COO Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's COO roles are concentrated in Providence-area healthcare systems like Lifespan and Care New England, financial services firms, and a growing biotech sector anchored by the innovation ecosystem around Brown University and URI. Most sponsoring employers are mid-to-large organizations with established HR infrastructure capable of managing work visa petitions.
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Get Access To All JobsWe’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.
Position Summary:
The Executive Director, RI Distribution Center Operations is responsible for the overall performance of the Woonsocket and North Smithfield Distribution Centers. This leader owns the strategy and execution necessary to deliver exceptional operational, financial, service, safety, quality, compliance, and talent outcomes. The role is accountable for creating and sustaining a best-in-class colleague experience focused on engagement, retention, leadership development, training, succession planning, and inclusion.
The Executive Director develops and executes both short and long-term facility strategies that align with enterprise and Supply Chain objectives while ensuring achievement of profit and expense goals, superior customer service, regulatory compliance, and continuous operational improvement. This position provides direct leadership to exempt-level leaders and maintains oversight of front store and pharmacy distribution operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership & Execution
- Own full P&L responsibility for the RI Distribution Center, including expense management, profitability, service levels, labor optimization, and operational performance.
- Deliver timely, secure, and accurate distribution services through effective deployment of transportation and delivery resources.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, including DEA, Board of Pharmacy, OSHA, wage and hour laws, EEO/AA, and other federal and state regulations.
- Partner with suppliers and vendors to negotiate contracts, optimize supply chain operations, and resolve distribution challenges.
- Achieve productivity, service, quality, and operational performance metrics through continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain strong partnerships with field operations, transportation, asset protection, and corporate functions to improve service and resolve operational issues.
Colleague Experience & Culture
- Foster a highly engaged, inclusive, and performance-driven work environment.
- Maintain strong floor presence and active engagement with colleagues and frontline leaders.
- Partner with Human Resources to develop and execute colleague engagement strategies using survey results and feedback.
- Drive succession planning, talent management, retention, and training initiatives across the distribution center.
- Ensure effective communication across all levels of the organization.
- Promote accountability for employee experience metrics, including engagement, turnover, retention, and overtime management.
Strategic Planning & Business Leadership
- Develop and execute short and long-term strategic plans aligned with enterprise and Supply Chain objectives.
- Translate business priorities into actionable site goals, timelines, and accountabilities.
- Leverage partnerships across HR, Supply Chain, and corporate functions to develop and refine strategic initiatives.
- Optimize facility capacity, product flow, and operational efficiency through data analysis and continuous improvement.
- Drive innovation and support network-wide supply chain strategies and initiatives.
- Lead through ambiguity and organizational change while maintaining focus on business outcomes.
Talent Development
- Develop and mentor direct reports to assume increasing levels of leadership responsibility.
- Build and execute a comprehensive talent strategy focused on leadership development and succession planning.
- Create robust and diverse leadership pipelines for critical positions.
- Establish a high-performance culture with clear expectations, accountability, and development plans.
- Coach leaders on Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and talent growth strategies.
- Leverage enterprise talent tools and development programs to strengthen organizational capability.
Continuous Improvement & Change Management
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, safety, service, quality, and colleague experience.
- Serve as a change leader by embracing and championing organizational transformation initiatives.
- Utilize metrics and performance data to drive sustainable improvements.
- Coach leaders to effectively manage and implement change within their teams.
- Collaborate with HR and business partners to develop change management strategies that minimize disruption and maximize adoption.
- Promote change agility and a continuous improvement mindset across the distribution center and broader network.
Required Qualifications:
- 10+ years of leadership experience in distribution, warehouse, retail, manufacturing, or related operational environments.
- 8+ years of experience leading exempt-level leaders.
- 5+ years of experience implementing Lean principles.
- 3+ years of experience utilizing 5S methodologies.
- 3+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Logistics, and Inventory Management.
- Experience leading operations with 300+ non-exempt employees.
- Demonstrated ability to drive both organizational culture and business results.
- Proven success developing and advancing talent across multiple organizational levels.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to align operational execution with business goals.
- Experience managing regulatory and compliance requirements at federal and state levels.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization abilities.
- Proven ability to independently lead large-scale strategic initiatives to successful completion.
- Demonstrated success working within complex, cross-functional, matrixed organizations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and distribution center reporting systems.
- Ability to work in a distribution center environment, including frequent standing, walking, and stair climbing.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (MBA, Master's, or related discipline).
- Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
- Experience leading safety programs and managing OSHA-related compliance initiatives.
- Strong financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting experience.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement credential.
Education
Required:
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
Preferred:
- Master's Degree.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
Pay Range
The typical pay range for this role is:
$131,500.00 - $303,195.00
This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.
Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.
Great benefits for great people
We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.
This full-time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.
Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.
We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/31/2026
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.
We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.
Position Summary:
The Executive Director, RI Distribution Center Operations is responsible for the overall performance of the Woonsocket and North Smithfield Distribution Centers. This leader owns the strategy and execution necessary to deliver exceptional operational, financial, service, safety, quality, compliance, and talent outcomes. The role is accountable for creating and sustaining a best-in-class colleague experience focused on engagement, retention, leadership development, training, succession planning, and inclusion.
The Executive Director develops and executes both short and long-term facility strategies that align with enterprise and Supply Chain objectives while ensuring achievement of profit and expense goals, superior customer service, regulatory compliance, and continuous operational improvement. This position provides direct leadership to exempt-level leaders and maintains oversight of front store and pharmacy distribution operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership & Execution
- Own full P&L responsibility for the RI Distribution Center, including expense management, profitability, service levels, labor optimization, and operational performance.
