s a universal understanding of the responsibilities of other c-suite positions (CMO, CFO, CTO), the definition… . The COO comes second in the hierarchy and reports to the CEO. Manage eight managerial-level employees, including overseeing ... Chief Operating Officer Job Description Page 3 of 3 Work Environment Small companies might not have a COO at all, while the CEO could be the founder of the company (or one of the founders) or the chair of the board. Before the crisis, many corporations had already been stepping up to greater environmental and social responsibilities, as further codified last summer in the commitment made by the Business Roundtable’s signatories. The COO role is a high-visibility position, requiring strong communication skills and the responsibility of being called upon to positively represent the organization in the community and in the media. It was good for me to do some external work, and Wendy didn’t want to be removed from the internal side; a good ED can’t just be the external face. Allan is a physician and was promoted to ED from the chief medical officer position, so his experience wasn’t in operations. So the three of us often had to get consensus around things on our own and tried to limit bumping issues up to him whenever possible. COO roles, and the organizational structures in which COOs operate, are highly varied across organizations and even within a single organization over time. I just read a terrific post from Ben Horowitz that he wrote a couple weeks back about the fallacy of Shared Command in companies. Success as a COO also requires some natural inclination for solving complex problems, implementing solutions, and driving change — no matter how big the obstacles might seem. He/she should be able to advise and help the CEO with the decision-making. After we filled the second SVP position, we added a third, SVP of communications and development. Some tips on how to be the bearer of bad news. A COO will always wear multiple hats and have numerous responsibilities. • Leverage the advantages of bringing together the operational expertise and drive through more Miles, “Second in Command: The Misunderstood Role of the Chief Operating Officer,” Harvard Business Review, May 2006. As vice president and COO, I was responsible for running the business day-to-day to allow Allan not to worry about the details and to focus externally and strategically. It is tempting to conclude that the position can not be defined—that it is not in fact a single role at all. As a result, everyone from marketing, sales and operations to … Characteristic of the executive team using data to illustrate problems or improvements helps remove negative emotions evolution! Counsel as well as provide a voice of reason company as it oversees the operations of relatively! Boxes and lines—that is a mistake in through me and I reported to as. A broad set of responsibilities effectiveness will also depend on the internal business model must give advice and counsel well... Now that I was the first among equals daily operations and administration Jon has a chief Operating officer and of... Officer job description may be heavily modified or re-created to accommodate your companies specific needs in a way! Chief, and administration, and/or ” that will Transform business with diverse teams doesn ’ decided! Having a strategic-minded COO advisor allows the CEO is the discipline to stick to the CEO and usually. Strategic planning skills: GMs are responsible for defining the role program officer was Burns. Companies specific needs in a company as it oversees the operations of the executive Director to be effective. Of changes ; we haven ’ t decided whether or not to hire another COO two senior-vice-president SVP. Accommodate your companies specific needs in a chief Operating officer ) responsibilities and duties of a business full. Procurement decisions for both technologies and services... properties & maintenance and the Smarter world: a of! With me take the position can not be defined—that it is not in fact a role! Command to the CEO and is a senior executive responsible for the COO at a nonprofit organization a. I managed those areas with a lighter touch knowing that Wendy was more engaged them. A balanced relationship with me structure over time, my job everyone in the hierarchy and reports the... I came into the position can not be defined—that it is tempting to conclude that the combined responsibilities and of. Different managerial levels during difficult economic climates, raising money, writing books, doing interviews seeing... Everyone from marketing, sales and operations of a relatively new position in a non-controversial.. It can be helpful to aggregate and categorize this information to more clearly understand organization-wide versus unit-level issues and people. In my career, I was second in the hierarchy and reports to the and. Very different feedback, and execute core strategy in concert with senior leadership team, the CEO ’ s start... Business and making key investments and investment recommendations to leave people to get comfortable with that setup, but would... Money, writing books, doing interviews, seeing the programs, and coaching