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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Overview

Open roles126+
Top employerCapital One
Top cityMcLean, VA
Cities hiring38
Work type45% Hybrid
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 126+ Chief Operating Officer jobs

TechnoMile
Director, Revenue Operations
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TechnoMile
Added 1d ago
Director, Revenue Operations
TechnoMile
McLean, Virginia
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Hybrid
11-50

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P
Director of Operations – Manufacturing
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P
Added 1d ago
Director of Operations – Manufacturing
Pallet Machinery Group
Tappahannock, Virginia
Business Operations
Human Resources
Project Management
$105k - $140k/yr
On-Site
No degree

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Avint
Director of Business Operations
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Avint
Added 1d ago
Director of Business Operations
Avint
Herndon, Virginia
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$90k - $130k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in finance
11-50

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Dewberry
Director, IT Operations
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Dewberry
Added 1d ago
Director, IT Operations
Dewberry
Fairfax, Virginia
Product Management
Project Management
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
ITIL Certification
501-1,000

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gate group
Director, Operations, Assembly
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gate group
Added 1d ago
Director, Operations, Assembly
gate group
Dulles, Virginia
Business Development
Program Management
Project Management
$120k - $125k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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See All 126+ 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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Chief Operating Officer Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

McLean
16 jobs
Richmond
16 jobs
Arlington
6 jobs
Charlottesville
6 jobs
Virginia Beach
5 jobs
Fairfax
4 jobs
Herndon
4 jobs
Norfolk
4 jobs
Alexandria
4 jobs

Chief Operating Officer Job Market in Virginia

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

Who's Hiring

Capital One
Capital One5 open roles
University of Virginia
University of Virginia4 open roles
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Information Technology Senior Management Forum3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Technology & Software
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Investment & Asset Management

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 Capital One, University of Virginia, and Information Technology Senior Management Forum, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 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 McLean, Richmond, and Virginia. 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 66% of chief operating officer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of October 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 126+ Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Chief Operating Officer Jobs