COO and director of operations recruiting
Hire a chief operating officer who lives near your office. RecruitJet finds, interviews and reference-checks candidates in any state.
What does a chief operating officer do in a small business?
- Runs the day-to-day of the business so the owner can focus on growth.
- Leads the managers across operations, delivery and service.
- Sets targets, fixes processes and makes sure plans turn into results.
Why the right hire matters
- Focus. The owner can spend time on growth, not daily firefighting.
- Execution. Plans turn into results with one person accountable.
- Scale. Processes and managers are ready for the next stage of growth.
What do we screen chief operating officers for?
- Experience as a COO or director of operations at a business of a similar size
- A record of scaling teams and processes
- References from past employers, checked before you meet them
- A commute to your office they can keep up
- Interview against your job description
- References from past employers
- Work history and dates
- A commute to your office they can keep up
- Background check, with the candidate's consent
This is recruiter screening. Your own hiring checks still apply.
What does a chief operating officer earn?
It depends on where the job is. Three things move pay from state to state.
Cost of living
Pay tends to sit above the national average in high-cost states and metros, and below it where living costs are lower.
Local demand
Where more employers are hiring for a role than there are candidates, offers rise.
On-site, hybrid or remote
On-site roles are priced by the local market. Remote roles draw on a wider pool, which changes what candidates expect.
Contact us for a current salary benchmark for your state and role.
Request a HireHiring chief operating officers in your state
We recruit for any industry, in any state in the U.S.
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5 min read · November 2026Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a chief operating officer through a recruiter?
How long does it take to hire a chief operating officer?
What does a chief operating officer earn?
Do you place temporary or contract chief operating officers?
Tell us who you need and when
- A shortlist of interviewed, reference-checked candidates, typically within 10 business days of kickoff
- One fee, paid on placement
- A free 90-day replacement guarantee
Takes about two minutes. We reply within one business day.
The Right Hire,
Right Here.