Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Virginia
Chief Operating Officer jobs in Virginia are in steady demand, concentrated in defense contracting, federal consulting, healthcare systems, and technology services, with openings at every level from newly promoted vice presidents stepping into operational leadership through seasoned executives overseeing enterprise-wide strategy. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor account for most of the hiring activity, anchored by established employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Inova Health System, and Leidos. The most consistently sought specialties in Virginia are operational excellence in government services, healthcare operations management, and technology-driven business transformation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 113+ Chief Operating Officer jobs
Our Culture and Impact
Cvent is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider with more than 5,500+ employees and ~30,000 customers worldwide, including 60% of the Fortune 500. Founded in 1999, Cvent delivers a comprehensive event marketing and management platform for marketers and event professionals and offers software solutions to hotels, special event venues and destinations to help them grow their group/MICE and corporate travel business. Our technology brings millions of people together at events around the world. In short, we’re transforming the meetings and events industry through innovative technology that powers the human connection.
Cvent's strength lies in its people, fostering a culture where everyone is encouraged to think like entrepreneurs, taking risks and making decisions confidently. We value diverse perspectives and celebrate differences, working together with colleagues and clients to build strong connections.
AI at Cvent: Leading the Future
Are you ready to shape the future of work at the intersection of human expertise and AI innovation? At Cvent, we’re committed to continuous learning and adaptation—AI isn’t just a tool for us, it’s part of our DNA. We’re looking for candidates who are eager to evolve alongside technology. If you love to experiment boldly, share your discoveries, and help define best practices for AI-augmented work, you’ll thrive here. Our team values professionals who thoughtfully integrate AI into their daily work, delivering exceptional results while relying on the human judgment and creativity that drive real innovation.
Cvent is hiring a Director, Payment Operations to own the strategy, systems, and vendor ecosystem behind Cvent Payments - the PCI Level 1, Stripe Connect-powered payment processing capability embedded across Cvent's event platform. Cvent Payments handles event registration payments, automated payouts and remittances, onsite payment processing via Cvent OnArrival, and multi-currency transactions (130+ currencies, major card types, Apple Pay and Google Pay) for organizers globally. This is a strategic, cross-functional leadership role: you will own the Stripe relationship and payments roadmap, and partner closely with Product, Engineering, Sales, and Accounting to scale a payments capability that supports Cvent's global growth. You will also lead the team responsible for day-to-day payment operations, compliance, and risk management.
In This Role, You Will::Payments Strategy & Vendor Management
- Own the end-to-end relationship with Stripe (Cvent Payments' processing partner via Stripe Connect) and any additional acquiring/banking partners; lead contract negotiations, pricing structure, and SLA management.
- Develop and maintain a multi-year payments roadmap aligned to Cvent's product and international growth strategy, including new payment methods, currencies, and markets.
- Evaluate and select new payment partners and technologies as the business scales; build the business case and lead vendor RFPs where needed.
- Own total cost of payment acceptance and identify opportunities to improve margin through routing, reserves management, and fee structure optimization.
- Optimize pricing, margins, and reporting by analyzing processing costs, interchange, and fee structures to improve profitability.
Systems, Process & Performance
- Partner with Product and Engineering on the Cvent Payments platform roadmap, including self-service merchant onboarding, automated payouts/remittances, tax collection, and onsite payment processing.
- Drive automation and continuous improvement across transaction processing, reconciliation, chargebacks, and exception management.
- Define and report on payment operations KPIs — authorization rates, cost of acceptance, days-to-settle, dispute/chargeback rates, failed payout rates — to executive leadership.
Risk & Compliance
- Maintain Cvent Payments' PCI Level 1 Service Provider status and data security standards across all payment flows and integrations.
- Oversee fraud prevention, dispute management, and adherence to card network rules; partner with Legal and Compliance on regulatory requirements across the geographies Cvent operates in.
- Maintain and strengthen financial controls and compliance by supporting internal and external audits; maintain strong documentation and control frameworks and ensure adherence to card network rules, PCI requirements, KYC/AML expectations, and internal policies.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing payment operations team.
- Partner with Accounting/Controllership on reconciliation and revenue recognition implications of payment flows.
- Partner with Sales and GTM teams on payment-related contract terms and the merchant/organizer payment experience.
- Serve as the executive-level subject matter expert on payments for internal stakeholders and leadership.
