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Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Chief Operating Officer (COO) - HR3DGI Program Location: Alexandria, VA Looking for an opportunity to make an impact at a global scale? Join the Leidos Defense Sector, where our teams support "can't ...

Chief Operating Officer (COO) - HR3DGI Program Location: Alexandria, VA Looking for an opportunity to make an impact at a global scale? Join the Leidos Defense Sector, where our teams support "can't ...

Controller/CFO

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

The Controller/CFO will work closely with the Partners and Office Administrator/COO to provide meaningful financial insight, support strategic decision-making, and help position the firm for ...

Chief Financial Officer

Washington, DC · On-site

$185K - $192K/yr

Serves as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Board of Directors on all financial matters, including growth strategy, sustainability planning, and risk ...

Chief Financial Officer

Washington, DC · On-site

$185 - $193/hr

Serves as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Board of Directors on all financial matters, including growth strategy, sustainability planning, and risk ...

Chief Financial Officer

Washington, DC · On-site

$297.60 - $400/hr

The CFO reports to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), serves as PCAOB Treasurer, and is responsible for leading the Office of Finance which includes the PCAOB's treasury, financial reporting, funding ...

Chief Financial Officer

Washington, DC · On-site

$297K - $400K/yr

The CFO reports to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), serves as PCAOB Treasurer, and is responsible for leading the Office of Finance which includes the PCAOB's treasury, financial reporting, funding ...

The COO is seeking a dependable and thoughtful professional who approaches executive support with strong judgment, adaptability, and a collaborative mindset. If you enjoy being the steady force that ...

Showing results 41-60

Chief Operating Officer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$43.2K

$157.3K

$280.4K

How much do chief operating officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief operating officer in Reston, VA is $157,305.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,000.00 and $192,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief operating officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Operating Officer, you need extensive leadership experience, strong business acumen, and a track record of operational excellence, typically supported by an advanced degree such as an MBA. Familiarity with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, financial management tools, and industry-specific compliance frameworks is often required. Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills set outstanding COOs apart in leading cross-functional teams. These competencies are crucial for optimizing organizational efficiency, driving growth, and ensuring that operational strategies align with overall business objectives.

What does a chief operating officer typically do?

A chief operating officer (COO) is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a company, implementing business strategies, and ensuring operational efficiency. They often work closely with other executives, manage departmental managers, and focus on optimizing processes to support the company's goals.

Do chief operating officers make a lot of money?

Chief Operating Officers (COOs) are among the highest-paid executives in organizations, with median annual salaries often exceeding $150,000 and total compensation including bonuses and stock options reaching into the millions for large companies. Compensation varies based on company size, industry, location, and experience, and COOs typically have extensive leadership skills and industry knowledge. They often hold advanced degrees and significant managerial experience.

What is the difference between Chief Operating Officer vs Chief Financial Officer?

AspectChief Operating OfficerChief Financial Officer
Primary FocusOversees daily operations and overall business performanceManages financial planning, risk management, and financial reporting
Required CredentialsBusiness administration, management experience, often an MBAAccounting, finance degrees, CPA or CFA certifications
Work EnvironmentExecutive leadership, cross-departmental collaborationFinancial departments, strategic planning meetings
Industry UsageCommon in large corporations across industriesPrevalent in finance-heavy industries like banking, insurance

The Chief Operating Officer focuses on managing daily operations and ensuring business efficiency, while the Chief Financial Officer handles financial strategy and fiscal health. Both roles are vital in executive leadership but serve distinct functions within an organization.

How does a chief operating officer typically collaborate with other executive leaders to drive organizational success?

A Chief Operating Officer (COO) works closely with other C-suite executives, such as the CEO, CFO, and CTO, to align operational strategies with overall business goals. This collaboration often involves regular executive meetings, cross-departmental project oversight, and joint decision-making on key initiatives. COOs are responsible for ensuring that operational processes support the company's vision and frequently act as a bridge between upper management and department heads. Effective communication and coordination with fellow leaders are essential for optimizing resources, resolving challenges, and fostering a unified organizational direction.

What is a chief operating officer?

A Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a high-ranking executive responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational functions of a company. The COO works closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to implement business strategies, optimize processes, and ensure that the organization runs efficiently. Their duties often include managing departments, improving productivity, and coordinating cross-functional teams. The role of a COO can vary depending on the company's size and industry, but their main goal is to ensure effective operations and drive organizational growth.

What is a typical chief operating officer salary?

The average salary for a chief operating officer (COO) in the United States ranges from $120,000 to $250,000 annually, with higher compensation often linked to company size, industry, and experience. Executive-level benefits and bonuses are also common components of total compensation for COOs.
More about Chief Operating Officer jobs
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What job categories do people searching Chief Operating Officer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Chief Operating Officer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Chief Operating Officer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Chief Operating Officer job openings:
Infographic showing various Chief Operating Officer job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 81% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $157,305 per year, or $75.6 per hour.

