Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Kentucky

Chief Operating Officer jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in healthcare systems, logistics, manufacturing, and financial services, with demand strongest in Louisville, Lexington, and the Northern Kentucky corridor near Cincinnati. Major employers with lasting COO-level hiring presence include Humana, Ashland, and Baptist Health, alongside Kentucky's deep network of regional hospital systems and mid-market manufacturers. The most in-demand specialties are healthcare operations, supply chain management, and multi-site manufacturing leadership. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles33
Top employerShipMonk
Top cityLouisville, KY
Cities hiring10
Work type43% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree

Showing 4 of 33+ Chief Operating Officer jobs

CVS Health
Lead Director-Digital Product – Clinic Operations and Ambulatory Workflows
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CVS Health
Added 2d ago
Lead Director-Digital Product – Clinic Operations and Ambulatory Workflows
CVS Health
Kentucky
Project & Program Management
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$144k - $288k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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University of Kentucky
Director of Operations Planning/UKHC
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University of Kentucky
Added 4d ago
Director of Operations Planning/UKHC
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Construction Management
Program Management
Project Management
$95k - $186k/yr
Six Sigma Certification
10,000+

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DSV
Director, Operations
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DSV
Added 5d ago
Director, Operations
DSV
Walton, Kentucky
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
$180k - $215k/yr
Bachelor's degree in business
10,000+

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K
Director of Distribution Operations
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K
Added 1w ago
Director of Distribution Operations
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
Louisville, Kentucky
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
Bachelor's degree in business administration

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See All 33 Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Kentucky

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Chief Operating Officer Jobs by City in Kentucky

Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Louisville
15 jobs
Lexington
5 jobs
Hebron
2 jobs
Covington
2 jobs
Bowling Green
2 jobs
Walton
1 job
Edgewood
1 job
Florence
1 job
Richmond
1 job

Chief Operating Officer Job Market in Kentucky

A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

ShipMonk
ShipMonk2 open roles
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky2 open roles
Cedarhurst Senior Living
Cedarhurst Senior Living2 open roles

What Kentucky Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chief operating officer jobs across Kentucky.

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
  • Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience across operations and strategy
  • Demonstrated experience managing P&L responsibility and cross-functional teams
  • Expertise in supply chain, healthcare administration, or manufacturing operations preferred
  • Strong record of executing organizational growth initiatives and operational efficiencies
  • MBA or advanced business degree strongly preferred by most Kentucky employers

Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a chief operating officer in Kentucky?

Reaching a chief operating officer role in Kentucky typically requires a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related discipline followed by an MBA or equivalent graduate credential, which most large Kentucky employers list as preferred. Kentucky does not require a state-issued license specifically for COO roles, but advancement generally comes through progressively senior director and VP-level positions within healthcare systems, logistics companies, or manufacturers headquartered in the state.

How much do chief operating officers make in Kentucky?

Chief operating officers in Kentucky earn a median of about $179,530 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $72,800 for the lowest 10% to over $466,660 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire chief operating officers in Kentucky?

Kentucky chief operating officer roles are posted by ShipMonk, University of Kentucky, and Cedarhurst Senior Living and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Kentucky's concentration of regional hospital networks, Fortune 500 logistics firms, and manufacturing headquarters means COO openings appear across a range of industries statewide.

Which Kentucky cities have the most chief operating officer jobs?

Louisville, Lexington, and Kentucky account for the greatest concentration of chief operating officer openings in Kentucky. Louisville drives the highest volume given its status as home to major healthcare corporations, logistics operations, and financial services firms, while Lexington and Northern Kentucky attract COO roles through university-affiliated health systems and the dense employer base linked to the greater Cincinnati metro.

Are there remote chief operating officer jobs in Kentucky?

Yes, but they're rare. Chief operating officer roles are by nature heavily on-site because they involve direct oversight of facilities, teams, and day-to-day operations. About 57% of chief operating officer openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with remote arrangements most common for COOs overseeing distributed digital operations or multi-state service businesses rather than manufacturing or healthcare facilities.

How can I get hired as a chief operating officer in Kentucky with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is building operational leadership experience through director or VP-level roles in Kentucky's healthcare, logistics, or manufacturing sectors before stepping into a COO position. Large employers such as Humana and Baptist Health run formal leadership development programs that move high-potential managers toward executive tracks. Lateral moves from roles like director of operations, plant manager, or VP of supply chain are the most common stepping stones, and an MBA from a Kentucky institution such as the University of Kentucky or University of Louisville strengthens a candidate's profile considerably.

Where can I find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Kentucky?

You can find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search the listings, find the roles that match your background and target industry, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 33 Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Kentucky

Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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