Entry Level Chief Operating Officer Jobs
New grad chief operating officer jobs open doors for recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or demonstrated organizational impact can matter more than a lengthy resume. Most openings are Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Retail roles with varying on-site, remote, and hybrid arrangements, with employers like Amedisys, CBL & ASSOCIATES MANAGEMENT, and CBL & Associates Properties hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 151+ Entry Level Chief Operating Officer jobs
Position Summary
The Director of Facilities & Campus Operations provides leadership, oversight, and hands-on management for all aspects of The Haven’s physical campus, residential properties, grounds, fleet, maintenance operations, and facilities-related compliance. This position is responsible for ensuring that The Haven’s buildings, group homes, classrooms, outdoor areas, vehicles, and program spaces are safe, accessible, functional, well-maintained, and aligned with the organization’s mission.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Campus and Building Operations
- Oversee the daily maintenance, repair, and upkeep of all campus buildings and structures, including group homes, educational buildings, administrative offices, vocational spaces, maintenance buildings, program areas, recreational spaces, and off-site property.
- Develop, implement, and monitor a preventive maintenance schedule for buildings, grounds, systems, vehicles, and equipment.
- Ensure timely completion of maintenance requests, repairs, inspections, and follow-up documentation.
- Prioritize maintenance needs based on safety, resident care, program operations, regulatory requirements, and organizational risk.
- Ensure that residential homes remain safe, functional, clean, and properly maintained for 24/7 supported living.
- Maintain safe and welcoming classroom and program environments for students, residents, clients, staff, families, and visitors.
- Monitor building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, lighting, fire/life safety systems, pool systems, and other facility infrastructure.
- Identify facility concerns before they become major operational or safety issues.
Grounds and Exterior Operations
- Oversee the maintenance of campus grounds, landscaping, irrigation, trees, walkways, parking areas, fencing, drainage, exterior lighting, and outdoor program spaces.
- Ensure that all exterior spaces remain safe, accessible, clean, and appropriate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Coordinate hurricane preparedness, storm response, debris removal, and post-storm recovery efforts.
- Monitor campus accessibility and address physical barriers that may impact residents, students, clients, staff, or visitors.
Team Leadership and Supervision
- Directly supervise, schedule, support, and evaluate the maintenance team members.
- Assign, prioritize, and monitor work orders and daily responsibilities.
- Set clear expectations for quality, timeliness, safety, documentation, and communication.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and accountability to ensure consistent performance.
- Support hiring, onboarding, and training of facilities and maintenance staff as the department grows.
- Promote a culture of safety, professionalism, teamwork, and mission-focused service.
Vendor and Contractor Management
- Source, coordinate, and oversee vendors, contractors, and service providers for specialized repairs, inspections, renovations, and capital projects.
- Obtain bids, review proposals, coordinate schedules, and monitor work quality.
- Ensure contractors complete work safely, professionally, and in compliance with applicable codes and organizational expectations.
- Maintain records of vendor work, warranties, inspections, service agreements, and project documentation.
Fleet Management
- Oversee maintenance, repair, registration, inspection, cleanliness, and operational readiness of The Haven’s vehicle fleet.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs with approved vendors.
- Ensure that vehicle records, service documentation, and inspection logs are up to date.
- Work with program leadership to support safe and reliable transportation operations.
- Assist with planning for future fleet expansion as campus and program needs grow.
Budget and Capital Planning
- Assist the VP of Administration with developing, monitoring, and managing the facilities, grounds, maintenance, and fleet budgets.
- Track expenses, identify cost-saving opportunities, and recommend budget priorities.
- Support long-range capital improvement planning.
- Identify major repair needs, deferred maintenance issues, replacement timelines, and infrastructure priorities.
- Partner with senior leadership, contractors, architects, engineers, and the Board as needed on major capital projects and campus expansion initiatives.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of five years of progressive experience in facilities management, campus operations, building maintenance, property management, construction, or a related field.