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Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

About the Organization
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) champions policies and technologies that will foster thriving economies and shared prosperity, founded on abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy and a safe climate.

Founded in 1998 as the Pew Center on Climate Change, C2ES was one of the first organizations solely focused on addressing climate change - one of the defining challenges of our time. Since our founding, the urgency has only increased, as rising temperatures bring more frequent extreme weather events to communities around the United States and the globe, and the risk of catastrophic impacts grows.

Yet the solutions are also in view. America, and the world are on the cusp of a clean energy boom. Investments from the public and private sectors have changed the energy marketplace dramatically. The accelerating pace of innovation has made carbon-free energy increasingly abundant, reliable, and affordable. For the first time, communities are experiencing tangible economic benefits from the low-carbon future, in factories and clean energy facilities that are attracting investment and creating jobs.

The transformation we need will not happen fast enough without action by governments - but those actions must harness, rather than hinder, the creative drive and dynamism of the global economy. By securing policies that align markets with clean energy and industry, C2ES aims to create a flywheel that builds and maintains momentum in the low-carbon transition. By demonstrating the tangible economic and social benefits of the low-carbon future, we aim to foster durable support for climate action, creating the political will to do more, faster.

Our work is informed by rigorous analysis and shaped by broad engagement with a wide range of decision makers and stakeholders: international diplomats, policy makers in Washington and in state capitals, Fortune 500 executives, cleantech entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and community leaders. We look for winning strategies and messages that can attract broad support, anchored in a vision of a thriving future. We enlist our Business Environmental Leadership Council and other private sector voices to join us: a cross-sectoral coalition of diverse industries and interests, bolstered by C2ES's nonpartisan reputation and credibility, making the business case for action on climate and clean energy that will deliver economic growth and prosperity.

Strategically leveraging our best-in-class business engagement, policy analysis and technical expertise, and ability to convene and engage those with different viewpoints, we focus on four areas of work that will help create the conditions for a more prosperous future:

  • Putting the United States on the path to net-zero emissions.
  • Catalyzing enhanced international cooperation under the Paris Agreement.
  • Making communities more resilient to climate hazards.
  • Supporting business leadership with tools for effective climate action.
C2ES has grown from 20 staff and a $4.5 million budget in 2021 to 58 staff and a $17.5 million budget under the leadership of Nat Keohane.

Our Organizational Values:
We are ambitious and practical, advancing effective solutions that push the boundaries of the achievable. We are open-minded and inclusive, seeking out and considering a wide range of voices, views, and approaches. We are people-focused, dedicated to improving human well-being, and recognizing that respect and empathy are central to success. We are one team, working collaboratively, communicating openly, making ourselves accessible to each other, and treating one another with kindness and respect.

Purpose of the Position
C2ES is seeking a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (CFO/COO) to build and scale a best-in-class finance and operational platform that will enable the organization's next phase of growth and impact.

Reporting to the President and serving as a senior member of the senior leadership team, the CFO/COO will oversee all finances and operations for C2ES and affiliated entities (including a newly established sister 501(c)(4) organization) and will help to guide the organization's continued growth and effectiveness. The CFO/COO will work closely with the President to ensure that C2ES meets the highest standards of financial prudence and operational excellence, while building the systems, processes, and infrastructure necessary to support a rapidly evolving organization. The CFO/COO will also be a trusted thought partner to the President and the Vice President for Strategy & Development, helping to shape and execute a forward-looking vision that strengthens organizational resilience, sharpens strategic priorities. This leader will play a central role in aligning resources to strategy, enabling disciplined growth, and enhancing overall organizational effectiveness.

This is an exceptional opportunity to help scale a high-performing, mission-driven organization at a pivotal moment. C2ES has nearly tripled in size over the past five years while maintaining the agility and influence of a nimble team that consistently "punches above its weight." Looking ahead, the organization is poised to expand its impact across federal policy, technology innovation, clean energy economic development, climate resilience, carbon markets, and international collaboration.

The successful candidate will be an experienced finance and operations professional, ideally with prior CFO/COO (or deputy) experience in a larger organization who will be motivated to bring that level of excellence to growing C2ES. They will combine strategic acumen with ambition, and sophistication to the role along with a collaborative, low-ego approach to leadership that emphasizes service to the organization and its mission. They will be ready and eager to move at pace in a dynamic and high-powered environment, able to articulate a vision and a roadmap for the organization's future success while willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work necessary to realize it.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Oversight

