COO Jobs in Virginia
COO jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, with openings concentrated in defense contracting, federal IT services, healthcare systems, and financial services, from director-level operations roles through senior executive positions. The busiest hiring markets are Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads metro, where established employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Inova Health System, and General Dynamics have long-standing operations leadership needs. The most sought-after specialties are technology operations, healthcare administration, and government services delivery. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Operations Director provides leadership and guidance for DC operational functions such as Transportation, Warehousing, facilities management, building layout, racking and systems, inventory management, and quality assurance. They plan, organize, manage, and support the projects and activities required for the DC with the training, tools, facilities and equipment necessary to support growth, QA compliance and continuous improvement towards productivity and service levels.
Benefits you can count on:
- Day 1 Benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance, FSA/HSA, and company-paid life insurance
- Paid time off begins day one.
- 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan after 90 days.
- Additional benefits: pet insurance, maternity/paternity leave, employee assistance programs, discount programs, tuition reimbursement program, and more!
What you'll do as a Director of Operations:
- Participate in the development of overall business planning and supply chain planning strategies and develop explicit goals and strategies closely linked to the overall business planning and supply chain process.
- Coordinate with Corporate Operations Support staff on strategies to improve service levels and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Provide leadership for the Transportation and Warehouse departments.
- Communicate the status of activities and results on an ongoing basis. Ensure all affected location and functional interests are represented and addressed; develop/recommend alterations to procedures and best practices where warranted.
- Understand, articulate, and execute all QA criterion set forth in supply chain processes.
- This position has additional duties. Special projects may be assigned at the position supervisor's discretion.
Qualifications you'll bring as a Director of Operations:
- Have at least 5 years of experience in all facets of the foodservice distribution Industry, preferably in the QSR sector.
- Accounting, planning, and analytical experience is required.
- Preferred experience with Manhattan, AS/400 systems, JDE, EXCEL, Microsoft Word, and Access programs; XATA, PeopleNet or similar programs.
- Have a detailed understanding of financial statements and resulting cost implications.
- Be able to identify financial issues and provide cost effective solutions.
- Be able to use IT systems to generate and evaluate key performance data.
- Have experience with multi-shift, 6- to 7-day operations.
- Have management experience with large DC and driver workforces (200+).
- Ability to cultivate and manage relationships with customers (100+, comprising 1,000-2,000 stores) and maintain high visibility with major customers, co-ops, and corporate customers.
- This position requires the ability to read, write, and understand English at a level sufficient to perform job-related tasks effectively and safely. This includes understanding work instructions, safety protocols, and communications essential to the role. The requirement is directly related to the nature of the job and ensures compliance with workplace safety and operational standards.
Fit the following? We want you here!
- Teamwork oriented
- Organized
- Problem solver
- Detailed
Our roadmap. Our story.
We've been forging our path as a leader in the distribution industry since 1894. Building an expansive nationwide network of team members for 130+ years has allowed us to stay agile for our clients across the restaurant, retail, and e-commerce industries. We look to the future and are ready to continue making industry-defining moves by embracing the newest technology into our practices, continuing team member training, and emphasizing our people-centered culture.
Candidates may be subject to a background check and drug screen, in accordance with applicable laws.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
For our complete EEO and Pay Transparency statement, please visit https://www.mclaneco.com/legal/employment/
See All 106+ COO Jobs in Virginia
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Find COO JobsCOO Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
COO 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 COO jobs across Virginia.
- 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 ability to develop and execute organizational strategy across multiple business units
- Experience managing P&L responsibility and overseeing financial planning processes
- Strong background in process improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma
- Prior experience working with government contracts or federal clients strongly preferred in Virginia
COO Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a coo in Virginia?
Becoming a coo in Virginia does not require a state-issued license, but most employers expect a graduate degree in business administration, operations, or a related discipline alongside deep executive experience. The typical path runs through progressively senior roles in operations, finance, or general management, often beginning in Virginia's dominant sectors of defense contracting, healthcare, or federal IT services. An MBA from a Virginia institution or an equivalent credential strengthens candidacy considerably.
Which companies hire coos in Virginia?
Employers hiring coos in Virginia right now include William & Mary, Merck, and FINRA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense primes, large regional health systems, and government services firms means coo openings appear consistently throughout the year rather than in seasonal clusters.
Which Virginia cities have the most coo jobs?
McLean, Richmond, and Arlington account for the largest share of coo openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia leads because of its dense cluster of defense contractors and federal consulting firms headquartered there, Richmond draws openings from financial services and healthcare anchor employers, and Hampton Roads adds volume from military-adjacent operations and port logistics organizations.
Are there remote coo jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they are limited. The coo role is inherently cross-functional and requires direct leadership of teams, vendors, and facilities, which keeps most positions tied to a physical location. About 49% of coo openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to involve technology-forward or professional services firms where operations oversight can be managed digitally.
How can I get hired as a coo in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a director of operations or VP of operations role at a mid-size Virginia employer, where you can build the cross-functional leadership record most coo searches require. Large Virginia health systems such as Inova and VCU Health and consulting firms in the Northern Virginia corridor run associate leadership and operations rotational programs that develop internal candidates. Lateral moves from finance, program management, or supply chain roles are common stepping stones, and an MBA or a Project Management Professional credential sharpens your profile.
Where can I find and apply to coo jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to coo jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across industries and metro areas. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level and sector, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 106+ COO Jobs in Virginia
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