- 10+ years of experience in payments, treasury, fintech, or payment operations, including people leadership experience.
- Direct experience managing a processor relationship, ideally with Stripe/Stripe Connect, and familiarity with merchant acquiring.
- Deep knowledge of PCI-DSS (Level 1 Service Provider experience a plus), card network rules, and payments compliance/regulatory frameworks.
- Proven track record negotiating vendor contracts and managing multi-million-dollar payments spend.
- Experience partnering cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Legal, Sales, and Accounting/Finance.
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills; comfortable presenting to senior leadership.
- Experience using AI and other automation tools for process improvements and to drive efficiencies.
- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in SaaS, marketplace, or platform businesses with embedded payments (e.g., Stripe Connect platform model).
- Experience in event technology, hospitality, or B2B SaaS with multi-currency/international payment flows.
- Familiarity with digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) and onsite/in-person payment processing.
- Process improvement background (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean).
This job posting is intended to comply with all applicable laws. If we learn during the course of our recruitment process that, due to an applicant’s location, further information about the position is required, including certain salary information, this information in this posting will be supplemented accordingly.
LinkedIn Remote Type: #LI-Hybrid Indeed Remote Type: N/A
Our Culture and Impact
Cvent is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider with more than 5,500+ employees and ~30,000 customers worldwide, including 60% of the Fortune 500. Founded in 1999, Cvent delivers a comprehensive event marketing and management platform for marketers and event professionals and offers software solutions to hotels, special event venues and destinations to help them grow their group/MICE and corporate travel business. Our technology brings millions of people together at events around the world. In short, we’re transforming the meetings and events industry through innovative technology that powers the human connection.
Cvent's strength lies in its people, fostering a culture where everyone is encouraged to think like entrepreneurs, taking risks and making decisions confidently. We value diverse perspectives and celebrate differences, working together with colleagues and clients to build strong connections.
AI at Cvent: Leading the Future
Are you ready to shape the future of work at the intersection of human expertise and AI innovation? At Cvent, we’re committed to continuous learning and adaptation—AI isn’t just a tool for us, it’s part of our DNA. We’re looking for candidates who are eager to evolve alongside technology. If you love to experiment boldly, share your discoveries, and help define best practices for AI-augmented work, you’ll thrive here. Our team values professionals who thoughtfully integrate AI into their daily work, delivering exceptional results while relying on the human judgment and creativity that drive real innovation.
Cvent is hiring a Director, Payment Operations to own the strategy, systems, and vendor ecosystem behind Cvent Payments - the PCI Level 1, Stripe Connect-powered payment processing capability embedded across Cvent's event platform. Cvent Payments handles event registration payments, automated payouts and remittances, onsite payment processing via Cvent OnArrival, and multi-currency transactions (130+ currencies, major card types, Apple Pay and Google Pay) for organizers globally. This is a strategic, cross-functional leadership role: you will own the Stripe relationship and payments roadmap, and partner closely with Product, Engineering, Sales, and Accounting to scale a payments capability that supports Cvent's global growth. You will also lead the team responsible for day-to-day payment operations, compliance, and risk management.
In This Role, You Will::Payments Strategy & Vendor Management
- Own the end-to-end relationship with Stripe (Cvent Payments' processing partner via Stripe Connect) and any additional acquiring/banking partners; lead contract negotiations, pricing structure, and SLA management.
- Develop and maintain a multi-year payments roadmap aligned to Cvent's product and international growth strategy, including new payment methods, currencies, and markets.
- Evaluate and select new payment partners and technologies as the business scales; build the business case and lead vendor RFPs where needed.
- Own total cost of payment acceptance and identify opportunities to improve margin through routing, reserves management, and fee structure optimization.
- Optimize pricing, margins, and reporting by analyzing processing costs, interchange, and fee structures to improve profitability.
Systems, Process & Performance
- Partner with Product and Engineering on the Cvent Payments platform roadmap, including self-service merchant onboarding, automated payouts/remittances, tax collection, and onsite payment processing.
- Drive automation and continuous improvement across transaction processing, reconciliation, chargebacks, and exception management.
- Define and report on payment operations KPIs — authorization rates, cost of acceptance, days-to-settle, dispute/chargeback rates, failed payout rates — to executive leadership.