  • Provide strategic oversight of all C2ES's financial operations, including risk management and compliance, to ensure long-term fiscal health, working closely with the President, senior leadership team, Board of Directors, and key stakeholders.
  • Provide strategic oversight of all financial operations of the 501(c)(4) entity (and other affiliated entities that may be established), including risk management and compliance, to ensure long-term fiscal health, working closely with the President, senior leadership team, Board of Directors, and key stakeholders of the 501(c)(4).
  • Lead the timely preparation, audit, and filing of financial statements and required disclosures, including Form 990, for both C2ES and the 501(c)(4), and present annual financial statements to the Audit Committees of the respective organization's boards. Work with the Audit Committees of each entity to select and appoint the auditors.
  • Oversee the preparation and execution of service agreements between C2ES and its affiliated 501(c)(4) (and other affiliated entities as necessary) and ensure that sounds processes are in place and complied with to accurately track and report all time spent by C2ES employees on 501(c)(4).
  • Oversee core financial operations, including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and related systems, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Establish investment protocols and practices for all funds held in reserve accounts, whether related to multi-year expenditures or as C2ES's surplus funds, and oversee the prudent investment and management of those funds.
  • Oversee maintain C2ES's relationships with grantees and grantors with respect to all financial matters, including the receipt and disbursement of grants.
  • Ensure timely monthly close of financial accounts and accurate reporting.

Budgeting

  • Oversee the timely preparation of C2ES's annual budgets (on an April 1-March 31 fiscal year cycle) and present them to the Board's Finance Committee and the full Board for approval.
  • Oversee the timely preparation of the 501(c)(4)'s annual budgets (on an April 1-March 31 fiscal year cycle) and present them to the 501(c)(4) Board's Finance Committee and the 501(c)(4) Board for approval.
  • Oversee the tracking of organizational expenses against the approved budget and prepare reports (at least quarterly or as needed) for review by the President and Board Finance Committee
  • Oversee the timely preparation and tracking of grant budgets and reports, ensuring alignment with funder requirements and organizational priorities.
  • Implement and maintain best-in-class systems to track expenses by program and initiative, ensuring accurate allocation to appropriate funding sources.
  • Provide program leaders with timely, actionable financial reporting on program and grant expenses and budget, on at least a monthly basis.
  • Partner closely with the Vice President, Strategy & Development, to ensure strong alignment between financial planning and budgeting and fundraising activities.

Operations and Administration

  • Oversee all aspects of C2ES's internal operations and administration, including information technology and cybersecurity, human resources, office management, and legal.
  • Oversee both C2ES's current financial system (Abila MIP) and the evaluation, selection, and implementation of modern ERP platforms, with the ability to assess and transition systems to meet evolving organizational needs.

Organizational Growth

  • Partner with the President and the Vice President for Strategy & Development to identify and advance strategic growth opportunities, ensuring expansion is aligned with the organization's mission and supported by sound financial stewardship.
  • Oversee enterprise risk management by identifying, assessing, and reporting on potential risks, and by establishing and maintaining robust internal controls to safeguard organizational assets.

Management & Organizational Leadership

  • Lead and develop the finance and operations teams, overseeing five direct reports (Senior Director of Operations, Director of Finance, Director of HR, General Counsel [new position], and a senior budget position) and an additional seven staff positions.
  • Foster a high-performing, collaborative internal culture to optimize team performance and support organizational strategy that is aligned to the mission of C2ES.
  • As a member of the senior leadership team, contribute to a strong, inclusive culture and shared accountability for enterprise-wide success.
  • Champion the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including active participation in monthly Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council meetings where staff discuss steps that C2ES is taking to strengthen those dimensions of our work both within the organization and externally.
  • Complete required leadership and compliance training to support ongoing effectiveness.

Minimum and Preferred Requirements 

  • Successful experience serving as a CFO of a smaller or peer nonprofit organization, or deputy CFO or similar position at a larger nonprofit.
  • Minimum of 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit financial management, encompassing technical, operational, information technology, and strategic responsibilities.
  • Deep expertise in nonprofit fund accounting and financial management, with a broad understanding of administrative functions, including human resources, operations, technology, and legal.
  • Demonstrated success in building, leading, and developing high-performing teams, with a track record of attracting, mentoring, and retaining top talent.
  • Strategic thinker with strong attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and well-designed internal processes.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with proven effectiveness engaging across all levels of the organization, including presenting to Boards and other external audiences.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, coupled with sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead through influence.
  • Humility, collegiality, a sense of humor, and a deep spirit of collaboration.
  • Deep alignment, commitment, respect, and passion for the overall mission of the organization.

Education

Bachelor's degree required. A relevant Master's or CPA is a plus.

Work and Travel Arrangements

C2ES operates a hybrid work environment from our office in Washington, D.C. For this position, in-person presence is strongly preferred. Location in New York City could also be considered. Candidates not in Washington or New York will be expected to be in Washington in person at least once a month. All candidates are expected to attend periodic "all-hands weeks" in the office (currently scheduled once per quarter).

 ******

We are fully committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We believe we will only be effective in developing and advocating for climate solutions if we have a diverse range of voices and perspectives represented within C2ES, in our work, and among our partners. C2ES is committed to creating and growing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and among the stakeholders we collaborate with and convene. By fostering this culture, we can enhance our work and amplify our impact. We encourage individuals of all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, sexual identities, and abilities to apply for this position.

Employment Type: OTHER