The majority of companies have a broad variety of operating groups that pursue various organizational goals. Chief operating officers (COO) and may also be a vice-president is an executive at the top who is responsible for the overall effectiveness of all the operations. They are responsible for a variety of duties, including making business decisions at a high level and supervising teams of managers and overseeing all the company's activities to ensure maximum profit. They also present to employees as well in front of their chief executive officers and to the company's board. Chief operating officers usually operate in a corporate environment during normal working hours, though they may need to work overtime due to new issues or deadlines. They typically work under the direction of their chief executive officers.
The chief operating officer should be a dedicated, detailed person with a deep knowledge of the company's objectives. The chief operating officer should make use of all resources available to be aware of all operational activities and formulate and implement new strategies when required. Communication skills are essential and so is the ability to work in a collaborative and cooperative manner which helps build connections between the executive directors as well as the numerous employees they supervise.
The educational requirements for this job are contingent upon the scale of the business and the extent of the Chief Operating Officer's duties. An undergraduate degree from management, business or another related field is enough for certain operations however larger companies generally require at least a master's degree. Experiential experience in this field is also essential, particularly in a managerial position.