- Minimum of two years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
- Experience managing a multi-building, campus-based, residential, educational, healthcare, nonprofit, or similar operational environment.
- Working knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, lighting, fire/life safety, and general maintenance.
- Ability to manage vendors, contractors, service agreements, bids, and project timelines.
- Experience using or willingness to learn computerized maintenance management systems, work order platforms, or similar tracking systems.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, prioritization, and follow-through skills.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
- Valid Florida driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
- Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies when needed.
- Ability to pass all required background checks and meet organizational employment requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a nonprofit, disability services, education, healthcare, residential care, human services, or similar mission-based setting.
- Experience supporting facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or other vulnerable populations.
- Certified Facilities Manager, Facilities Management Professional, or similar credential.
- Experience with capital project management, renovations, new construction, or campus expansion.
- Knowledge of ADA accessibility requirements, Florida Building Code, and applicable life safety standards.
- Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred but not required.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors in Florida weather conditions.
- Ability to walk the campus, inspect buildings, climb stairs, bend, stand, and work in varied physical environments.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Visual and hearing ability sufficient to conduct safety inspections and assess maintenance concerns.
- Ability to respond to urgent facilities issues as needed.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Position Summary
The Director of Facilities & Campus Operations provides leadership, oversight, and hands-on management for all aspects of The Haven’s physical campus, residential properties, grounds, fleet, maintenance operations, and facilities-related compliance. This position is responsible for ensuring that The Haven’s buildings, group homes, classrooms, outdoor areas, vehicles, and program spaces are safe, accessible, functional, well-maintained, and aligned with the organization’s mission.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Campus and Building Operations
- Oversee the daily maintenance, repair, and upkeep of all campus buildings and structures, including group homes, educational buildings, administrative offices, vocational spaces, maintenance buildings, program areas, recreational spaces, and off-site property.
- Develop, implement, and monitor a preventive maintenance schedule for buildings, grounds, systems, vehicles, and equipment.
- Ensure timely completion of maintenance requests, repairs, inspections, and follow-up documentation.
- Prioritize maintenance needs based on safety, resident care, program operations, regulatory requirements, and organizational risk.
- Ensure that residential homes remain safe, functional, clean, and properly maintained for 24/7 supported living.
- Maintain safe and welcoming classroom and program environments for students, residents, clients, staff, families, and visitors.
- Monitor building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, lighting, fire/life safety systems, pool systems, and other facility infrastructure.
- Identify facility concerns before they become major operational or safety issues.
Grounds and Exterior Operations
- Oversee the maintenance of campus grounds, landscaping, irrigation, trees, walkways, parking areas, fencing, drainage, exterior lighting, and outdoor program spaces.
- Ensure that all exterior spaces remain safe, accessible, clean, and appropriate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Coordinate hurricane preparedness, storm response, debris removal, and post-storm recovery efforts.
- Monitor campus accessibility and address physical barriers that may impact residents, students, clients, staff, or visitors.
Team Leadership and Supervision
- Directly supervise, schedule, support, and evaluate the maintenance team members.
- Assign, prioritize, and monitor work orders and daily responsibilities.
- Set clear expectations for quality, timeliness, safety, documentation, and communication.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and accountability to ensure consistent performance.
- Support hiring, onboarding, and training of facilities and maintenance staff as the department grows.
- Promote a culture of safety, professionalism, teamwork, and mission-focused service.
Vendor and Contractor Management
- Source, coordinate, and oversee vendors, contractors, and service providers for specialized repairs, inspections, renovations, and capital projects.
- Obtain bids, review proposals, coordinate schedules, and monitor work quality.
- Ensure contractors complete work safely, professionally, and in compliance with applicable codes and organizational expectations.
- Maintain records of vendor work, warranties, inspections, service agreements, and project documentation.
Fleet Management
- Oversee maintenance, repair, registration, inspection, cleanliness, and operational readiness of The Haven’s vehicle fleet.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs with approved vendors.
