COO Jobs in New Jersey
COO jobs in New Jersey draw consistent demand across pharmaceuticals, financial services, logistics, and technology, with openings at every level from director-of-operations track roles through full C-suite positions. The heaviest hiring concentrates in Newark, Jersey City, and Princeton, where anchor employers like Johnson & Johnson, Prudential Financial, and Cognizant maintain major operations footprints. Operations strategy, supply chain optimization, and healthcare administration are the most in-demand specialties for coos in the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 100+ COO jobs
Changing lives. Building Careers.
Joining us is a chance to do important work that creates change and shapes the future of healthcare. Thinking differently is what we do best. To us, change equals opportunity. Every day, our colleagues are challenging what’s possible and making headway to innovate new treatment pathways to advance patient outcomes and set new standards of care.
Changing What’s Possible
At Integra LifeSciences, we are dedicated to restoring patients’ lives through innovative solutions in regenerative tissue technologies, neurosurgery, and surgical reconstruction. Our employees are united by a shared purpose: to improve outcomes for healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.
Position Summary
The Director, R&D Operations, AI & Digital Enablement serves as the recognized R&D authority and internal thought leader for AI, digital enablement, and R&D operating effectiveness. As a strategic partner to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and R&D Leadership Team, the role defines the AI and digital strategy for the global R&D organization, and shapes the standards, operating models, and capabilities required to deliver measurable scientific and business outcomes.
As a key member of the Office of the CTO, this role leads and executes a significant component of R&D functional strategy by leading operating mechanisms, governance, executive communications, and complex cross-functional initiatives that strengthen execution, alignment, and decision-making. The Director champions new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and ways of working across R&D, solving unique and complex challenges with broad impact on R&D productivity, innovation, portfolio execution, and business performance.
Principal Responsibilities
R&D Operations & Organizational Effectiveness
- Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team to shape and execute R&D functional strategy, translating long-term priorities into operating plans, resource recommendations, standards, and measurable outcomes.
- Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO, developing and implementing new operating approaches that improve productivity, accelerate time-to-market, and enhance overall R&D effectiveness
- Establish metrics, reporting, and executive dashboards that provide visibility into priorities, resources, risks, dependencies, and organizational performance.
- Solve unique and highly complex organizational, portfolio, and technology-enabled challenges by developing innovative analyses, recommendations, and decision frameworks that influence R&D direction and senior executive decisions.
- Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO and continuously improve R&D processes and operating effectiveness.
Strategic Communications and Organizational Influence
- Advance strategic initiatives and organizational alignment on behalf of the Office of the CTO.
- Develop communication and engagement strategies that reinforce R&D priorities, business objectives, progress, and organizational change.
- Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on executive messaging, organizational narratives, and communication approaches that strengthen alignment, engagement, and adoption of strategic initiatives.
- Partner with Communications, Human Resources, and functional leaders to ensure messaging, change management, and stakeholder engagement strategies are aligned with R&D objectives.
- Support CTO interactions with Executive Leadership, Board presentations, strategic reviews, and enterprise initiatives.
AI & Digital Enablement
- Define, own, and execute the R&D AI and digital enablement strategy, multi-year roadmap, standards, and operating model for the global R&D organization, aligned with enterprise technology, data, security, and compliance requirements.
- Anticipate emerging AI, automation, analytics, and digital trends and determine how they should be applied across R&D to address unmet needs, enable new capabilities, and materially improve scientific, operational, and portfolio outcomes.
- Develop and govern a portfolio of AI and digital initiatives aligned with R&D strategy, making recommendations that influence investment priorities, capability standards, adoption measures, impact, and value realization across the function.
- Champion the development and scaling of new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and standards across R&D, partnering with enterprise technology, data, legal, privacy, security, quality, and business leaders to govern risk and drive sustainable value.