Risk & Compliance
- Maintain Cvent Payments' PCI Level 1 Service Provider status and data security standards across all payment flows and integrations.
- Oversee fraud prevention, dispute management, and adherence to card network rules; partner with Legal and Compliance on regulatory requirements across the geographies Cvent operates in.
- Maintain and strengthen financial controls and compliance by supporting internal and external audits; maintain strong documentation and control frameworks and ensure adherence to card network rules, PCI requirements, KYC/AML expectations, and internal policies.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing payment operations team.
- Partner with Accounting/Controllership on reconciliation and revenue recognition implications of payment flows.
- Partner with Sales and GTM teams on payment-related contract terms and the merchant/organizer payment experience.
- Serve as the executive-level subject matter expert on payments for internal stakeholders and leadership.
- 10+ years of experience in payments, treasury, fintech, or payment operations, including people leadership experience.
- Direct experience managing a processor relationship, ideally with Stripe/Stripe Connect, and familiarity with merchant acquiring.
- Deep knowledge of PCI-DSS (Level 1 Service Provider experience a plus), card network rules, and payments compliance/regulatory frameworks.
- Proven track record negotiating vendor contracts and managing multi-million-dollar payments spend.
- Experience partnering cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Legal, Sales, and Accounting/Finance.
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills; comfortable presenting to senior leadership.
- Experience using AI and other automation tools for process improvements and to drive efficiencies.
- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in SaaS, marketplace, or platform businesses with embedded payments (e.g., Stripe Connect platform model).
- Experience in event technology, hospitality, or B2B SaaS with multi-currency/international payment flows.
- Familiarity with digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) and onsite/in-person payment processing.
- Process improvement background (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean).
This job posting is intended to comply with all applicable laws. If we learn during the course of our recruitment process that, due to an applicant’s location, further information about the position is required, including certain salary information, this information in this posting will be supplemented accordingly.
LinkedIn Remote Type: #LI-Hybrid Indeed Remote Type: N/A
See All 113+ Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Virginia
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Find Chief Operating Officer JobsChief Operating Officer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chief Operating Officer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Retail
- Science & Research
- Education
- Insurance
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief operating officer jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
- Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience with P&L responsibility
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams of fifty or more employees
- Strategic planning expertise with a history of scaling operations in complex organizations
- Proficiency with enterprise resource planning systems and operational performance metrics
- Active or obtainable security clearance preferred for Virginia government contracting roles
Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chief operating officer in Virginia?
Reaching a chief operating officer role in Virginia typically requires a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related discipline, often complemented by an MBA from a Virginia institution such as the University of Virginia's Darden School or George Mason University. There is no state-issued license specific to the role, but Virginia's defense and federal contracting sector gives a strong advantage to candidates who hold or can obtain a federal security clearance. Most Virginia COOs advance from director or VP-level operational roles within their industry.
How much do chief operating officers make in Virginia?
Chief operating officers in Virginia earn a median of about $310,740 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $130,000 for the lowest 10% to over $604,090 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire chief operating officers in Virginia?
Employers hiring chief operating officers in Virginia right now include Merck, William & Mary, and FINRA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of large defense contractors, regional health systems, and technology services firms means consistent COO-level demand across both the public and private sectors.
Which Virginia cities have the most chief operating officer jobs?
The Virginia cities with the most chief operating officer openings are Richmond, McLean, and Arlington. Northern Virginia drives the largest share of activity because of its dense cluster of federal agencies, defense contractors, and technology firms headquartered in the region, while Richmond's corporate headquarters and healthcare systems and Hampton Roads' military and logistics base sustain demand in those metros.
Are there remote chief operating officer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical roles, since chief operating officers are typically responsible for on-site culture, facilities, and operational oversight that require physical presence. About 44% of chief operating officer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those that do offer flexibility tend to focus on the strategic planning and financial oversight portions of the role rather than day-to-day floor-level operations.
How can I get hired as a chief operating officer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a director of operations or senior operations manager role at a mid-size Virginia employer, then building upward. Large Virginia health systems such as Inova and VCU Health regularly recruit operations managers who rotate through departments, and defense contractors like Leidos and SAIC hire program operations leads who develop the P&L and cross-functional oversight skills COO roles require. An MBA from a Virginia program and a federal security clearance accelerate the path considerably in this market.
Where can I find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and target industry, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 113+ Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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