The roles of VP Operations and COO, while both executive positions, can sometimes be misconstrued or seen as interchangeable. However, while they each offer unique perspectives, they come with distinct responsibilities, skill sets, and expectations. It is essential to understand the difference between these two roles and the impact they have on an organization’s overall success. VP Operations and COO positions have many similarities, but there are some key distinctions that should be noted. This blog post provides an overview of their respective responsibilities, skill sets, and expectations so that you can better determine which position is right for you or your organization. Understanding the nuances between VP Operations and COO roles can help you make informed decisions about which direction is best for your business.
What is a COO?
Chief operating officers, or COOs, are c-suite executives who are in charge of a company’s daily operations. Long-term planning is sometimes handled by COOs, but it’s typically the responsibility of other c-suite executives. The majority of COOs collaborate closely with the CEO and give him or her information, plans, and forecasts to help with decision-making.
What is a VP of operations?
An executive who manages all of an organization’s operations is known as the vice president of operations (VP of operations). Vice presidents of operations frequently act as strategists and decision-makers, planning the company’s operational future using information, data, metrics, and statistics. The majority of vice presidents of operations work for and report to the company’s president.
What are the differences between a VP of operations vs. COO?
VPs of operations and COOs often perform similar job duties. In fact, depending on whether a company uses the “chief” leadership structure or the “president” leadership structure, the terms can be used interchangeably in some organizations. Despite their many similarities, the two roles do differ in a few key ways, including the following:
Common job duties for both roles
Some of the responsibilities shared by VPs of operations and COOs and others unique to each position overlap. To understand more about each role, take a look at the tasks that both roles share:
VP of operations
VPs of operations usually work on long-term planning and oversight. Their job duties often include:
COO
COOs tend to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. Typical job duties for this role include:
Frequently asked questions about VPs of operations and COOs
To learn more, take a look at these answers to frequently asked questions about business operations and the differences between the roles of the VP of operations and COO:
Is a general manager higher than a COO?
General managers typically sit below COOs in a company’s leadership structure. The COO or another middle-level leadership employee, such as an operations manager, may be the general manager’s direct report, depending on the specific tasks and responsibilities assigned to them.
Who is higher ranking, a COO or a VP of operations?
It’s unusual to find a COO and a VP of operations in the same organization because most businesses either use a c-suite titling system or a presidential titling system. However, there are certainly some companies that use both. In these situations, the company may view the COO as having a lower ranking than the VP of operations because the latter manages long-term operational strategizing while the former is in charge of managing daily business operations.
What skills are necessary for COOs and VPs of operations?
For their positions to be successful, COOs and VPs of operations need to possess both hard and soft skills. Common competencies for both positions include:
How much money do VPs of operations and COOs make?
What does a VP of Ops or COO do at a startup?
FAQ
Is VP higher than C level?
Is a VP considered C-level? No. Vice Presidents, also known as VPs, are part of the V-level of management and answer directly to the C-level.
Who is higher than the COO?
The CEO, who holds the highest-ranking position within the company, is superior to the COO. The COO is second in the chain of command and answers to the CEO. The CEO may answer to the board of directors, the investors, or the company’s founders, depending on how the business is set up.
Is COO higher than VP operations?
Yes. The Executive Vp is higher than the COO. The responsibilities and compensation for the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, two distinct executive positions, differ.
What is the difference between COO and head of operations?
But it effectively demonstrates how the COO is a crucial link in the chain of command. On the other hand, the operations manager will either oversee no teams at all or an operations team. Instead of managing business operations, their job is to lay the operational groundwork for the rest of the organization to build upon.
