COO Jobs in Wisconsin
COO jobs in Wisconsin are consistently active, with demand concentrated in manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and agricultural technology, drawing candidates from entry-level operations leadership through seasoned C-suite executives. Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay anchor most of the hiring, with major employers such as Kohler Co., Aurora Health Care, and Johnson Controls maintaining deep operational leadership needs across the state. The most sought-after specialties include supply chain optimization, multi-site operations management, and healthcare system administration. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find COO JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 60+ COO jobs
Director of Area Operations - Multi-Unit QSR Drive-Thru
Location: Central Wisconsin. Live in the market; relocation assistance available.
A family-owned franchise group of one of America's largest drive-thru brands is hiring a Director of Area Operations to own a six-restaurant market in central Wisconsin. This is not private equity. They have grown by developing their own people, and they want a leader they can trust to run the market and build a long-term career with them.
Compensation & Benefits
- $90,000 - $100,000 base salary
- Bonus of about $30,000 - $45,000, paid quarterly
- $1,000 per month car and phone allowance
- $130,000 - $150,000 total compensation
- 3 weeks vacation, medical, dental, vision, company-paid disability, 401(k)
What You'll Do
- Own the P&L for six high-volume drive-thru restaurants
- Lead, coach and develop six Restaurant General Managers and their teams
- Train new RGMs shoulder to shoulder in the restaurant
- Drive sales, speed of service, food safety, labor and cost controls
- Build the bench: shift-leader development and GM succession
- Help open two new restaurants
What We're Looking For
- A proven QSR multi-unit leader (five or more restaurants) with strong drive-thru operations: Area Coach, District Manager, Area Director or similar
- Hands-on and in the restaurants, not behind a desk
- A people developer who builds General Managers
- Trustworthy and independent enough to run a market on your own
- Experience inside the brand's own system is a plus, not a requirement. Veterans encouraged.
- Living in central Wisconsin, or willing to relocate there
Why Join
- Real authority over your own market
- A family-owned company that promotes from within and keeps its leaders
- Pay at the top of the scale, with a bonus that gets paid
- Growth: two new restaurants on the way
Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 60 COO Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find COO JobsCOO Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
COO Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in COO jobs across Wisconsin.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
- Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in operations or a related function
- Demonstrated experience managing P&L responsibility across multiple business units or facilities
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams of fifty or more employees through organizational change
- Experience in Wisconsin's dominant sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, or financial services preferred
- Strong background in operational strategy, process improvement methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma
COO Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a coo in Wisconsin?
There is no state-issued license required to work as a coo in Wisconsin. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related discipline, with an MBA preferred for larger organizations. Candidates typically build toward the role through progressive leadership positions in Wisconsin's manufacturing, healthcare, or financial services sectors, often starting as a director of operations or vice president before stepping into the coo role.
Which companies hire coos in Wisconsin?
Employers hiring coos in Wisconsin right now include Wissota Chophouse - De Pere, Marquette University, and Generac Power Systems, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Wisconsin's concentration of large manufacturers, regional hospital systems, and financial institutions means demand for operations leadership remains steady across both the Milwaukee metro and secondary markets like Madison and Green Bay.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most coo jobs?
Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay account for the most coo openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee leads because it is home to the state's largest corporate headquarters and hospital networks, while Madison's concentration of university-affiliated health systems and state government contractors drives steady demand, and Green Bay's manufacturing and food production base supports consistent hiring for senior operations roles.
Are there remote coo jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, but they are uncommon. About 33% of coo openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which reflects how the role typically requires on-site presence to oversee facilities, staff, and day-to-day operations. Strategy-focused or portfolio-company coo roles are the most likely to allow hybrid or remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a coo in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into an operations manager or director of operations role first, then building toward coo over several years. Large Wisconsin employers such as Aurora Health Care, Oshkosh Corporation, and Advocate Health run formal leadership development programs that recruit candidates from within and from recent MBA graduates. Earning a Lean or Six Sigma certification adds a concrete credential that Wisconsin manufacturing and healthcare employers consistently prioritize when evaluating candidates without a full coo tenure.
Where can I find and apply to coo jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to coo jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and target industry, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 60 COO Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find COO Jobs