COO Jobs in Tennessee

COO jobs in Tennessee draw consistent demand across healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and financial services, with openings at every level from director of operations stepping into a first COO role through seasoned executives leading multibillion-dollar enterprises. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville anchor most of the hiring, with major employers like HCA Healthcare, FedEx, and Pilot Flying J regularly seeking senior operational leaders. The most sought-after specialties in Tennessee are healthcare operations, supply chain leadership, and multi-site manufacturing management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles88
Top employerThe Waters
Top cityNashville, TN
Cities hiring25
Work type59% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 4 of 88+ COO jobs

Genesco
Director Digital Sales & Operations- Genesco Brands Group
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Genesco
Added 1d ago
Director Digital Sales & Operations- Genesco Brands Group
Genesco
Nashville, Tennessee
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in business
10,000+

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The Waters
Regional Director of Healthcare Operations
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The Waters
Added 1d ago
Regional Director of Healthcare Operations
The Waters
Smyrna, Tennessee
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
High school diploma or GED

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The Waters
Regional Director of Healthcare Operations
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The Waters
Added 1d ago
Regional Director of Healthcare Operations
The Waters
Ashland City, Tennessee
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
High school diploma or GED

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Vanderbilt University
SCALES Director of Operations
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Vanderbilt University
Added 1d ago
SCALES Director of Operations
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
Master's degree
5,001-10,000

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COO Jobs by City in Tennessee

Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Nashville
31 jobs
Memphis
10 jobs
Brentwood
7 jobs
Knoxville
6 jobs
Smyrna
3 jobs
Cordova
2 jobs
Lebanon
2 jobs
Franklin
2 jobs
Portland
2 jobs

COO Job Market in Tennessee

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

Who's Hiring

The Waters
The Waters8 open roles
Dialysis Clinic
Dialysis Clinic3 open roles
First Watch
First Watch2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Education
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Retail

What Tennessee Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
  • Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in a relevant Tennessee industry
  • Demonstrated experience overseeing P&L, budgets, and cross-functional teams at scale
  • Proven ability to build operational strategy aligned with Tennessee market conditions
  • Strong background in compliance, regulatory reporting, and risk management frameworks
  • MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred by most mid-to-large Tennessee employers

COO Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a coo in Tennessee?

Becoming a coo in Tennessee typically starts with a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related discipline, followed by progressive leadership roles in finance, supply chain, or general management. Tennessee does not issue a state license for coos, so the path runs through accumulated operational experience and results. An MBA from an institution like Vanderbilt Owen or the University of Tennessee Haslam School of Business carries weight with Tennessee employers and accelerates advancement into the C-suite.

Which companies hire coos in Tennessee?

Employers hiring coos in Tennessee right now include The Waters, Dialysis Clinic, and First Watch, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Tennessee's concentration of healthcare systems, logistics firms, and manufacturing headquarters creates a steady pipeline of senior operational leadership openings throughout the year.

Which Tennessee cities have the most coo jobs?

Nashville, Memphis, and Brentwood hold the most coo openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its dense cluster of healthcare systems, corporate headquarters, and financial services firms, while Memphis draws operational leadership roles tied to logistics and distribution given its position as a major freight hub, and Knoxville reflects demand from manufacturing and energy sector employers concentrated in East Tennessee.

Are there remote coo jobs in Tennessee?

Yes, but they're rare. The coo role is fundamentally tied to on-site leadership, culture-setting, and real-time operational decision-making, which limits full remote arrangements. About 41% of coo openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to involve portfolio company oversight or holding-company structures where the executive leads distributed teams rather than a single physical operation.

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

The most realistic entry path is moving into a director of operations or VP of operations role first, then building toward the COO title over time. Large Tennessee employers like HCA Healthcare and Nissan's Smyrna plant run structured leadership development programs that take high-potential managers and rotate them through operational functions. Targeting operations manager or general manager roles at Tennessee-based mid-market companies, where the path to the executive team is shorter, is also effective. An MBA or lean operations certification gives candidates a measurable edge in competitive applicant pools.

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

You can find and apply to coo jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your experience and industry background, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.

See All 88 COO Jobs in Tennessee

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

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