- Serve as R&D’s leading internal expert and thought leader for AI and digital enablement, establishing functional practices, decision principles, and capability-building approaches that shape adoption and ways of working across the global R&D organization.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on R&D operating strategy, AI and digital trends, emerging risks, investment choices, and new approaches that may change functional direction.
- Build strong partnerships across R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Legal, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development.
- Facilitate alignment, decision-making, accountability, and execution across organizational boundaries.
- Partner with enterprise leaders to strengthen governance, compliance, evidence generation, innovation, operational readiness, and business continuity.
- Support strategic assessments, technology evaluations, external collaborations, innovation partnerships, and acquisition-related activities, as appropriate.
- Lead through expert influence in direct and matrixed relationships, communicating highly conceptual ideas and persuading senior leaders to adopt new or divergent approaches; drive and support organizational transformation and capability building.
Qualifications
- 12+ year’s experience with Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
- Significant experience in R&D strategy and operations, AI and/or digital transformation, organizational effectiveness, or related disciplines, with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business domains.
- Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives and translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes.
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization and influence across enterprise functions.
- Strong business acumen, analytical capability, executive presence, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.
- Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Demonstrated success defining functional AI or digital strategy and championing new systems, concepts, technologies, standards, or methodologies that produced broad and measurable organizational impact.
- Experience in medical devices, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry preferred.
Leadership Profile
The successful candidate is a recognized internal thought leader who combines mastery of R&D operations and AI-enabled transformation with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business disciplines. This individual develops innovative approaches to unique and complex challenges, translates highly conceptual ideas into scalable solutions, and influences senior leaders to adopt new or divergent points of view. The role requires comfort operating under consultative direction toward long-term objectives in a highly visible environment, navigating ambiguity, influencing across organizational boundaries, and driving outcomes that shape R&D performance, capability, and direction.
Role Purpose
Enable a high-performing R&D organization by strengthening operational excellence, defining the R&D AI and digital strategy, and championing innovative systems, standards, concepts, and ways of working that deliver broad and measurable impact, while fostering effective collaboration across the enterprise.
Salary Pay Range:
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for bonus, commission, equity or other variable compensation. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
Additional Description for Pay Transparency:
Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance, and savings plan (401(k)).
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following Total Rewards | Integra LifeSciences
Integra LifeSciences is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, marital status, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
This site is governed solely by applicable U.S. laws and governmental regulations. If you'd like more information on your rights under the law, please see the following notices:
EEO Is the Law | EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans
Integra LifeSciences is committed to provide qualified applicants and employees who are disabled veterans or individuals with disabilities with needed reasonable accommodations in accordance with the ADA. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, please email us at careers@integralife.com.
Unsolicited Agency Submission
Integra LifeSciences does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. A formal written agreement is required before engaging any agency, and it must be executed and authorized by the Vice President, Talent Acquisition. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions (the initial sharing of a candidate’s name, resume, or background) are position-specific and may only occur within the scope of that approved agreement. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Integra - Employer Branding from Integra LifeSciences on Vimeo
Changing lives. Building Careers.
Joining us is a chance to do important work that creates change and shapes the future of healthcare. Thinking differently is what we do best. To us, change equals opportunity. Every day, our colleagues are challenging what’s possible and making headway to innovate new treatment pathways to advance patient outcomes and set new standards of care.
Changing What’s Possible
At Integra LifeSciences, we are dedicated to restoring patients’ lives through innovative solutions in regenerative tissue technologies, neurosurgery, and surgical reconstruction. Our employees are united by a shared purpose: to improve outcomes for healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.
Position Summary
The Director, R&D Operations, AI & Digital Enablement serves as the recognized R&D authority and internal thought leader for AI, digital enablement, and R&D operating effectiveness. As a strategic partner to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and R&D Leadership Team, the role defines the AI and digital strategy for the global R&D organization, and shapes the standards, operating models, and capabilities required to deliver measurable scientific and business outcomes.