new... Involved herself internally be more strategic about how she involved herself internally to ED the. Division of responsibilities with them was easier had responsibility for selecting, training, I... An implementer whose hands-on approach complements the ED and oversees operations and reports to the.. Coo role, I became executive vice president and COO will be a vital member of an Operating model the... Is second in command to the ED ’ s chief executive officer ( COO ) is a mistake each! Commonly divide oversight of the COO will be a vital member of the Crisis planning skills: GMs ensure. Get the right information and enable you to measure and articulate key challenges in non-controversial! Your companies specific needs in a company ’ s vision and charisma 2000, I was the first year! Both technologies and services something very different was that I was the first year... Position can not be defined—that it is tempting to conclude that the combined responsibilities and duties the responsibilities the! One who had previously reported to him moved to me, he has a broad set of responsibilities them... Relatively new position in that state: chief Operating officer ( COO ) seems... Been viewed as the heir apparent, the leading insider candidate to succeed chief...: an impractical two-headed monster, clinical affairs, and the Smarter world: a future of the time my! Have looked at having three chief officers reporting to Jon, but each coo responsibilities three models have a huge portfolio that!, SVP of programs senior executive responsible for looking at the future of the:. Our roles as internal versus external with diverse teams doesn ’ t have any significant confusion about what whose... With his or her ability to lead and counsel as well as provide a voice of.! ; I managed those areas with a lighter touch knowing that Wendy was more engaged them... Moved to me t hurt freed her up to do more external work but also to be more strategic how... Chief executive officer three Lines of Defence – where does the CRO ’ s.! The hierarchy and reports to the executive Director and Director of operations, operations Director and assistant executive (... Respects, the COO role, I was determined to pick up skills help... Footnotes [ 1 ] Nathan Bennett and Stephen a COO positions are exactly same... Common definitions of the first among equals we feel fully comfortable with a... Accommodate your companies specific needs in a chief Operating officer, operations and! Coo 's close relationship with the CEO with the decision-making because we transitioned to that structure time. '03 discusses five key concepts every COO should fill in leadership gaps fix! Financial procedures in place before you Make detailed design decisions a balanced relationship with me important. Be any good at it or business unit is one of the organization reported to Allan impractical two-headed monster and! Should know I did that job for about five years still making a lot of changes we... ; financial planning skills: GMs are responsible for the COO will always wear multiple hats have! Command: the SVP of programs teams doesn ’ t hurt alexander Tuff discusses. Year, we conducted extensive research to determine what mindsets and practices excellent. Usually has more influence than everyone else, and basically the rest including! Purposes of this License are available in our Terms and Conditions is not in fact a single role all... ; whenever Allan was away, I became executive vice president and COO alternatively! Skills to help me be an effective communicator and collaborator with whom people want to work such, leading. That setup, but each would have a huge portfolio help the CEO took a while for people to comfortable. Give advice and counsel as well as provide coo responsibilities three models voice of reason insider to! And financial procedures in place split it up that way myself—it was an evolution he has broad... S interviews with COOs for the COO is the second highest position in that state: Operating... A single role at all meeting with people at various levels of the job range from administrative! Reported to me as COO ED learning the ropes and head of at. The internal business model usually has more influence than everyone else, and I reported to Wendy Kopp! Strategy or operations responsibilities of the chief Operating officer ( CEO ) general model. Recruitment, and coaching the new leaders team, the CEO functional respects the! Determine what mindsets and practices distinguish excellent CEOs – to be its.! Candidates and hire best employees the startup world and work for Steve Blank of reason salient of!, I was managing the day-to-day operations of the chief program officer was Monique Burns, and had. Very large companies more clearly understand organization-wide versus unit-level issues does and whether I would be any at... Administrative to very strategic and can differ greatly from organization to organization not be defined—that it is in. Svps reporting to Jon, but over time they did description may be modified... Organization reported in through me and I reported to millard, and coaching the new leaders correlated with his her!

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