Chief Operating Officer Training Program Jobs in California

You've outgrown where you are, here is what comes next.

Most COO roles offer you a title, a budget, and someone else's ceiling. You’re bogged down in the weeds, fighting fires, and playing "policeman" for a CEO who won't get out of the way.

This is not that role.

This one offers you a blank canvas and a front-row seat to building something that matters — a growing healthcare company that genuinely changes how families see the world.

Why the best operators are choosing smaller, faster companies

You're probably good at your job. Maybe very good. But there's a decent chance you've spent years executing someone else's strategy, navigating corporate politics, and watching your best ideas die in committee. You've got the skills of a builder — but you've been hired as a caretaker.

At Insight Vision, we have the leadership team, the capital, and the clinical reputation. We are looking for the "Operational Ninja" who is tired of working for companies that lack direction. Here, the direction is set. The EOS framework is in place. We just need the person who can grab the wheel of a high-performance machine and drive it to the finish line.

ABOUT INSIGHT VISION OPTOMETRY

We're a multi-location optometry practice in Southern California specializing in Myopia Management, Specialty Contacts, and Vision Therapy. We have a clear vision (pun-intended), a disciplined operating system (EOS), and a CEO owner who knows exactly what he's good at — and what he needs from an COO. There's no bureaucracy to fight. There's no corporate layer between your decision and the outcome. You own the P&L. You build the systems. You lead the team.

The five things great operators actually care about

Real authority. You run day-to-day operations. Marketing, clinical ops, finance — they all report through you. No dotted lines. No shadow executives. When you make a call, it sticks.

Financial upside tied to your results. Base salary is competitive — and your bonus is tied directly to P&L performance and Rock completion. Hit the numbers you set, earn accordingly. Long-term profit-sharing is on the table for the right person with a long-term mindset.

A CEO who will stay in his lane. Most founders struggle to let go. Not the case here. Like a disciplined sports team we want each person to "do their job" which doesn't mean doing other people's jobs.

A clean operating system already in place. EOS means you're not walking into chaos. There's a meeting cadence, a planning rhythm, a shared language for accountability. You don't have to convince people that systems matter — the culture already believes it.

Work that means something. Every system you build, every SOP you write, every hire you get right — it directly affects how patients experience their eye care. Families trust us with something as personal as their children's vision. That's not a small thing. The best operators we've ever met need to feel that what they're building matters. This one does.

What you'll actually do

This is not a list of tasks. It's a description of what your days look like when you're doing this job at its best.

Monday morning. You're running the weekly Level 10 Meeting. The team has their numbers. Someone has an issue. You facilitate — not because it's your job to have all the answers, but because you've built a team that solves problems together. You leave with clear owners and clear deadlines.

Midweek. You're in the financials. A location's capture rate dipped 4 points. You already know why — you spotted it Tuesday from the Scorecard. You've talked to the lead optician. There's an SOP gap. You fix it before it costs you another week of margin.

Quarterly planning. You and the leadership team go out on a quarterly retreat. You brain 20 good ideas but 15 of them are distractions. You all align on the Rocks this quarter and which go on the parking lot.

New location launch. You've built the playbook. New market, same patient experience. Same culture. Same Scorecard. Same accountability. You've proven that the magic of location one isn't location one — it's the system. That's what you built.

Who thrives here.

This role is genuinely not for everyone. Here's who succeeds:

• You've run operations in eyecare, dental, healthcare, or service business — and you've loved it.
• You've owned a P&L, not just managed a budget. You know the difference.
• You've built SOPs that people actually followed because they were well-designed, not just enforced.
• You've had the hard conversation with a team member who was well-liked but underperforming. You didn't enjoy it. You did it anyway.
• You've worked alongside a strategist and figured out how to be the best complement to their energy — not their echo, not their skeptic.

Healthcare background preferred. Optometry experience is a bonus, not a requirement. What you can't lack: genuine curiosity about patient experience and a belief that operations done right is a form of patient care.

Ready to have the conversation?

We move fast and we're direct. If this sounds like the role you've been waiting for, the next step is a 30-minute exploratory call — no pressure, no process theater. Just an honest conversation about whether this is the right fit for both of us.

Job Type: Full-time

Compensation: $140,000-180,000

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Management: 5 years (Required)
• Work Location: In person