As a key member of the Office of the CTO, this role leads and executes a significant component of R&D functional strategy by leading operating mechanisms, governance, executive communications, and complex cross-functional initiatives that strengthen execution, alignment, and decision-making. The Director champions new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and ways of working across R&D, solving unique and complex challenges with broad impact on R&D productivity, innovation, portfolio execution, and business performance.
Principal Responsibilities
R&D Operations & Organizational Effectiveness
- Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team to shape and execute R&D functional strategy, translating long-term priorities into operating plans, resource recommendations, standards, and measurable outcomes.
- Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO, developing and implementing new operating approaches that improve productivity, accelerate time-to-market, and enhance overall R&D effectiveness
- Establish metrics, reporting, and executive dashboards that provide visibility into priorities, resources, risks, dependencies, and organizational performance.
- Solve unique and highly complex organizational, portfolio, and technology-enabled challenges by developing innovative analyses, recommendations, and decision frameworks that influence R&D direction and senior executive decisions.
- Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO and continuously improve R&D processes and operating effectiveness.
Strategic Communications and Organizational Influence
- Advance strategic initiatives and organizational alignment on behalf of the Office of the CTO.
- Develop communication and engagement strategies that reinforce R&D priorities, business objectives, progress, and organizational change.
- Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on executive messaging, organizational narratives, and communication approaches that strengthen alignment, engagement, and adoption of strategic initiatives.
- Partner with Communications, Human Resources, and functional leaders to ensure messaging, change management, and stakeholder engagement strategies are aligned with R&D objectives.
- Support CTO interactions with Executive Leadership, Board presentations, strategic reviews, and enterprise initiatives.
AI & Digital Enablement
- Define, own, and execute the R&D AI and digital enablement strategy, multi-year roadmap, standards, and operating model for the global R&D organization, aligned with enterprise technology, data, security, and compliance requirements.
- Anticipate emerging AI, automation, analytics, and digital trends and determine how they should be applied across R&D to address unmet needs, enable new capabilities, and materially improve scientific, operational, and portfolio outcomes.
- Develop and govern a portfolio of AI and digital initiatives aligned with R&D strategy, making recommendations that influence investment priorities, capability standards, adoption measures, impact, and value realization across the function.
- Champion the development and scaling of new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and standards across R&D, partnering with enterprise technology, data, legal, privacy, security, quality, and business leaders to govern risk and drive sustainable value.
- Serve as R&D’s leading internal expert and thought leader for AI and digital enablement, establishing functional practices, decision principles, and capability-building approaches that shape adoption and ways of working across the global R&D organization.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on R&D operating strategy, AI and digital trends, emerging risks, investment choices, and new approaches that may change functional direction.
- Build strong partnerships across R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Legal, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development.
- Facilitate alignment, decision-making, accountability, and execution across organizational boundaries.
- Partner with enterprise leaders to strengthen governance, compliance, evidence generation, innovation, operational readiness, and business continuity.
- Support strategic assessments, technology evaluations, external collaborations, innovation partnerships, and acquisition-related activities, as appropriate.
- Lead through expert influence in direct and matrixed relationships, communicating highly conceptual ideas and persuading senior leaders to adopt new or divergent approaches; drive and support organizational transformation and capability building.
Qualifications
- 12+ year’s experience with Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
- Significant experience in R&D strategy and operations, AI and/or digital transformation, organizational effectiveness, or related disciplines, with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business domains.
- Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives and translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes.
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization and influence across enterprise functions.
- Strong business acumen, analytical capability, executive presence, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.
- Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Demonstrated success defining functional AI or digital strategy and championing new systems, concepts, technologies, standards, or methodologies that produced broad and measurable organizational impact.
- Experience in medical devices, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry preferred.
