COO Jobs in California

COO jobs in California represent one of the most active executive markets in the country, concentrated in technology, healthcare, biotech, and venture-backed consumer brands, with openings ranging from early-career operational leaders to senior executives overseeing thousands of employees. The heaviest hiring is in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and Qualcomm maintain deep operational leadership teams. The most in-demand specialties are scaling operations for high-growth startups, healthcare system administration, and supply chain optimization. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find COO Jobs

Overview

Open roles451+
Top employerGilead Sciences
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring136
Work type49% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 451+ COO jobs

Sr Executive Assistant to KMUSC COO & KMC CEO - Administration - 8 Hour Full Time Days (Exempt) (Non-Union)
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Sr Executive Assistant to KMUSC COO & KMC CEO - Administration - 8 Hour Full Time Days (Exempt) (Non-Union)
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Administrative & Office Support
Office Management
Project Management
$100k - $147k/yr
Fire Safety Certification
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Director, Segment Operations
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Director, Segment Operations
Berkley
San Diego, California
Business Operations
$140k - $180k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance

Have you applied for this role?

Director, HR Business Operations
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Director, HR Business Operations
Meta
Menlo Park, California
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$219k - $282k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Senior Manager / Associate Director, People Operations
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Senior Manager / Associate Director, People Operations
ADARx Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, California
Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
$165k - $185k/yr
Bachelor's degree in business administration

Have you applied for this role?

PACE Director of Center Operations - RN (Central Valley PACE - Merced)
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
PACE Director of Center Operations - RN (Central Valley PACE - Merced)
Central Valley PACE
Merced, California
Business Operations
Customer Service
Healthcare Administration
$139k - $163k.41/yr
Master's degree
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

See All 451+ COO Jobs in California

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

Find COO Jobs

COO Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Oakland
15 jobs
Sacramento
11 jobs
Mountain View
11 jobs
Irvine
9 jobs

COO Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Gilead Sciences7 open roles
Kaiser Permanente6 open roles
Stanford University6 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Retail
  • Insurance

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in COO jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations, or a related field required
  • Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in operations or a related function
  • Demonstrated experience scaling teams and processes inside a California-based high-growth organization
  • Proficiency with enterprise resource planning systems and operational performance metrics
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills across finance, product, and people teams
  • MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred by most mid-to-large California employers

COO Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a coo in California?

Becoming a coo in California typically starts with a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a closely related field, followed by progressive leadership roles in operations, finance, or product management. California employers, particularly in technology and healthcare, strongly favor candidates who have an MBA from an accredited institution. There is no state-issued license specific to the coo role, but healthcare sector coos working within licensed facilities must understand California Department of Public Health compliance requirements.

Which companies hire coos in California?

Employers hiring coos in California right now include Gilead Sciences, Kaiser Permanente, and Stanford University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of venture-backed technology firms, large integrated health systems, and global consumer brands makes it one of the broadest markets for operational leadership roles in the country.

Which California cities have the most coo jobs?

San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego account for the largest share of coo openings in California. San Francisco leads because of its density of technology and fintech headquarters, Los Angeles draws demand from media, healthcare, and consumer brands, and San Diego's biotech and defense sectors generate consistent need for operational leaders across mid-size and enterprise organizations.

Are there remote coo jobs in California?

Yes, though they are less common than in purely analytical roles because coos are typically expected to be present for cross-functional decision-making and culture leadership. About 67% of coo openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with the fully remote roles most often found in software and SaaS companies that operate distributed teams. Strategic and board-facing responsibilities are most likely to be performed remotely.

How can I get hired as a coo in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is building operational leadership experience through director or VP-level roles in functions like finance, product, or people operations before stepping into a coo position. Large California health systems such as Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health run administrative fellowship programs that prepare candidates for executive operational roles. Technology companies in the Bay Area frequently promote from within, making head of operations or chief of staff roles natural stepping stones. Earning an MBA from a California business school also accelerates the timeline significantly.

Where can I find and apply to coo jobs in California?

You can find and apply to coo jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target market, and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 451+ COO Jobs in California

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

Find COO Jobs