- Deliver timely, secure, and accurate distribution services through effective deployment of transportation and delivery resources.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, including DEA, Board of Pharmacy, OSHA, wage and hour laws, EEO/AA, and other federal and state regulations.
- Partner with suppliers and vendors to negotiate contracts, optimize supply chain operations, and resolve distribution challenges.
- Achieve productivity, service, quality, and operational performance metrics through continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain strong partnerships with field operations, transportation, asset protection, and corporate functions to improve service and resolve operational issues.
Colleague Experience & Culture
- Foster a highly engaged, inclusive, and performance-driven work environment.
- Maintain strong floor presence and active engagement with colleagues and frontline leaders.
- Partner with Human Resources to develop and execute colleague engagement strategies using survey results and feedback.
- Drive succession planning, talent management, retention, and training initiatives across the distribution center.
- Ensure effective communication across all levels of the organization.
- Promote accountability for employee experience metrics, including engagement, turnover, retention, and overtime management.
Strategic Planning & Business Leadership
- Develop and execute short and long-term strategic plans aligned with enterprise and Supply Chain objectives.
- Translate business priorities into actionable site goals, timelines, and accountabilities.
- Leverage partnerships across HR, Supply Chain, and corporate functions to develop and refine strategic initiatives.
- Optimize facility capacity, product flow, and operational efficiency through data analysis and continuous improvement.
- Drive innovation and support network-wide supply chain strategies and initiatives.
- Lead through ambiguity and organizational change while maintaining focus on business outcomes.
Talent Development
- Develop and mentor direct reports to assume increasing levels of leadership responsibility.
- Build and execute a comprehensive talent strategy focused on leadership development and succession planning.
- Create robust and diverse leadership pipelines for critical positions.
- Establish a high-performance culture with clear expectations, accountability, and development plans.
- Coach leaders on Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and talent growth strategies.
- Leverage enterprise talent tools and development programs to strengthen organizational capability.
Continuous Improvement & Change Management
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, safety, service, quality, and colleague experience.
- Serve as a change leader by embracing and championing organizational transformation initiatives.
- Utilize metrics and performance data to drive sustainable improvements.
- Coach leaders to effectively manage and implement change within their teams.
- Collaborate with HR and business partners to develop change management strategies that minimize disruption and maximize adoption.
- Promote change agility and a continuous improvement mindset across the distribution center and broader network.
Required Qualifications:
- 10+ years of leadership experience in distribution, warehouse, retail, manufacturing, or related operational environments.
- 8+ years of experience leading exempt-level leaders.
- 5+ years of experience implementing Lean principles.
- 3+ years of experience utilizing 5S methodologies.
- 3+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Logistics, and Inventory Management.
- Experience leading operations with 300+ non-exempt employees.
- Demonstrated ability to drive both organizational culture and business results.
- Proven success developing and advancing talent across multiple organizational levels.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to align operational execution with business goals.
- Experience managing regulatory and compliance requirements at federal and state levels.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization abilities.
- Proven ability to independently lead large-scale strategic initiatives to successful completion.
- Demonstrated success working within complex, cross-functional, matrixed organizations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and distribution center reporting systems.
- Ability to work in a distribution center environment, including frequent standing, walking, and stair climbing.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (MBA, Master's, or related discipline).
- Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
- Experience leading safety programs and managing OSHA-related compliance initiatives.
- Strong financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting experience.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement credential.
Education
Required:
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
Preferred:
- Master's Degree.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
Pay Range
The typical pay range for this role is:
$131,500.00 - $303,195.00
This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.
Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.
Great benefits for great people
We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.
This full-time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.
Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.
We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/31/2026
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.
COO Job Roles in Rhode Island
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Search COO Jobs in Rhode IslandCOO Jobs in Rhode Island: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for COOs in Rhode Island?
Larger employers in Rhode Island with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure are the most consistent visa sponsors for COO-level roles. Organizations like Lifespan Health System, Care New England, and financial services firms in the Providence metro have sponsored senior executive positions. Defense contractors with federal contracts, such as those in the Quonset Business Park corridor, also have experience navigating work visa sponsorship for leadership talent.
Which visa types are most common for COO roles in Rhode Island?
The H-1B visa is the most common pathway for COO roles, provided the position requires a specialized degree in a field like business administration, finance, or operations management. The O-1A is an alternative for candidates with documented extraordinary achievement in their field. Executives transferring within a multinational organization may qualify for the L-1A, which is specifically designed for managers and executives and does not require a lottery selection.
Which cities in Rhode Island have the most COO sponsorship jobs?
Providence is by far the primary market for COO-level roles in Rhode Island, home to the state's largest healthcare systems, financial institutions, and professional services firms. Warwick and Cranston also have employer concentrations in healthcare and services. The Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown hosts manufacturing and defense employers that occasionally recruit senior operations leadership with sponsorship capability.
How to find coo visa sponsorship jobs in Rhode Island?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship eligibility, which makes it more efficient than broad searches for COO roles in Rhode Island. You can browse current openings and see which employers are actively sponsoring. Given that COO positions are relatively limited in a small state like Rhode Island, setting up alerts on Migrate Mate for new listings as they appear is a practical approach for staying current.
What state-specific factors should COO candidates know about Rhode Island sponsorship?
Rhode Island is a small state with a concentrated employer base, so the volume of COO-level sponsorship opportunities is lower than in larger metro areas. The state's economy leans heavily on healthcare, higher education, financial services, and defense, meaning sponsorship is most realistic within those sectors. Employers sponsoring H-1B petitions for COO roles must meet DOL prevailing wage requirements for the Providence metropolitan statistical area, which are benchmarked to senior executive compensation in that region.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored coo jobs in Rhode Island?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.