Leadership Profile
The successful candidate is a recognized internal thought leader who combines mastery of R&D operations and AI-enabled transformation with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business disciplines. This individual develops innovative approaches to unique and complex challenges, translates highly conceptual ideas into scalable solutions, and influences senior leaders to adopt new or divergent points of view. The role requires comfort operating under consultative direction toward long-term objectives in a highly visible environment, navigating ambiguity, influencing across organizational boundaries, and driving outcomes that shape R&D performance, capability, and direction.
Role Purpose
Enable a high-performing R&D organization by strengthening operational excellence, defining the R&D AI and digital strategy, and championing innovative systems, standards, concepts, and ways of working that deliver broad and measurable impact, while fostering effective collaboration across the enterprise.
Salary Pay Range:
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for bonus, commission, equity or other variable compensation. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
Additional Description for Pay Transparency:
Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance, and savings plan (401(k)).
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following Total Rewards | Integra LifeSciences
Integra LifeSciences is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, marital status, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
This site is governed solely by applicable U.S. laws and governmental regulations. If you'd like more information on your rights under the law, please see the following notices:
EEO Is the Law | EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans
Integra LifeSciences is committed to provide qualified applicants and employees who are disabled veterans or individuals with disabilities with needed reasonable accommodations in accordance with the ADA. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, please email us at careers@integralife.com.
Unsolicited Agency Submission
Integra LifeSciences does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. A formal written agreement is required before engaging any agency, and it must be executed and authorized by the Vice President, Talent Acquisition. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions (the initial sharing of a candidate’s name, resume, or background) are position-specific and may only occur within the scope of that approved agreement. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Integra - Employer Branding from Integra LifeSciences on Vimeo
See All 100 COO Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find COO JobsCOO Jobs by City in New Jersey
Where New Jersey roles are concentrated, by current openings.
COO Job Market in New Jersey
A snapshot from current New Jersey openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What New Jersey Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in COO jobs across New Jersey.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
- Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in operations or general management
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams of at least fifty employees
- Proven ability to develop and execute multi-year operational strategy and financial planning
- Experience in New Jersey-dominant industries such as pharmaceuticals, financial services, or logistics
- Familiarity with New Jersey regulatory and compliance environments affecting operations and supply chain
COO Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a coo in New Jersey?
There is no state-issued license required to work as a coo in New Jersey, so the path runs through education and progressive experience. Most employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related field, and many prefer an MBA. The practical route is to build a record in operations management, move into VP or SVP roles at mid-size or large New Jersey employers, and accumulate P&L ownership before targeting C-suite searches.
Which companies hire coos in New Jersey?
Employers hiring coos in New Jersey right now include Uncommon Schools, Bayer, and Merck, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. New Jersey's dense concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters, financial services firms, and third-party logistics companies makes it one of the more active states for senior operations leadership searches.
Which New Jersey cities have the most coo jobs?
Newark, Camden, and Morristown account for the largest share of coo openings in New Jersey. Newark and Jersey City drive volume through financial services, insurance, and logistics firms headquartered or regionally based there, while Princeton and the Route 1 corridor attract pharmaceutical and life sciences companies that maintain large operational campuses and regularly search for senior operations leaders.
Are there remote coo jobs in New Jersey?
Yes, but they're rare. The coo role is inherently operational and typically requires regular on-site presence to manage people, facilities, and cross-departmental execution. About 69% of coo openings tied to New Jersey are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements more common than fully remote. The portions of the role most likely to be done remotely are strategic planning, board reporting, and financial oversight rather than direct operational management.
How can I get hired as a coo in New Jersey with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an operations manager or director of operations role at a mid-size New Jersey company, then building toward VP before a C-suite move. Large New Jersey employers in logistics and pharma, including third-party logistics operators in the Meadowlands area and life sciences firms along Route 1, regularly hire operations associates and rotational business leadership program graduates. An MBA from a New Jersey institution strengthens candidacy for fast-track advancement into senior leadership.
Where can I find and apply to coo jobs in New Jersey?
You can find and apply to coo jobs in New Jersey on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target industry, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 100 COO Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find COO Jobs