- Ensure that vehicle records, service documentation, and inspection logs are up to date.
- Work with program leadership to support safe and reliable transportation operations.
- Assist with planning for future fleet expansion as campus and program needs grow.
Budget and Capital Planning
- Assist the VP of Administration with developing, monitoring, and managing the facilities, grounds, maintenance, and fleet budgets.
- Track expenses, identify cost-saving opportunities, and recommend budget priorities.
- Support long-range capital improvement planning.
- Identify major repair needs, deferred maintenance issues, replacement timelines, and infrastructure priorities.
- Partner with senior leadership, contractors, architects, engineers, and the Board as needed on major capital projects and campus expansion initiatives.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of five years of progressive experience in facilities management, campus operations, building maintenance, property management, construction, or a related field.
- Minimum of two years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
- Experience managing a multi-building, campus-based, residential, educational, healthcare, nonprofit, or similar operational environment.
- Working knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, lighting, fire/life safety, and general maintenance.
- Ability to manage vendors, contractors, service agreements, bids, and project timelines.
- Experience using or willingness to learn computerized maintenance management systems, work order platforms, or similar tracking systems.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, prioritization, and follow-through skills.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
- Valid Florida driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
- Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies when needed.
- Ability to pass all required background checks and meet organizational employment requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a nonprofit, disability services, education, healthcare, residential care, human services, or similar mission-based setting.
- Experience supporting facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or other vulnerable populations.
- Certified Facilities Manager, Facilities Management Professional, or similar credential.
- Experience with capital project management, renovations, new construction, or campus expansion.
- Knowledge of ADA accessibility requirements, Florida Building Code, and applicable life safety standards.
- Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred but not required.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors in Florida weather conditions.
- Ability to walk the campus, inspect buildings, climb stairs, bend, stand, and work in varied physical environments.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Visual and hearing ability sufficient to conduct safety inspections and assess maintenance concerns.
- Ability to respond to urgent facilities issues as needed.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 151+ Entry Level Chief Operating Officer Jobs
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Find JobsEntry Level Chief Operating Officer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Amedisys12
- CBL & ASSOCIATES MANAGEMENT5C
- CBL & Associates Properties5
- Enhabit Home Health & Hospice5
- Proud Moments4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services31
- Education18
- Retail7
- Hospitality & Tourism6
- Technology & Software6
Entry Level Chief Operating Officer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level chief operating officer job?
Entry level chief operating officer roles typically look for candidates who can demonstrate operational thinking, cross-functional coordination, and comfort with data even without years of formal experience. Internships in operations, business administration, or project management give you the strongest edge. Highlight any experience streamlining a process, managing a team project, or supporting an executive, and frame it around measurable outcomes.
Which companies hire entry level chief operating officers?
Companies hiring entry level chief operating officers right now include Amedisys, CBL & ASSOCIATES MANAGEMENT, and CBL & Associates Properties, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Startups and fast-growing mid-size organizations tend to be the most active at this level, as they often need operationally minded candidates who can grow into the role quickly.
Are there remote entry level chief operating officer jobs?
Yes, though many postings still prefer on-site or hybrid arrangements for this role. About 9% of entry level chief operating officer openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, so options exist for candidates who need location flexibility. Searching with a remote filter on Migrate Mate will show you which employers are open to it.
Are these new grad chief operating officer jobs?
Yes, many of these listings are new grad and junior chief operating officer roles that explicitly welcome recent graduates and candidates with little or no formal experience. A new-grad-friendly posting typically accepts zero to two years of experience, counts internships or part-time roles, and values a portfolio or project history over a long resume. Look for language like "entry level," "recent graduates welcome," or "no experience required" in the job description.
Which industries hire the most entry level chief operating officers?
Entry Level chief operating officer roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Retail, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors tend to drive hiring at the entry level because rapid growth and operational complexity create demand for junior candidates who can support senior leadership and take on increasing responsibility over time.