Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Louisiana
Chief Operating Officer jobs in Louisiana are concentrated in energy, healthcare, logistics, and financial services, with demand at the senior executive level across both large enterprises and mid-market companies. The most active hiring metros are New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, where anchored employers like Ochsner Health, Entergy, and Turner Industries maintain ongoing leadership needs. Operations leaders with expertise in energy services, hospital administration, or supply chain management are among the most sought-after in the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About this Job
At DOTD, our mission is to innovatively develop and sustain safe and reliable infrastructure comprising highways, multimodal transportation assets, micro-mobility systems, and public works. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.
The Traffic Operations Director serves as the Department's senior authority for traffic operations across Tolling Operations, Traffic Management Centers (TMCs), Traffic Services and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) functions. The Traffic Operations Director is responsible for planning, directing and evaluating Department-wide efforts to ensure that the Traffic Operations Division programs, initiatives and outcomes align with the Department's strategic objectives, statutory mandates, revenue requirements and long-tern mobility and reliability goals.
While in official capacity, DOTD employees must comply with applicable Louisiana and Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations, as well as DOTD policies, procedures, manuals, and directives.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice professional engineering plus one of the following, which must include two years of experience at the supervisory level or above:
Four years of licensed engineering experience; or
Eight years of professional engineering experience.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS:
A master's degree in engineering will substitute for one year of professional engineering experience.
A doctorate degree in engineering will substitute for two years of professional engineering experience.
Advanced degrees will substitute for a maximum of two years of professional engineering experience.
There is no substitution for licensed engineering experience.
NOTES:
Engineering experience gained while licensed as a professional engineer will be accepted as licensed engineering experience. Engineering experience gained after earning an ABET-accredited degree and prior to earning a professional engineer's license (e.g., as an engineer intern applicant, engineer intern, or equivalent) will be accepted as professional level engineering experience.
Applications will be accepted from persons licensed to practice professional engineering in states other than Louisiana. If one of those applicants is selected for the position, he/she will be required to obtain a Louisiana license prior to appointment. The hiring agency will verify that all licensing requirements are met.
Louisiana Professional Engineer licenses are issued by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board. Licensing requirements may be viewed at www.lapels.com.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
The Traffic Operations Director's primary duties:
- Leadership and Strategic Alignment: Provides Department-wide leadership for the Traffic Operations Division
- Oversight and Program Management: Directs and oversees Division programs, services and activities.
- Performance Management and Analytics: Implements and maintains standardized governance structures and performance management frameworks.
- Financial Stewardship and Resource Management: Oversees Division budget planning and financial management.
Position-Specific Details:
Compensation: This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER) of $5,668.80/biweekly.
Additional compensation may be considered with extraordinary qualifications in accordance with State Civil Service Rules and DOTD policy.
Licensing Requirements: Must have a current Louisiana Professional Engineering License.
Appointment Type: This position is open to permanent DOTD employees only.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities.
Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. Applicants can check the status of their application at any time by selecting the ‘Application Status’ link after logging into their account.
*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. *
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is an equal employment opportunity employer and serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities. DOTD does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or pregnancy, and prohibits harassment of any type.
Information on the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available: https://www.laworks.net/workforcedev/lrs/lrs_rehabilitation.asp
About this Job
At DOTD, our mission is to innovatively develop and sustain safe and reliable infrastructure comprising highways, multimodal transportation assets, micro-mobility systems, and public works. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.
The Traffic Operations Director serves as the Department's senior authority for traffic operations across Tolling Operations, Traffic Management Centers (TMCs), Traffic Services and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) functions. The Traffic Operations Director is responsible for planning, directing and evaluating Department-wide efforts to ensure that the Traffic Operations Division programs, initiatives and outcomes align with the Department's strategic objectives, statutory mandates, revenue requirements and long-tern mobility and reliability goals.
While in official capacity, DOTD employees must comply with applicable Louisiana and Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations, as well as DOTD policies, procedures, manuals, and directives.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice professional engineering plus one of the following, which must include two years of experience at the supervisory level or above:
Four years of licensed engineering experience; or
Eight years of professional engineering experience.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS:
A master's degree in engineering will substitute for one year of professional engineering experience.
A doctorate degree in engineering will substitute for two years of professional engineering experience.
Advanced degrees will substitute for a maximum of two years of professional engineering experience.
There is no substitution for licensed engineering experience.
NOTES:
Engineering experience gained while licensed as a professional engineer will be accepted as licensed engineering experience. Engineering experience gained after earning an ABET-accredited degree and prior to earning a professional engineer's license (e.g., as an engineer intern applicant, engineer intern, or equivalent) will be accepted as professional level engineering experience.
Applications will be accepted from persons licensed to practice professional engineering in states other than Louisiana. If one of those applicants is selected for the position, he/she will be required to obtain a Louisiana license prior to appointment. The hiring agency will verify that all licensing requirements are met.
Louisiana Professional Engineer licenses are issued by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board. Licensing requirements may be viewed at www.lapels.com.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
The Traffic Operations Director's primary duties:
- Leadership and Strategic Alignment: Provides Department-wide leadership for the Traffic Operations Division
- Oversight and Program Management: Directs and oversees Division programs, services and activities.
- Performance Management and Analytics: Implements and maintains standardized governance structures and performance management frameworks.
- Financial Stewardship and Resource Management: Oversees Division budget planning and financial management.
Position-Specific Details:
Compensation: This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER) of $5,668.80/biweekly.
Additional compensation may be considered with extraordinary qualifications in accordance with State Civil Service Rules and DOTD policy.
Licensing Requirements: Must have a current Louisiana Professional Engineering License.
Appointment Type: This position is open to permanent DOTD employees only.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities.
Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. Applicants can check the status of their application at any time by selecting the ‘Application Status’ link after logging into their account.
*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. *
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is an equal employment opportunity employer and serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities. DOTD does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or pregnancy, and prohibits harassment of any type.
Information on the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available: https://www.laworks.net/workforcedev/lrs/lrs_rehabilitation.asp
See All 44 Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Louisiana
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Find Chief Operating Officer JobsChief Operating Officer Jobs by City in Louisiana
Where Louisiana roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chief Operating Officer Job Market in Louisiana
A snapshot from current Louisiana openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Louisiana Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief operating officer jobs across Louisiana.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
- Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in operations or a related function
- Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-site or multi-departmental operations in Louisiana industries
- Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans aligned with organizational financial goals
- Strong background in budget oversight, P&L management, and operational performance metrics
- Experience in at least one core Louisiana sector such as energy, healthcare, or logistics
Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Louisiana: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chief operating officer in Louisiana?
Reaching a chief operating officer role in Louisiana typically requires a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related field, with many employers preferring an MBA. There is no state-issued license specific to this role in Louisiana. Most executives build toward it through a progression of director and VP-level operations roles within Louisiana's dominant industries, particularly energy, healthcare, and logistics, where executive leadership pipelines at large regional employers provide the clearest path.
Which companies hire chief operating officers in Louisiana?
Employers hiring chief operating officers in Louisiana right now include CenterWell, JM Test Systems, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Louisiana's energy corridor, major health systems, and port-driven logistics companies generate the most consistent executive-level demand in the state.
Which Louisiana cities have the most chief operating officer jobs?
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport account for the largest share of chief operating officer openings in Louisiana. New Orleans drives volume through its concentration of healthcare systems, hospitality conglomerates, and port logistics firms, while Baton Rouge reflects demand from the petrochemical and energy sectors headquartered along the Mississippi River corridor, and Shreveport draws openings from regional healthcare networks and manufacturing operations in the northwest part of the state.
Are there remote chief operating officer jobs in Louisiana?
Yes, but they're relatively rare. Operations leadership typically requires on-site presence to manage facilities, teams, and day-to-day functions. About 40% of chief operating officer openings tied to Louisiana are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with most of those roles concentrated in sectors like financial services or technology where physical oversight is less central to the position.
How can I get hired as a chief operating officer in Louisiana with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is building a track of functional management experience inside Louisiana's anchor industries before moving into executive operations. Large health systems like Ochsner Health and LCMC Health hire operations managers and directors who develop into COO candidates over time. Energy companies along the Baton Rouge corridor similarly promote from senior project and plant management roles. Earning an MBA from a Louisiana institution such as Tulane or LSU strengthens candidacy, and a background in finance, supply chain, or clinical administration opens lateral paths to the role.
Where can I find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Louisiana?
You can find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Louisiana on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 44 Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Louisiana
Find roles in Louisiana that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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